The Anatomy of a Tozando Purchase — What Happens From Click to Delivery

Buying a Japanese sword from Japan is not like buying a book or a piece of jewellery online. It involves export permits, customs documentation, specialist packaging, and a process that — done correctly — takes four to six weeks from payment to delivery. For most international collectors, this is their first time navigating any of it. This guide walks through every stage of a Tozando purchase in plain detail: what happens, who does what, how long each stage takes, and exactly what arrives at your door at the end. No surprises. No anxiety. Just the process, clearly explained.

The Complete Journey — Stage by Stage

1. 1
   Before purchase

   Browse, enquire, and ask questions

   No time limit — take as long as you need

   Every purchase begins here — and the quality of this stage determines the quality of what follows. Browse the collection on japanesesword.net and, if anything is unclear, contact our English-language specialists before purchasing. We encourage questions before a purchase, not just after. Typical pre-purchase questions we receive and answer in full include: what does the NBTHK certificate actually say about this piece? What is the condition of the polish? Are there any flaws in the blade? What documentation will accompany the sword? Has this piece been shortened (suriage)?

   There is no pressure to decide quickly. Pieces in our collection are held for enquiring customers while questions are being resolved. If a piece sells during your consideration period, we will let you know immediately and help you identify alternatives. A purchase made with complete information is a purchase you will never regret.

2. 2
   Purchase

   Payment confirmation and purchase agreement

   Day 1

   Once you have decided on a piece, payment is confirmed through our Shopify platform. We accept international bank transfer and major credit cards. For purchases above a certain value, a deposit arrangement is available — contact us to discuss. At the moment of payment confirmation, your sword is formally reserved for you and no longer available to other buyers.

   You will receive a purchase confirmation by email within one business day that includes: the piece's NBTHK certification number, blade measurements, and a summary of the documentation that will accompany the sword. This confirmation is your record of what you have purchased and what to expect.

3. 3
   Export documentation — Stage 1

   NBTHK registration cancellation (toroku-sho surrender)

   Days 2–5

   Every authentic nihonto in Japan is registered under the Firearms and Swords Control Law (Jū-tō-hō) with the prefectural Board of Education, and carries a Token Toroku-sho — the sword's Japanese registration certificate. Before the blade can legally leave Japan, this registration must be formally surrendered to the issuing authority.

   Tozando handles this process directly on your behalf. We submit the Toroku-sho to the relevant authority and receive confirmation of the cancellation. This is why an overseas collector does not receive the Japanese Toroku-sho with their purchase — it remains in Japan, surrendered, as part of the legal export process. What you receive instead is the Agency for Cultural Affairs export permit, which serves the equivalent function internationally.

4. 4
   Export documentation — Stage 2

   Agency for Cultural Affairs export permit application

   Days 5–20 (approximately 2 weeks)

   This is the stage that accounts for the majority of the 4–6 week total timeline — and the one that most surprises first-time buyers. The Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunka-chō) must issue an export permit for every nihonto leaving Japan, confirming that the blade is not a designated National Treasure or Important Cultural Property and is therefore cleared for export.

   Tozando submits this application directly to the Agency, including the sword's details, the Toroku-sho cancellation confirmation, and the buyer's information. The Agency's review typically takes approximately two weeks. This waiting period is mandatory and cannot be shortened — it is a government process, not a logistics one. We use this time to prepare the packaging and all accompanying documentation, so that once the permit is issued, shipment follows quickly.

   While you are waiting, you are welcome to contact us at any point for a status update. We proactively notify you when the permit is issued and the sword is being prepared for shipment.

5. 5
   Packaging

   Professional packing for international air freight

   1–2 days after permit issued

   Japanese sword packaging for international shipment is a specialised skill that Tozando has refined over nearly four decades of international shipping since 1989. An improperly packed sword can shift during transit and damage the polish, the fittings, or the blade itself — and customs inspectors in some countries open packages, making secure internal packaging even more important.

   The sword is first wrapped in protective cloth to cushion the blade and prevent any movement within the box. The complete documentation package is placed in a protective envelope inside the outer box. All fragile fittings are individually cushioned. The outer packaging is clearly and correctly labelled for customs declaration — including the HS tariff code, declared value, and the nature of the contents. A Tozando package is designed to survive inspection, transit, and a thorough customs examination without any damage to its contents.

6. 6
   Shipment

   UPS international air freight with full insurance

   3–7 days in transit depending on destination

   Tozando ships via UPS international air freight to all destinations — fully insured to the declared value of the sword. You receive a UPS tracking number at the moment of dispatch and can monitor the shipment's progress in real time. Typical transit times: United States 3–5 business days; United Kingdom and Europe 3–5 business days; Australia 5–7 business days.

   We ship direct via UPS to the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, and Italy. For all other European destinations, shipments route through our Netherlands hub for smoother EU customs clearance. For Australia and other destinations, direct international service is used.

   For Italy specifically: please note that Japanese swords must be delivered to a commercial address, not a private residence. If you are based in Italy, contact us before purchasing and we will assist you in arranging delivery to an appropriate commercial recipient.

   If customs holds your package In some countries and at some customs offices, packages containing edged weapons are held for additional inspection. This is normal, occasional, and not a cause for alarm. Tozando provides all documentation necessary for clearance in the package itself, and our commercial invoice includes the correct HS tariff code. If customs contacts you directly for additional information, contact us immediately — we will provide any supplementary documentation required and guide you through the process.
7. 7
   Delivery

   Your sword arrives — with everything it needs

   Day of delivery

   The box arrives. Here is exactly what is inside.

Where We Ship

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why does it take 4–6 weeks? Can it be faster?

  The timeline is driven by the Agency for Cultural Affairs export permit, which typically takes approximately two weeks to issue. This is a government process that cannot be expedited regardless of circumstances. The remaining time covers registration cancellation (3–5 days) and packing and transit (1–2 days preparation + 3–7 days shipping). The total is a legal requirement, not a logistical choice.

• Will I have to pay import duty or customs tax when it arrives?

  In most countries, antique swords over 100 years old enter at 0% import duty under the antiques HS tariff code (9706). Modern shinsakutō may attract a small duty (typically 2–8% depending on the destination country). Local sales taxes or VAT may apply on top. Tozando uses the correct HS code on all commercial invoices to ensure accurate and preferential customs classification. EU-destination buyers should budget approximately 19–22% VAT depending on country, applied to the landed value.

• What if my country's customs opens the package and damages something?

  Every Tozando shipment is fully insured to the declared value of the sword. If damage occurs in transit — including during customs inspection — the insurance covers the loss. Contact us immediately if the package shows signs of damage upon receipt and before opening; photograph everything before unpacking. We handle all insurance claims on your behalf.

• I don't read Japanese — can I still verify the NBTHK papers?

  Yes. The key information on an NBTHK certificate is interpretable by anyone with a basic guide — paper colour (yellow = Hozon; brown = Tokubetsu Hozon), the certificate number, and the blade measurements. A complete English translation guide to NBTHK papers is available in our blog. For additional verification, we provide an English summary of what the papers confirm with every purchase. The certificate number can also be cross-referenced against NBTHK records for Jūyō-level pieces.

• Is it legal to import a Japanese sword into my country?

  In most countries, yes — with the correct documentation. The US, UK, Canada, and most European countries permit private ownership of authentic nihonto with appropriate paperwork. The UK requires the sword to qualify under the traditional manufacture exemption (which all genuine nihonto do). Australia's requirements vary by state. We do not ship to countries where import is not permitted (including mainland China). Our complete country-by-country legal guide is available on our blog, and our team can advise on your specific situation before purchase.

• What happens after delivery — who do I contact if I have questions?

  Our English-language specialists remain available after delivery for any questions about your purchase — care, display, maintenance, documentation, or future acquisition plans. A purchase from Tozando begins a relationship with our team, not a transaction that ends at delivery. Contact us any time through the contact page on japanesesword.net.

In Closing — Transparency Is the Service

The most common reason a collector hesitates to complete their first international sword purchase is not the price and not uncertainty about authenticity. It is uncertainty about the process itself — what happens, what is required, who handles what, and what arrives at the end. This guide exists to eliminate that uncertainty entirely.

Tozando has been navigating this process for collectors in over 30 countries since 1989. Every stage described above is standard procedure for us — handled hundreds of times, refined over nearly four decades, and approached with the same care we bring to every sword in our collection.

The process is clear. The documentation is complete. The sword is authentic. The only remaining question is which one is yours.