New member with question on sending swords from Japan to Europe

[Yves]

Hi, I'm a Iaidoka that after obtaining my 3rd Dan decided to buy my first shinken/nihonto. I finally found a suitable (used) sword in Japan that I wanted to buy.
Turns out that it is not possible to get it shipped from Japan to Europe. They guy also said that Iaito and such cannot be shipped anymore either.
What is this and is there a solution? I never had any problems getting Iaito shipped and people in our club recently bought iaito's through Tozando. 
Or is this some commercial trick only allowing big companies like Tozando to sell swords abroad.
Very disappointed now and not sure if there is a solution to this problem

[DoTanuki yokai]

The big dealers have special conditions with UPS for example that allows them to send swords. 
Many shipping services won’t send swords and because of the Ukraine war EMS that shipped swords stopped   many flight routes. 
This is what it was last year and I don’t know if something has changed. 

[Yves]

Hi Dotanuki,

I see, very unfortunate however, since the katana I was looking at was the exact size I needed (2-4-5) and that size is difficult to find as most Japanese are smaller than us. Price was also acceptable with what seems to be a good blade with beautiful hamon. Oh, well, another thing we cannot do/have anymore in Europe it seems.