AikiWeb Aikido Forums - View Single Post - Bring IAITO from Japan through USA to Latinamerica

Brett Charvat · 11-28-2009, 06:17 AM

I travel from the USA back to Japan about once a year expressly for iai training, and I've never had a problem either here or there with my iaito. Just be prepared to spend a bit more time at the airport in both countries. You may have to be escorted from baggage claim to the exit by staff (in the States), and you may have to check in with the airport police and let them examine it to ensure it's actually a mogito and not a shinken (in Japan), but all of it is very easy and simply involves a bit of extra time. And you may have to suffer through a difficult conversation with a customs agent about how his brother used to do Tae Kwon Do and had some swords "just like that." I suggest smiling and nodding.

11-28-2009, 06:17 AM	#9
Brett Charvat Location: Pullman, WA Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 64 Offline	Re: Bring IAITO from Japan through USA to Latinamerica I travel from the USA back to Japan about once a year expressly for iai training, and I've never had a problem either here or there with my iaito. Just be prepared to spend a bit more time at the airport in both countries. You may have to be escorted from baggage claim to the exit by staff (in the States), and you may have to check in with the airport police and let them examine it to ensure it's actually a mogito and not a shinken (in Japan), but all of it is very easy and simply involves a bit of extra time. And you may have to suffer through a difficult conversation with a customs agent about how his brother used to do Tae Kwon Do and had some swords "just like that." I suggest smiling and nodding.