**Information for NBTHK Shinsa and Clearance into Japan for Work, etc. as of April 01, 2022
We have had to increase our prices slightly due to higher postage costs, handling costs.
* Due to continuing Covid -19 in 2022 There are still delays in receiving blades back from Shinsa. As long as International flights in & out of Japan are limited please expect delays. Bunkacho clearance has been running about 3 weeks to get approval to export. Thank you for understanding.
1.) Expected Costs:
a.) Postage to Japan - estimated US $45-125
b.) Torokusho (Japan Police registration) ¥ 6,300
c.) NBTHK Shinsa fees (see NBTHK‘s price list) Please look at the NBTHK website - http://www.touken.or.jp/english/shinsa_fees.html
d.) Polishing, Shirasaya, Habaki, etc. work in Japan differs according to what you want done.
e.) Postage for blade/certificate Japan to us in Hawaii estimated $45-$125
f.) Postage for blade/certificate back to you depends which country and method you want it mailed estimated $35- $100
g.)* Our fee as agent for processing into and out of Japan is $350 per blade. One way is $250.
Fittings/ Koshirae handling is $150
This fee covers us taking care of all required paperwork , photography & legwork for the Japan postal customs clearance, police registration & Bunka Cho clearance in and out of the country, shinsa submission , etc.
2.) Deposit : * Price increase as of 04/01/2022
We require a deposit of $550 per blade and $150 per fitting or koshirae to be submitted. We do not know what the piece will appraise to until after the appraisal session.See next section & link to NBTHK Japan website for their shinsa fees. This deposit basically covers the postage to Japan, customs clearance, torokusho registration and agent fee. Shinsa fee will be requested after we receive the results. Return postage will be calculated after we receive it and ship back to you. When all work has been completed and ready to be shipped back to you. You will receive an itemized receipt of charges and the balance is to be paid or refunded in full.
3.) NBTHK Shinsa Fees:
See NBTHK's shinsa fees at http://www.touken.or.jp/english/shinsa_fees.html
- If you are a member we will need your NBTHK membership number.
- If non-member the NBTHK charges 2,000 yen extra on each item submitted to shinsa for Hozon and Tokubetsu Hozon. ( i.e: If your piece passes both Hozon and T. Hozon you will be charged an additional 4,000 yen on top of their shinsa fees.)
-For a Juyo Token shinsa submission you will have to become a NBTHK member.
-You can join the American Branch of the NBTHK at www.nbthk-ab.org
4.) NBTHK Shinsas are usually held during the below months: Because of Covid -19 some shinsa dates may be changed.
Hozon/Tokubetsu Hozon blade Shinsa: June, Sept, Dec , March
Hozon/Tokubetsu Hozon Fittings & Koshirae Shinsas: Feb, April, Aug, Oct, Nov
Juyo Token Shinsa : October 2022 ( We would like to have the blade by August so it has plenty of time to clear the Japan Customs/ Torokusho shinsa)
5.) When do we need the blade?
We would like the sword a month and half to two months before the Shinsa it is to be submitted to. Blades need to be cleared into the country one month before the shinsa.
Fittings, Koshirae we would like them at least one month before the shinsa.
Please contact us before sending your blade or fitting so we can let you know when we will be sending pieces.
6.) To submit to NBTHK shinsa:
a.) We recommend that your piece should be in presentable condition (in polish would be nice) so the judges can see all the characteristics to make a proper kantei. Please do not ask us to show them or submit rusty pieces so you can find out whether you have a treasure. They will not be able to properly judge and you will be wasting your money because it will be rejected.
b.) If the blade is in decent condition and has no shirasaya or koshirae to protect the blade, please either get one made before submission or we can arrange to have one made, find an old one that fits or make a shimbun (newspaper) saya. Please remember you are trying to protect the blade and all those who handle it.
c.) Please put the blade in a shirasaya bag or koshirae bag, otherwise, we will put one on and this will be added to your bill. We need to have a bag so identification tags can be attached. (See supply price list for bag costs)
7.) Shinsa results:
Usually we receive them the last week of the month after the shinsa month. ( ie: Jan Shinsa results in the end of Feb ).
Many shinsa months there are Delays, due to holidays, large amount of submissions, etc. so as soon as we receive the results, we will email, fax, phone or mail you the results the day we receive them.
8.) When will I see my piece again after Shinsa?
Bunkacho Sword export clearance has been running about 3-4 weeks to get approval to export. Thank you for understanding.
We cannot pick up your piece from the NBTHK until we are notified of the release date on the shinsa results card. Release date is approximately 2-3 weeks after we receive the results card. After the sword has been picked up from the NBTHK, paperwork has to be filed with the Bunkacho. This takes approximately 2 -3 weeks for Bunkacho clearance. Then there is the shipping time.
For blades that have been submitted to the Hozon Token and/or Tokubetsu Hozon shinsas, the turn around time averages 3-6 months. Figure another 2 -3 months if you want a sayagaki .
You will receive your certificate around the same time as your blade, however, sometimes there will be delays.
Juyo Token shinsa submissions averages 6-10 months before it is returned . If your paper receives Juyo Token status. The blade may be selected to be put on display at the museum depending on available space. You will receive your certificate and page copy from the Juyo Token Nado Zufu book in approximately a 1 year to 1 year and a half, as they need time to do photography, oshigata, verbage on the piece to be included in the Juyo Token Nado Zufu book.
9.) We provide No insurance
Please arrange with your insurance company.
For insurance on your blade during shipping, the US postal system , Fed Ex, etc or your chosen shipping provider can provide insurance .
10.) Please include a note with your contact information and what you would like done with the piece when you send your blade to us.
Thank You.
We have had to increase our prices slightly due to higher postage costs, handling costs.
* Due to continuing Covid -19 in 2022 There are still delays in receiving blades back from Shinsa. As long as International flights in & out of Japan are limited please expect delays. Bunkacho clearance has been running about 3 weeks to get approval to export. Thank you for understanding.
1.) Expected Costs:
a.) Postage to Japan - estimated US $45-125
b.) Torokusho (Japan Police registration) ¥ 6,300
c.) NBTHK Shinsa fees (see NBTHK‘s price list) Please look at the NBTHK website - http://www.touken.or.jp/english/shinsa_fees.html
d.) Polishing, Shirasaya, Habaki, etc. work in Japan differs according to what you want done.
e.) Postage for blade/certificate Japan to us in Hawaii estimated $45-$125
f.) Postage for blade/certificate back to you depends which country and method you want it mailed estimated $35- $100
g.)* Our fee as agent for processing into and out of Japan is $350 per blade. One way is $250.
Fittings/ Koshirae handling is $150
This fee covers us taking care of all required paperwork , photography & legwork for the Japan postal customs clearance, police registration & Bunka Cho clearance in and out of the country, shinsa submission , etc.
2.) Deposit : * Price increase as of 04/01/2022
We require a deposit of $550 per blade and $150 per fitting or koshirae to be submitted. We do not know what the piece will appraise to until after the appraisal session.See next section & link to NBTHK Japan website for their shinsa fees. This deposit basically covers the postage to Japan, customs clearance, torokusho registration and agent fee. Shinsa fee will be requested after we receive the results. Return postage will be calculated after we receive it and ship back to you. When all work has been completed and ready to be shipped back to you. You will receive an itemized receipt of charges and the balance is to be paid or refunded in full.
3.) NBTHK Shinsa Fees:
See NBTHK's shinsa fees at http://www.touken.or.jp/english/shinsa_fees.html
- If you are a member we will need your NBTHK membership number.
- If non-member the NBTHK charges 2,000 yen extra on each item submitted to shinsa for Hozon and Tokubetsu Hozon. ( i.e: If your piece passes both Hozon and T. Hozon you will be charged an additional 4,000 yen on top of their shinsa fees.)
-For a Juyo Token shinsa submission you will have to become a NBTHK member.
-You can join the American Branch of the NBTHK at www.nbthk-ab.org
4.) NBTHK Shinsas are usually held during the below months: Because of Covid -19 some shinsa dates may be changed.
Hozon/Tokubetsu Hozon blade Shinsa: June, Sept, Dec , March
Hozon/Tokubetsu Hozon Fittings & Koshirae Shinsas: Feb, April, Aug, Oct, Nov
Juyo Token Shinsa : October 2022 ( We would like to have the blade by August so it has plenty of time to clear the Japan Customs/ Torokusho shinsa)
5.) When do we need the blade?
We would like the sword a month and half to two months before the Shinsa it is to be submitted to. Blades need to be cleared into the country one month before the shinsa.
Fittings, Koshirae we would like them at least one month before the shinsa.
Please contact us before sending your blade or fitting so we can let you know when we will be sending pieces.
6.) To submit to NBTHK shinsa:
a.) We recommend that your piece should be in presentable condition (in polish would be nice) so the judges can see all the characteristics to make a proper kantei. Please do not ask us to show them or submit rusty pieces so you can find out whether you have a treasure. They will not be able to properly judge and you will be wasting your money because it will be rejected.
b.) If the blade is in decent condition and has no shirasaya or koshirae to protect the blade, please either get one made before submission or we can arrange to have one made, find an old one that fits or make a shimbun (newspaper) saya. Please remember you are trying to protect the blade and all those who handle it.
c.) Please put the blade in a shirasaya bag or koshirae bag, otherwise, we will put one on and this will be added to your bill. We need to have a bag so identification tags can be attached. (See supply price list for bag costs)
7.) Shinsa results:
Usually we receive them the last week of the month after the shinsa month. ( ie: Jan Shinsa results in the end of Feb ).
Many shinsa months there are Delays, due to holidays, large amount of submissions, etc. so as soon as we receive the results, we will email, fax, phone or mail you the results the day we receive them.
8.) When will I see my piece again after Shinsa?
Bunkacho Sword export clearance has been running about 3-4 weeks to get approval to export. Thank you for understanding.
We cannot pick up your piece from the NBTHK until we are notified of the release date on the shinsa results card. Release date is approximately 2-3 weeks after we receive the results card. After the sword has been picked up from the NBTHK, paperwork has to be filed with the Bunkacho. This takes approximately 2 -3 weeks for Bunkacho clearance. Then there is the shipping time.
For blades that have been submitted to the Hozon Token and/or Tokubetsu Hozon shinsas, the turn around time averages 3-6 months. Figure another 2 -3 months if you want a sayagaki .
You will receive your certificate around the same time as your blade, however, sometimes there will be delays.
Juyo Token shinsa submissions averages 6-10 months before it is returned . If your paper receives Juyo Token status. The blade may be selected to be put on display at the museum depending on available space. You will receive your certificate and page copy from the Juyo Token Nado Zufu book in approximately a 1 year to 1 year and a half, as they need time to do photography, oshigata, verbage on the piece to be included in the Juyo Token Nado Zufu book.
9.) We provide No insurance
Please arrange with your insurance company.
For insurance on your blade during shipping, the US postal system , Fed Ex, etc or your chosen shipping provider can provide insurance .
10.) Please include a note with your contact information and what you would like done with the piece when you send your blade to us.
Thank You.