anguilla1980

Being that they failed to respond to me the past 3 months, sent to a specific email address they had set up for this (usspdutydiscrepancyreview@ups.com), I say good F'ing luck on that. They seem more concerned with refunding large businesses rather than individuals.

I believe the appraisal and NBTHK were on top of the inside when I unpacked it, and I have scans of all the external paperwork, and that's where it included a statement to what you mentioned "Antique Japanese Sword (Katana), 1575, Bizen Province, for collector purposes only. Not a weapon" along with the handwritten country of origin, the usual customs duplicates, etc. So that could have been an additional fail on Aoi's part, not including a photocopy of the appraisal and NBTHK externally.

So it looks like AOI left off the .00.60 sub code. Included documentation stating everything else you mentioned in the form of an appraisal, the NBTHK, etc. was provided.

Correct. However, as UPS never responded, I can only speculate how US Customs classified it per my above post: "An effective duty of 10.83% strongly suggests the shipment was processed under a standard collectible / weapon tariff category (possibly HTS 9307.00.00 — Swords and similar arms), not the duty-free antique category (HS 9706)."

I did. No need to "make Aoi aware" of anything; he did it all correctly.

No, despite multiple emails, UPS has been non-responsive.

This launched around a similar timeframe: https://nihonto-db.com/

As a tax ID for US customs. Since I didn't buy this as a business, my SS is my tax ID.

I wanted to provide an update to this thread as it's the most recent one on the topic in the forum, and I just received a sword a couple of weeks ago. To be clear, this was a shipment to the USA. It was shipped by AOI Art via UPS. Here is the UPS tracking link so you can see all of the hoops it went through. It was categorized correctly as: "HS Code 9706.10 (Antique Japanese sword, made more than 250 years ago)" Then someone at UPS along the way added this "Made in Japan" notation to the paperwork: The UPS automated system emailed/texted me 3 times for my social security number, which I provided immediately via the link each time. But it just keeps doing it until their system finally applies it upon arrival and submission to customers. Annoying, but whatever. On March 4th when my government import charges were assessed, the exchange rate was 1 USD ≈ 157.11 JPY and based on the declared JPY value of my sword, I was assessed exactly a 10.83% fee. On top of this was a $40.33 UPS brokerage fee, which is a fixed tiered fee, not % based. An effective duty of 10.83% strongly suggests the shipment was processed under a standard collectible / weapon tariff category (possibly HTS 9307.00.00 — Swords and similar arms), not the duty-free antique category (HS 9706). As such, after paying online as usual to avoid further delays, I then sent the email to UPS (who knows if anything will come of it, but it never hurts to try): usspdutydiscrepancyreview@ups.com *formatting condensed to save space, and XXX used to protect the innocent :D At a minimum, I should get a response back confirming exactly what HTS classification it was actually brought in under that triggered that 10.83% charge. At best, who knows, maybe I can get the free reversed. You never win the lottery unless you buy a ticket right lol. -------------------------------------------- Dear UPS Post Entry Duty Discrepancy Review Team, I am writing to request a review of import duties assessed on the following shipment. Tracking Number: 1Z7V869VDH17427509 UPS Invoice Number: 209344XXXX Import Date: March 4, 2026 Importer: XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX Delivery Address: XXXX XXXXXX XX XXXXXX The shipment contained an antique Japanese sword purchased from AOI Art in Tokyo, Japan. The commercial invoice provided by the shipper declares the item as: “HS Code 9706.10 – Antique Japanese sword, made more than 250 years ago.” The declared value on the invoice is XXX,XXX JPY. Despite this classification, I was assessed XXXXXX in government import charges, resulting in a total payment of XXXXXXX including UPS brokerage and partner government agency fees. Because the item was declared as an antique exceeding 100 years of age under HS 9706, I would like to request a Post Entry Duty Discrepancy Review to determine whether the shipment was entered under an incorrect tariff classification or whether the HS code provided on the commercial invoice was not applied during customs processing. For clarity and verification, I would also appreciate it if UPS could provide the customs entry summary and the HTS classification used for the entry, including the duty rate and calculation used to determine the government charges. I have attached the following documents for your review: • Commercial invoice from AOI Art showing HS Code 9706.10 and describing the item as an antique Japanese sword more than 250 years old • UPS payment receipt showing the assessed government charges • Shipment documentation If the entry classification was incorrect, I respectfully request that UPS initiate the appropriate Post Entry Correction or refund process with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Please let me know if any additional documentation is required to complete the review. Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX --------------------------------------------

Hmm, this had not yet occurred to me, but it makes perfect sense that it's possible.

After posting this armor originally I ended up digging into it quite a bit deeper, so I thought I would share a short update with some of the things I have learned since then. The biggest clarification is the signature. The gold inscription on the armor chest reads: 甲冑師 光忍作 丸武 Which translates to “Armor craftsman Mitsunobu made this — Marutake.” The inscription identifies the individual armorer Mitsunobu working within the Marutake workshop founded by Shinobu Tanoue. This means Tanoue was the founder of the workshop rather than the person who made this specific suit. Looking more closely at the construction also helped narrow down the production period. The kabuto liner style, rivet geometry on the helmet plates, the vermilion lacquer interior of the menpō, and the style of the armor chest all correspond most closely with Marutake production from the late 2000s into the early 2010s. The most likely window appears to be roughly 2009–2012, with around 2010–2011 as a reasonable midpoint estimate. I also spent some time studying the construction in a bit more detail. The armor follows the classic Tosei Gusoku configuration, with what appears to be an okegawa-dō cuirass built from horizontal plates and a multi-plate suji-bachi kabuto. The kote, haidate, and suneate also use the traditional splint and chainmail style construction. Based on those details it seems to fall somewhere in the middle of Marutake’s production spectrum, more complex than entry-level display armor but below the high-end museum-level historical replicas. One detail I found interesting is the finish used on the armor. The workshop refers to this type of surface treatment as an “antique finish” (古色仕上げ, koshoku shiage) or sometimes a “period-style finish” (時代風仕上げ, jidai-fū shiage). It is a controlled patination applied during finishing to give the armor a more subdued appearance similar to historical pieces rather than the bright look of newly lacquered armor.

Thanks for pointing that out. I did notice the missing gyoyo, and I emailed Marutake to enquire about purchasing a replacement (or close matching pair). If I can't source a replacement or set, it honestly won't bother me that much. I don't see much on their website about the artificial ageing/patina process that has been done to mine, but I have read that they offer it. Would be a bit ridiculous to have a brand new looking gyoyo. Far as how the sode are attached, something did seem off with how they were tied/held up, but admittedly I don't know the right way to attach them yet, so I'll have to research that for when it arrives. Here are some more images

https://www.shoppopdisplays.com/

Hopefully it's not taboo to post about repros in this sub, I did see another thread on the main page that was so I figured why not lol. I just bought a full suit of samurai armor that appears to be a modern example of gendai katchū associated with the Marutake / Kōnin workshop tradition. The armor came with documentation describing the workshop history and identifying it as a modern handcrafted suit rather than an antique piece. From what I understand, the Marutake workshop began producing armor in the 1970s under Shinobu Tanoue using the art name Kōnin. This suit seems to fall into that lineage and is likely a relatively recent production, somewhere around 2006/7 I believe. The set appears complete with kabuto, menpō, dō, sode, kote, haidate, suneate, and the yoroi-bitsu storage chest. The chest has a gold inscription and crest on the exterior, which I’m told is typical of modern presentation sets rather than historical armor where signatures were usually hidden. One thing that stood out to me about this workshop, compared to cheaper reproductions, is the materials and construction approach. Marutake armor is generally built using lacquered metal plates, real silk odoshi lacing, and traditional assembly methods rather than the synthetic cords, thin stamped steel, aluminum, or plastic components that are often used in lower-end decorative suits. The fittings and hardware also appear to be properly made rather than cast costume parts, which gives the armor a much more authentic weight and structure. Another interesting aspect of the workshop is that they have produced armor used in Japanese film and television productions. Their work has been used in several historical films and NHK Taiga dramas, including productions such as The Last Samurai and Sekigahara, which I thought was a neat connection between traditional craftsmanship and modern media. Although this example is firmly a collector display piece and not a prop or museum quality recreation. What really drew me to this one was how cohesive the whole suit is, but most especially, the color palette is spot on to my taste. The lacing, lacquer, and fittings all match well and the overall look is very striking when assembled. It has some light handling and storage wear, but overall presents well. I know it won't be everyones taste as the suit is a bit of a mish-mash of periods/armor types for sort of a greatest hits suit of armor. I paid what I think is a good price so I'm happy with it all around. For me, buying a real katchu would divert funds from other collectables, and I'd rather not be the caretaker for fragile textiles that are hundreds of years old. I’ll attach a few photos below showing the armor and some close details (sadly the forum won't let me attach the high-res files). I also purchased an armor display stand. I have the perfect spot in my living room for it right next to my sword display.