A focal plane shutter has a light shielding shutter blade. A blade dowel is attached to the shutter blade. A blade arm is slidably engaged with the blade dowel to open or close the shutter blade. A surface hardness of the blade dowel is higher than a surface hardness of the blade arm. The surface hardness of the blade arm is Hv300 to 900, and the surface hardness of the blade dowel is Hv450 to 1000. The blade arm and the blade dowel are subjected to chemical polishing treatment. The blade dowel is plated with nickel, chromium, palladium or rhodium. A material of the blade dowel is a free-cutting stainless steel or a carbon tool steel, and a material of the blade arm is a carbon tool steel or a titanium material.