A topic from AEG's L5R CCG Rules forum, copied for Oracle of the Void from a copy of the forum saved in October 2015, so pages it didn't save are missing. Players' names are left out; the rules officials are named. Rulings are as they stood on these dates; later rulings, the rulebooks and the Rules Archive may differ.
A player, 14 April 2014
According to the the Search action, a player must always reveal a card he searched for if it the search effect requires a specific card type, to verify that he has retrieved the appropriate card or type. The holding Hidden Weapon does not utilize the word "Search", but it requires a specific card type, so is the player required to show the card to his opponent? If not, how does the opponent know it is actually a weapon? During a tournament, can a judge be called to verify the cards under the holding?
Thanks,
Relevant text: Search: "If an effect searches for a specific card (such as "Ring of Water") or card-type (such as "a Ring"), the player must show it if he chooses to retrieve it, to verify that he has retrieved the appropriate card or type..."
Hidden Weapons: "Limited: Put a Weapon in your hand under this Holding (face-down)."
Ben Higgins (rules official), 17 April 2014
According to the the Search action, a player must always reveal a card he searched for if it the search effect requires a specific card type, to verify that he has retrieved the appropriate card or type. The holding Hidden Weapon does not utilize the word "Search", but it requires a specific card type, so is the player required to show the card to his opponent? If not, how does the opponent know it is actually a weapon? During a tournament, can a judge be called to verify the cards under the holding?
Thanks,
Relevant text: Search: "If an effect searches for a specific card (such as "Ring of Water") or card-type (such as "a Ring"), the player must show it if he chooses to retrieve it, to verify that he has retrieved the appropriate card or type..."
Hidden Weapons: "Limited: Put a Weapon in your hand under this Holding (face-down)."
You are not required to show the card you put under Hidden Weapons.
That said, if you are caught placing non-Weapons under the card during the course of the game, you could be subject to the penalties of rules infractions as indicated by the Code of Bushido tournament document if you are called on it by a judge or your opponent.