"Tokyo police arrested the president of Tokyo-based toy gun maker Tanaka Works, Yoshimoto Tanaka, Tuesday on suspicion of violating the firearms and swords control law for allegedly possessing hundreds of ‘‘airsoft’’ guns the police found to be lethal weapons, the police said. This is the first time Japanese police have served an arrest warrant defining an unaltered toy air gun as a lethal weapon, they said.

The air guns in question are Tanaka Works’ Cassiopeia-brand revolvers, which went on sale in July. Police have been trying to recover about 1,950 units that were put on the market. The Cassiopeia air guns are capable of shooting metal bullets and are as lethal as real handguns, they said. Tanaka, 64, head of the toy gun maker based in Tokyo’s Kita Ward, is suspected of possessing 867 Cassiopeia revolvers as of Oct 7, when investigators raided Tanaka Works’ head office, police said."

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