peterqu

H Chris,Thank you for your most interesting commentary.In one of your earlier entries on this topic you mentioned that the tastes and preferences in collecting in Japan have an established history.I would be most grateful if you would expand upon that statement so that those of us who are interested may be guided by the approach of the serious Japanese collector. Regards,Peter

Hello Cameron,There is an active Japanese Sword Society in SA that meets fairly regularly.We are always looking for new members .If you are interested drop me a pm. Regards,Peter

Thanks Matt,that is a big help.It is just what I was looking for.I will now take the matter up with Fedex which is my preferred courier.Regards,

Hello Ed, I presume that you are referring to the Harmonised Code 97.06 which is what I use all the time.I got cold feet on my way to the Post Office to send by EMS the reason being that I took the trouble to read my All Risks insurance policy and one of the Exceptions where the insurance company is not liable is `Confiscation,requisition,detention or destruction by order of any Govt,public or Local Authority` which brings me back to`Is it lawful to import swords into the US?`Logically ,I know it takes place with proper disclosure and relating to Nihonto so I will conclude that it is lawful.However,I do not want to argue the point from the other side of the world and risk confiscation and destruction with no prospect of insurance.I have always favoured Fedex not only because of its speed of delivery but mainly because if there is a problem with clearing one can at least talk directly with the clearing agent and if necessary with the Customs official.With EMS that is very difficult .I think that a courier is the best option and will try TNT and maybe have another chat with Fedex.Regards,

Thanks to all of those who have responded. Yes ,the goods were descibed as ANTIQUE Japanese SWORDS and it seems that Fedex did refer to a US schedule of prohibited items before returning the shipment.I have therefore assumed that the situation is much the same as it is in the UK and that certainly with Fedex ,antiquity must be established.I am going to follow the description suggested by Ed and try EMS and will see what happens .I always insure separately with my own local broker.Interestly, I have two swords leaving the US this week in which I have asked the parties to use Fedex and I do not foresee a problem.Regards,

I have tried to ship some swords to the USA using Fedex and they have been returned with a note that they are a prohibited entry.Can anyone advise me what needs to be done to gain legal entry? Regards,Peter

Last year Robert Hughes prepared an English translation of the written content of the DTI Catalogue and has done so again for this years catalogue. Apparently, only a limited number were printed. I ordered a catalogue but it has arrived without the translation.If someone has the translation I would be most grateful if they could scan it and email it to me at peterq@mwebbiz.co.za Regards,Peter Quin

Hello Pierre, Yes, I will be at the DTI this year for my annual fix. I will look out for you. I live in South Africa and the insurance cover is for `All Risks`. I will check and see whether it is an extention to my Householders Policy which covers my house ,contents ,car etcetera. Brian ,to the best of my knowledge the problem arose with Japan Airlines which is the nominated carrier of EMS. JA apparently declined to carry swords as cargo.I hope that I am wrong and that has changed .In my opinion Fedex is the best it is a private company driven by high performance standards. Can`t say the same for our Postal Service. However, it is expensive and on top of the shipping out of Japan there is always another $200 + charge for customs clearing when it arrives .I don`t know whether that it a worldwide experience or is confined to SA.EMS would be a nice option.Regards,

Hello Pierre,Thank you for the tips especially the information that EMS is now carrying swords again.I would like to add a few points arising from my experiences.The first is regarding insurance. Speak to your own broker, someone who you have an ongoing relationship with and with whom you can converse with locally in your own language if something goes missing. Mine charges me 1% of the insured value.Secondly,it is advisable to quote the free import tax code for antiquities , Code 97.06. I think it is an International reference. Ask the seller to copy the NBTHK papers or other if they exist and if he is a dealer to prepare a Antiquities Certificate which should contain details of the sword and a statement that it is over 100 years old or longer if it is known. The certificate and copy of papers should be included with the invoice on the outside of the box containing the sword.This just makes things easier for the Customs clerk. I was with Ford Hallam when we met at dinner over the DTI period two years ago.Pleased to read that you have stuck to your apprenticeship. I remember how difficult conditions were for you.Regards,

Thank you both for your responses .May I ask you to have a look at the translation of the Saidan on the web page with which a little difficulty has been experienced ? The translation I have has been pieced together as follows: Hiraoki Yorikatsu possessed this sword . Utsuki Hachizaemon no jyo Nagatsugu executed two cuts in place of his head of house Kagetada. The sword was named Utsusitasu ( correction ?) but was renamed Nami no Kawashima. Mention is made somewhere of the Suritsuke test cut but I do not know where it fits in the translation.It is apparent from the colour of the gold inlay that the tests may have been conducted at different times but I don`t know how the two tie together if indeed they do. Any input most welcome. Regards,

Hello Koichi, Thank you for that. May I ask whether you agree with the tranalation on the nurisaya and do you have any idea of the meanings of the two nicknames? Regards,Peter

Hello All, This kanji appears on a nurisaya of a sword I have recently purchased. I have a reasonable idea of the content but my translator could not read all of the kanji and was not completely sure of the tranaslation. The kanji read 古銘　浪之河嶋 抜足 平岡頼勝仕小早川秀秋称石見守有知略関原之戦轉兵突大谷吉隆之陣吉隆敗自殺東照宮 召大賞其功尋攻佐和山抜之秀秋割與備前兒島田三萬石秀秋死東照公賜美濃徳野田 一萬 石云焉 渡邉中佐恵賜　　甘古居士誌 and has been translated as follows... Lord Hiraoki Yorikatsu of Awami was a vassal of Kobayakawa Hideaki. His action resulted in Otani Yoshitaki`s decision to commit seppuku at the Battle of Sekigahara. As a reward for his distinguished service he was granted 30000 koku in Kojimada by Tokugawa Ieyasu and later after the death of Kobayakawa a futher 10000 koku in Tokinada.Extract from the record of Kanko koji. Two other names appear , Nami no Kawashima and Utsusitasu .I am unsure of the reference unless it is possibly a name for the blade.Can anyone offer a better translation?I am aware of the history involving Kobayakawa. Regards, Peter Quin

Thanks Chris,I guess that explains it. Much appreciated. Regards,Peter

Brian, I have now read the earlier post but I must admit that I have difficulty in accepting that the last kanji reads KUNI . If anyone can refer me to a record of such a kanji I would be grateful.The only reference in Hawley that is close ,is a two kanji mei which is different to the subject mei. For what it is worth I asked Tsuruta san`s opinion a few years back when Aoi Art offered a quick ID and he did not come back with HIROKUNI. Unfortunately , my record of that email no longer exists.The only kanji that I can find that is similar is at 695 in Self and Hirose although it is not an identical match.Regards,Peter

I feared someone would ask. Little challenged in that department. Will see what I can do.Regards

Hello All , I have a sword which appears to be signed by HIZEN KUNI HIROGUN but I can find no record of this smith. Does anyone have a reference or record you can refer me to? Regards, Peter Quin

Hi Ford, Count me in . Regards, Peter Quin

Thanks Jacques.Much appreciated.Would it be correct to assume that both Nidai and Shodai signed Echizen Ju on the ura side of the tang?Regards,

Hi Jacques,Thanks for that.I would be grateful if you could elaborate a little more.I will try and make a comparison.Regards.

Can anyone point out the distinguishing features in the mei of the shodai and nidai Shigetaka.Both signed Echizen ju Harima Daijo Fujiwara Shigitaka.Hawleys and Fujishiro imply that the shodai signed Echizen ju on the ura and Harima daijo Shigetaka on the omote side but I have seen a number of blades signed in that manner attributed to the Nidai and a number signed in full on the omote side attributed to the shodai.Regards Peter Quin

Since my initial post I have made some enquiries.I thought a good place to start would be with FedEx in my home City which is Durban ,South Africa.The quote I first received for the same container I received from Japan was approximately $1100 which was about half of the amount charged by the Japanese dealer at the same exchange rate.I dug a little deeper and discovered that the size of box used attracted a rate based on volume and that it could carry up th 15kgs.I then asked for a quote based on a smaller box in which I had also received a sword which was far more palatable at $458.It transpires that the additional charge might have arisen from the packaging.There are apparently two standards the higher being for top end art works and as the standard was not specified the higher standard was utilised.I do not blame my dealer for for what occurred but the lesson I have taken from this is to arrange the courier from my home town.I have done the same with a kabuto in the UK.It is painless and far cheaper.Hope it works for you.

Thank you all for your responses.I am told that a possible way around the problem is to describe the goods as a knife and place a Dangerous Goods sticker on the parcel much the same as is attached to one of the replies above but one can hardly fool anyone with a katana length parcel by describing the content as a knife.That doesn't work for me.For the sake of this discussion let us forget about what was charged.I think we all share the same view.Is it a fact that one cannot ship by EMS and is there any alternative to using FedEx ?

A very reputable dealer recently charged me 200 000 Yen to ship a daisho by Fed Ex out of Japan.That is more than the cost of a decent polish.I understand that the Japan Postal service will no longer allow swords to be sent by EMS because of a policy decision by Japan Airways, which is its courier ,not to carry swords with the result that dealers are left with no alternative other than to use Fed Ex.Logic tells me that there are other airlines that carry freight and that there must be another way at a more resonable cost.To make matters worse I am told that antiquities insured for more than $2000 can be subject to a 4 month inspection period.Can anyone make a recommendation? Peter Quin

Hi Steve,A trip to Les Invalides (pronounced Invaliday) is well worth a visit.Included in the entrance fee is the impressive Musee de l'Armee with magnificent sets of Arms and Armour through the ages including a number of full suits of Japanese Armour.Napoleon's tomb is nearby.You won't be disappointed. Peter Quin

Hi Carlo, Have no fear,I am not about to wade in with fists flying.That is not my style.I have a pretty good idea where this is going and what concessions need to be made .Hope I am not mistaken. Watch this space!