Japanese export laws?

dokool · Post by **dokool** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 11:38 pm

(Note to mods: somewhat on-topic b/c of its relation to buying anime, games, etc. Apologies if off-topic)

Anyone familiar with these? I've heard from somebody that there are laws regarding the exporting of goods from Japan that aren't regularly available in the US (stuff like anime, advanced electronics, games, etc), requiring those who want to ship such goods to have a licence. Unfortunately, I'm not even close to an expert on Japanese law, so perhaps someone around here is familiar with the system and can offer information?

thanks,
-DOKool

azulmagia · Post by **azulmagia** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 11:40 pm

It's illegal to export PS2s to North Korea. The electronics can be used in missle guidance electronics.

I'm not making this up.

EarthCurrent · Post by **EarthCurrent** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 11:53 pm

If you have concerns, just go through a middle man who does the importing for you instead of purchasing directly from a Japanese retailer.

You may pay a bit more, but you won't have to deal with customs hassles.

dokool · Post by **dokool** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 11:55 pm

EarthCurrent wrote:If you have concerns, just go through a middle man who does the importing for you instead of purchasing directly from a Japanese retailer.

You may pay a bit more, but you won't have to deal with customs hassles.

No, no... I'm gonna be in Tokyo come august and want to export as much as I can =)

-DOKool

EarthCurrent · Post by **EarthCurrent** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 12:03 am

Just put it in your carry on luggage.
And then sneak it through customs.
Actually, all you'll probably need to worry about most likely is paying a duty tax on stuff you bring over.

Contact the U.S. consolate in Tokyo and ask them about it.
Or the Japanese consolate here in the U.S.
They'd have the people who would know. And I believe the Japanese Consololates here in the U.S. have 800 numbers.

Jonathan02us · Post by **Jonathan02us** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 12:16 am

Im sure there are some sort of Law regarding Exporting from Japan. But if u gonna try and do it urself, u better be prepared to pay the consequences that will come if u get caught. I dont think that the Japanese authorities would like foriegners bringing home stuff not yet released in the states and not getting a piece of the pie, if u kno wat i mean. And if u gonna try and sneak it in, i would be careful because some of the devices in the air port, like the x-ray machine can damage the vidoes and then it would be as if u never had them and just threw away ur money. Well thats just my two cents on that, hope u figure something out and make the right decision...

dokool · Post by **dokool** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 12:28 am

Well, it's a matter of how much I can ship rather than how much I can fit into my suitcase, since I'll be living there for 8 months. Figured I could start a little business on the side shipping R2s to people back home, especially AMV editors hard-up for some hard-to-find stuff...

-DOKool

Jonathan02us · Post by **Jonathan02us** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:05 am

dokool wrote:Well, it's a matter of how much I can ship rather than how much I can fit into my suitcase, since I'll be living there for 8 months. Figured I could start a little business on the side shipping R2s to people back home, especially AMV editors hard-up for some hard-to-find stuff...

-DOKool

Watever works for ya ... good luck, and make sure u hook it up ...

... jk

DJ_Izumi · Post by **DJ_Izumi** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:10 am

Have you seen the movie 'Midnight Express' where the guy gets caught smuggeling heroine out of Turkey and is thrown into turkish person?

You'll WISH you were him when the Japanese Drug Elimination Agency gets you. Japanese prisons make Turkey look like thanksgiving dinner!

Tom the Fish · Post by **Tom the Fish** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 8:08 am

I've never had a problem bringing home goods from Japan or any other country. I really wouldn't worry about it.

In Japan, bring your passport everywhere, if you spend over JPY10000, tell the cashier duty-free and they'll fill out a form, not charge you taxes and staple it to your passport. When you leave, the customs people on the Japanese side will take the forms.

I believe you can bring back $800 worth of goods with no problem, but I've brought back thousands of dollars worth of goods and just been waved through both sides. The only time they seem to care is if the goods are for commercial purposes and that's never come up with me.

Keep in mind I'm no expert, so your milage may vary.

Less than one week until Tokyo,
Tom