Kids Win Toy Guns—That Shoot ACTUAL AMMO?

Authorities in Japan have launched a nationwide recall of claw machine toys after discovering that tens of thousands of toy pistols handed out as arcade prizes are capable of firing real ammunition.

At a Glance

• Over 16,000 claw machine toy pistols found to be operable with live rounds
• Weapons distributed in arcades across at least 13 prefectures
• Police warn toys meet ballistic firing standards and could cause lethal injuries
• Multiple arrests made after modified versions appeared in underground markets
• Government issues emergency recall and criminal investigation underway

From Prize to Firearm—Arcade Scandal Erupts

What began as a novelty prize in children’s claw machines has exploded into a national safety crisis. Japanese police have confirmed that more than 16,000 so-called “toy pistols,” won in popular arcade machines and sold as harmless replicas, are in fact capable of firing 6mm steel balls—or, with minor modifications, live ammunition.

Inspections by law enforcement and ballistics experts revealed that many of the toy guns met mechanical standards typically associated with functioning firearms. Some were even retrofitted with metal barrels, making them indistinguishable from lethal weapons. Alarmed investigators found several had been used in petty crimes and black market sales before the scandal broke.

Watch: Toy gun that apparently shoots real bullets

Nationwide Recall and Public Panic

Officials have ordered an immediate recall of the affected toys and raided dozens of claw machine distributors and arcade supply companies. Citizens are being urged to return any suspicious “toys” won from prize machines, and schools have issued alerts to parents warning them to monitor children’s belongings closely.

The incident has sparked widespread debate over import safety, quality control, and the regulation of replica weapons in entertainment venues. Parents across Japan are demanding stricter arcade oversight and a full investigation into how such dangerous items slipped through distribution networks.

As the scandal grows, experts fear this could mark a turning point in how toy weapons are classified and monitored—especially in a country where gun control laws are among the strictest in the world. For now, the deadly arcade prize remains a chilling reminder that sometimes, playtime can be anything but innocent.