Shipping and duties
One delivered price. The duty is inside it. Here is exactly what that means.
What changed in 2025
Until August 2025, a parcel worth under $800 entered the US duty-free under the de minimis rule, which is why buying a knife from Japan used to feel like buying domestically. The US government suspended that exemption for every country, and it remains suspended. Every parcel from Japan now goes through customs with duty assessed on its declared value.
Most Japanese shops responded by shipping DDU: the price on their site is the knife plus postage, and the duty arrives later as a bill from DHL or FedEx, with the carrier's own clearance fee added. Buyers on Reddit and knife forums discovered this the hard way.
What we do instead
We ship DDP, Delivered Duty Paid. When we quote a knife at, say, $120 delivered, that number already contains the knife, insured shipping and the US import duty. The carrier is paid before the box leaves Tokyo. You sign for it and that is the end of the transaction.
| Typical Japanese shop (DDU) | Us (DDP) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price on site | Knife + postage | Knife + shipping + US duty |
| At delivery | Duty bill + carrier brokerage fee | Nothing |
| Who deals with customs | You | We do |
Carriers and timing
We use DHL Express, FedEx or Japan Post EMS depending on destination and weight. All three are tracked and insured for the full value. Door to door is typically three to five days by DHL or FedEx and five to ten by EMS. We ship within two business days of payment for knives the maker has in stock. Made-to-order knives (left-handed single bevels, custom handles, engraving on some lines) take two to six weeks and we tell you the lead time before you pay.
Is it legal?
Yes. Kitchen knives are ordinary merchandise at US customs. There is no federal blade-length limit for kitchen cutlery and no import permit. State knife laws concern carrying, and mostly cover switchblades, gravity knives and similar; a gyuto in a kitchen drawer is not affected. Japan does not restrict the export of kitchen knives (the Japanese law on blades leaving the country covers registered swords and cultural property).
Packing
Edge and tip are guarded, the knife is wrapped and placed in the maker's box, then in a rigid outer carton with padding on all sides. Carbon steel blades are lightly oiled and ship with a desiccant packet so a week in a humid warehouse does not leave rust on a new blade. Wipe the oil off before first use.
Damage, mistakes and returns
If a knife arrives damaged, chipped or not what you ordered, send us a photo within 7 days and we replace it or refund you in full, at our cost. For a change of mind on an unused, unsharpened knife, contact us within 14 days of delivery; you cover return shipping to Japan and we refund the knife price once it arrives. Made-to-order, left-handed and engraved knives are final sale.
Frequently asked questions
Will I get a customs bill from DHL or FedEx?
No. We ship DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). Import duty and any carrier clearance fee are paid by us before the parcel leaves Japan. If a carrier ever asks you for money on a parcel from us, do not pay it; forward us the notice and we handle it.
Why do other Japanese knife shops charge duty on delivery?
Most ship DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid), which was invisible to buyers while the $800 de minimis exemption existed. Since the US suspended it in August 2025, DDU parcels arrive with a duty bill plus a carrier brokerage fee. We chose to build the duty into the price instead.
Roughly how much is the duty?
It depends on the tariff schedule in force and the knife's declared value. Shops shipping DDU are telling US customers to expect on the order of 15% of the declared value plus a carrier fee. We absorb the actual amount into the quoted price so you never see it.
How is the knife packed?
Blade tip and edge are covered, the knife is wrapped, boxed in the maker's box where one exists, then packed in a rigid outer carton with padding. Carbon steel blades get a light coat of oil and a moisture-absorbing packet.
Can I return a knife?
If it arrives damaged or is not what you ordered, we replace it or refund you, our shipping cost. For a change of mind on an unused, unsharpened knife, contact us within 14 days; you pay return shipping to Japan and we refund the knife price. Made-to-order and engraved knives cannot be returned.
Do you ship outside the US?
This site is built for US buyers and every price includes US duty. We can ship to Canada, the UK, EU and Australia on request with duties quoted separately.