swords in modern Japan..

Does anyone living in Japan know the specific laws on owning a sword in modern Japan?? Im gonna have to move over there in a couple of years and Id like to take my sword over so maybe I could enroll myself in some sort of Iaido Ryu.. but I dont know the laws.. could anyone helpf me or point me in the right direction??

Wilson


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I suggest you contact the local Japanese consulate, or perhaps their embassy and ask them.

Bob Burke

In a message dated 1/22/2004 1:30:52 PM Eastern Standard Time, "Josh Wilson" <lordwilson@...> writes:

>Does anyone living in Japan know the specific laws on owning a sword in modern Japan?? Im gonna have to move over there in a couple of years and Id like to take my sword over so maybe I could enroll myself in some sort of Iaido Ryu.. but I dont know the laws.. could anyone helpf me or point me in the right direction??
>
>Wilson
>
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Wilson-
Several things to consider here. Are your swords traditionally made
(preferably signed) Japanese swords? OR are they Paul Chen, Michael
Bell, Howard Clark swords or Showa-to (swords from the war years)? The
first can be licensed and carried in Japan the second group cannot.
laws restricting the ownership of Swords are strict but not onerous.
The best thing to do is establish yourself in Japan, leave your swords
at home. Once you have a visa, job and address have your swords sent to
you. They will be sent to the Head office of the Post Office in your
prefecture (though they are addressed to you). This office is not
always in a convenient place; if you live in Kanagawa you have to go to
Tokyo.
Once every two months there is a shinsa at the post office you will
have to present yourself there on the appointed day. Your package will
be opened by a government appointed appraiser who will make the
determination if your sword is a weapon or if it has potential value as
a collectible. If it passes shinsa, you will have to pay something like
$100 per sword or a little less and then your swords will be sent to
you along with a registration card. This card must be carried with the
sword at all times and you must present it to the police if asked. Once
the blade is registered you will likely never be asked for the
registration (until you leave)and will be free to travel about with
your sword.
If your sword is deemed a weapon it must be returned to the country of
origin. If you fail to report for shinsa and fail to notify the post
office it will be returned to the country of origin or confiscated. You
can bring your swords into Japan on the plane, provided the airline
lets you, these days it is tougher and tougher. When you get to the
airport tell the authorities you have swords and are requesting a
shinsa and registration. A police inspector will be called and he can
take hours to show, that is why you tell them the moment you get off
the plane. At the airport police station they will do a shinsa and
issue you a temporary registration. If you have your act together this
may only add an hour or so to your time at the airport. Remember the
police inspector typically doesn't know swords as well as the
inspectors at the post office. If he doesn't like the swords, they will
have to be sent back, expensive and time consuming.
If you have a Sensei or know a sword dealer in your area, they could
act as your agent, the swords could be sent ahead and be waiting for
you. However this is a huge pain in the A**, and is a lot to ask
someone who is not your dearest of friends. Frankly no amount of money
makes the registration part of handling swords profitable...
-t

According to 'Kill Bill', it is not only okay, but you can also bring
them on as carry-on into the airplanes, provided you keep them in
the 'katana-holder' in the arm of the airplane chairs just behind the
coffee holder.

--- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, "Josh Wilson"
wrote:

> Does anyone living in Japan know the specific laws on owning a

sword in modern Japan?? Im gonna have to move over there in a couple
of years and Id like to take my sword over so maybe I could enroll
myself in some sort of Iaido Ryu.. but I dont know the laws.. could
anyone helpf me or point me in the right direction??

>
> Wilson
>
>
> ____________________________________________________________
> Get advanced SPAM filtering on Webmail or POP Mail ... Get Lycos

Mail!

> http://login.mail.lycos.com/r/referral?aid=27005
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> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On Jan 22, 2004, at 6:43 PM, Kitsuno wrote:

> According to 'Kill Bill', it is not only okay, but you can also bring
> them on as carry-on into the airplanes, provided you keep them in
> the 'katana-holder' in the arm of the airplane chairs just behind the
> coffee holder.
>
>

That would be Japan Airlines only...
-t

On Jan 22, 2004, at 4:43 PM, Kitsuno wrote:

> According to 'Kill Bill', it is not only okay, but you can also bring
> them on as carry-on into the airplanes, provided you keep them in
> the 'katana-holder' in the arm of the airplane chairs just behind the
> coffee holder.
>

And the damn stewardess better serves you quickly and satisfactorily...
or else...
cepo :oD


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