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How to buy an Authentic Japanese Sword(Katana) from our shop

Updated: 29 May 2023

 

How to buy an authentic Japanese Sword(Katana) from our shop
 Have you ever wondered if it is possible to buy an authentic Japanese sword from Japan , one of the most iconic symbols of Japan?

 Samurai Museum located in Tokyo, Japan exhibits antique artifacts related to Samurai warriors such as Samurai armor, swords and other equipment. Since we opened in 2015, we have been dealing with antique Japanese swords and  have shipped over 300 antique Japanese swords overseas from our museum shop. With this experience, we would like to share what is needed to legally export antique Japanese swords from Japan.

INDEX
1,Exporting Process
2Law
3,Customs
4,Insurance
5,In case the sword you had bought returned to Japan
6, Five steps to buy an authentic Japanese sword

 

1,Exporting process
We can ship authentic Japanese swords to the countries where EMS provides their service. EMS is Express Mail Service run by Japan Post in Japan. Please keep in mind that sometimes airlines would reject carrying edged tools in their airplanes, depending on the areas. We have successfully shipped antique Japanese swords to USA,UK, France  ,Germany, Canada, and Mexico and Hong Kong. If you are wondering if EMS can ship the Japanese sword to your address, please feel free to contact us. We will make an inquiry to Japan Post.

Each Japanese sword is registered under the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Board of Education in Japan. They issue a registration paper for each Japanese sword for its owner in Japan to legally possess it. The Japanese sword with its registration paper means it was traditionally hand-forged in Japan.

To legally export the sword from Japan to other countries, we will have to apply for its permit to the Agency for Cultural Affairs(Bunkacho) and return the original registration paper to the Board of Education. It normally takes around 2-4 weeks to receive this permit. And we would like you to expect at least 1-1.5 months for your order to arrive at your given address after you ordered. 

 Typically, your local post office will be in charge of shipping the sword to your address after it arrives in the country where you live. There are a few exceptions in some countries. If you have any concerns, please feel free to ask us before making a purchase.

 

2,Law
An authentic Japanese sword will go through the Japanese customs without any problems as long as it comes with its legal export permit. However, it is difficult for us to know your local laws.

Please ask your local police department or Ministry of Justice to confirm that owning an antique Japanese sword is legal. In some cases, you may need to have a license to own an antique sword or obtain an import permit from its governmental organization.

If the sword were confiscated by the police and other authorities for its misuse, we would not be held accountable for issuing any refunds nor insurance.

 

3,Customs
 An international order may cause custom duties on its arrival in your country. Any customs fees for a real sword are your responsibility. If you like to check how much it would be charged, please ask your local customs office. Antique Japanese swords we deal with on our website are at least 100-150 years old antique items. 

 

4,Insurance
 You can make an insurance claim on the sword you purchased when we ship by EMS(Express Mail Service) or UPS(USA only).

 The maximum amount covered by its insurance is equal to the price of the sword. The insurance would apply if your shipment were to be lost, damaged, or missing contents.

If the sword turned out to be damaged, you could receive its insurance after EMS has investigated the situation and proved the item got damaged during its shipping.

Insurance would not be paid more than the written amount on the shipping document, which is the price of the sword.To make an insurance claim, not only our shop but also the purchaser need to talk to the shipping carrier or submit a couple of paperwork.

 

5,In case the sword you had bought returned to Japan
You can track where your item is online by using a tracking number provided by our museum. Please check your shipping progress after we send shipping notice email to you. Provided that the sword you bought returns to our museum due to its expiration of the storage period, we will charge reshipping fee.

There will be the same charge if the item is returned owing to mistakes made by a shipping carrier in where you live.

 

6, Five Steps to  own an authentic Japanese sword
After reading the index 1-5, we assume you may be wondering how the process actually works. In this last section, we will explain five steps to own an authentic Japanese sword.

STEP1: Choose Your Sword
Each Japanese sword is one of a kind, and there is only one existing in the world. We have various types of authentic Japanese swords for sale in our online shop. We put detailed descriptions, short video, and high-resolution photos for you to make an informed decision. It is quite essential for us to know that you would be satisfied with the sword you chose. If you have any questions about our listed swords, please feel free to contact us.

STEP2: Place an order(Proceed with payment)
After deciding which sword to buy, please place an order by clicking either “BUY NOW” or “CHECKOUT” button. If you need more time but want to hold the sword, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We may be able to wait for a few business days until you make a decision.
You can proceed with the payment via Stripe or PayPal. Bank Transfer is also available on request.

STEP3: Apply for EXPORT PERMIT
As we mentioned in index 3, we must apply for your sword’s export permit to legally send it overseas. As all the required documents are written in Japanese and rather complicated, we will do the process on your behalf.

STEP4: Ship Your Sword with Tracking Number
Once we receive the export permit for your sword, we will inform you and ask you if you are ready to receive the sword. We will package the sword after doing a final inspection of the item.
We will provide you its tracking number after we hand it to Japan Post/UPS(the USA only).

STEP5: You will be a new owner of the Japanese sword
After receiving the sword, please enjoy and appreciate the Japanese sword’s beauty in your favorite way. These Japanese swords have been passed down for generations among Japanese people who made significant efforts to preserve the blade. We are confident you will also take great care of it and pass it to your next generation. We hope the sword will protect you and your family for a long time.

 

Antique Japanese Sword Tachi

Antique Japanese Sword Katana

Antique Japanese Sword Wakizashi

Antique Japanese Sword Tanto

 

Authentic Japanese Sword / Katana for sale