Anyone brought an unpapered sword thru Narita lately?

[Aloof Pegasus]

Dear All

I've got an unpapered Seki Jumyo wak purchased from Ed Marshall which is coming with me to Japan in a few days for some restoration work. As you all know it will need an Hikiwatashi-sho. Ed kindly supplied a document stating what it is. I've printed out the Shinto swordsmith index showing (Seki) Jumyo right down at the bottom of the Eastern smith list. If possible I would like to avoid having a dealer come out to the airport to authenticate it as that will be expensive.

Any thoughts on other paperwork that might sway the customs officers to give it the temp license?

 

Philip

[Bugyotsuji]

Make sure you have the dealer's telephone number with you.

[Guido]

Philip, you'll get a Hikiwatshisho without any supporting documentation - except if it's obviously a sword that's not allowed into Japan (like a non-Japanese sword or one with a Shôwa stamp etc.). Copies of books or "certificates" by a dealer outside of Japan won't do any good anyhow. The Japanese police will not call a dealer or "expert witness" out to the airport, they make their own decision on the spot, and rest assured that they have a good idea about what they're looking at. You have to present it for Toroku-Shinsa afterwards (within one month), and that's where the final decision is made whether it can stay in Japan or not. Been there, done that, and never had a problem.

[Aloof Pegasus]

Thanks Piers and Guido for the good advice.

 

I ran into trouble in Kansai airport few weeks back is why I asked. They checked the sword with magnets, asked for any paperwork, then refused it entry. To their credit they were nice about it and the police officer even tried to phone the dealer- but it was Sunday and he was closed.

 

They seemed to want supporting documents. Perhaps Kansai staff are less up on nihonto than Narita customs. Hope so.

 

Thanks again.

Philip

[Bugyotsuji]

Just an afterthought. Sunday is usually not a holiday, but they may not have been in the shop. In which case you'll need their mobile number. Ignore as necessary!

[Guido]

Kansai police seems indeed to be different from Narita police (I only dealt with them so far). The magnet stunt is usually only pulled when a sword is exported, to prove that it's an Iaitô / Mogitô, never heard about it the other way around (after all, you probably never claimed that it's made of a zinc-alluminium alloy, did you?).

 

In any case, it might be easier to have it shipped to Japan instead of carrying it with you. The Toroku-Shinsa then takes place at the international p/o, and those guys really know what they're doing.

[Aloof Pegasus]

Domo arigato guys

[Aloof Pegasus]

Quick update. All went well, took about an hour. I had another wak with papers and the Seki seems to have got in on the strength of the association plus Ed's paper. (Piers, they called the dealer).

 

For def I'll not try and take anything thru Kansai again!

 

Philip