Japanese suppliers and CITIES

bacchanalian

I have been looking at the viability of buying a Bacchus or Tokai direct from Japan.

Does anyone know of a supplier or shop that will do the CITIES work required to export?

brooom

you can use a proxy service like rinkya/fromjapan etc. they won't care about CITES, they just want to sell, so they'll ship the guitar for you. (obviously proceed at your own risk).

there are also a couple of dealers on reverb that will do it. But again your own risk. It's worked for me on innumerous guitars though.

stickyfiddle

I would wait for the CITES meeting due in May - there was suggestion that an exemption would be passed for musical instruments

guitars4you

stickyfiddle said:

I would wait for the CITES meeting due in May - there was suggestion that an exemption would be passed for musical instruments

I'd agree - Will be good timing if it is no longer required - I suppose we'll no more later today, but with the EU Brexit issue to be resolved, there is  a potential situation with a NO DEAL an/or no customs union agreement, that CITES will be required for all such guitars, with rosewood, leaving and entering the UK/EU - Be it private or business sales - Be it new/used - A mess for all

Whitecat

Although decisions taken at CITES meetings rarely come into effect instantly... not sure about rule amendments per se, but whenever they add something to the index it's usually Jan 2nd of the following year that it's actually put into practice.

Hydra19

I bought a guitar from Japan in December 2017. Had it shipped to the USA but there was no cites required they said, shipped out the same day, arrived in USA 3 days later, and on top of all that, no VAT or Tax charges! Packed it in my suitcase, and brought it over to the UK and it's my best guitar (fender style).

I think it's on a seller by seller case, some of them will say it is needed, some won't mention it, but always it's at your own risk

gavin_axecaster

If musical instruments get an exemption at the May meeting it won't become law until September.

Doesn't ishibashi still ship rosewood? Their English language store is a bit sparse on info but for guitars with (what I assume would be) Brazilian rosewood boards they have a disclaimer that the guitar cannot get a CITES certificate. I take that to mean they can get CITES certificates for Indian rosewood.

https://www.ishibashi.co.jp/u_box/e/select.php?cd=05-315848410

Just so you know the Japanese export permit will cost approx £20 (3000JPY) and takes 2-3 weeks to process. The UK import permit costs £74 and takes 5-14 days to process. You need the export permit (or a pdf copy at least) to apply for the import permit.

brooom

Ishibashi doesn't ship rosewood unless they can issue a CITES certificate, for which you will have to wait, after paying for the guitar. If the guitar comes from their u-box, they will not ship rosewood at all.

bloomer

I was considering importing from Japan and asked a couple of shops about CITES. Guitar Planet said:


This guitar has rosewood fingerboard which we cannot export.
Just for your reference, if we ship this guitar, it will be about  16,600yen.
And you may need to pay import tax when you receive guitar.

Real Standard Music:

It's a very delicate matter about CITES ( as the guitar include 
rosewood), which needs to be dealt with carefully.

All rosewood and some bubinga has to be accompanied by loads of 
paperwork from 2017.

CITES 2017: The Rosewood Rules and What They Mean For You (And Your Guitar)
https://www.gearnews.com/cites-2017-guitars-new-regulations-rosewood-species/

New CITES Regulations For All Rosewood Species
https://reverb.com/news/new-cites-regulations-for-all-rosewood-species

I can apply for CITES Certificate, but it takes time maybe for 4 weeks 
because Ministry of Economy is crowded for many application.


I would consider importing from Spain instead, far simpler. This shop has some nice examples:

https://www.fanaticguitars.com/en/brand/tokai-guitars/?orderby=price-desc

bloomer

I was considering importing from Japan and asked a couple of shops about CITES. Guitar Planet said:


This guitar has rosewood fingerboard which we cannot export.
Just for your reference, if we ship this guitar, it will be about  16,600yen.
And you may need to pay import tax when you receive guitar.

Real Standard Music:

It's a very delicate matter about CITES ( as the guitar include 
rosewood), which needs to be dealt with carefully.

All rosewood and some bubinga has to be accompanied by loads of 
paperwork from 2017.

CITES 2017: The Rosewood Rules and What They Mean For You (And Your Guitar)
https://www.gearnews.com/cites-2017-guitars-new-regulations-rosewood-species/

New CITES Regulations For All Rosewood Species
https://reverb.com/news/new-cites-regulations-for-all-rosewood-species

I can apply for CITES Certificate, but it takes time maybe for 4 weeks 
because Ministry of Economy is crowded for many application.


I would consider importing from Spain instead, far simpler. This shop has some nice examples:

https://www.fanaticguitars.com/en/brand/tokai-guitars/?orderby=price-desc

monoamine

Just slipped a Brazilian rosewood heavy acoustic from Japan through customs without the package even being opened or looked at twice. Yes I chanced it but was pretty confident they don't care for individual instruments as much as big/industrial volumes.

I'm not suggesting you also 'break the law' but be aware they aren't as fastidious as they might make out.

Headphones

Just enter "fresh whale parts" on the papers, you'll have no problem with the Japanese customs.