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Originally Posted by Battara
I thought true traditional nihonto was forbidden to leave Japan.  |
Only in the case of blades (and other categories of art) deemed important enough by the Ministry of Culture to be National Treasures, and in such case must remain in-country.
Otherwise, swords are free to come and go, though ownership in Japan is subject to registration requirements, and export requires permit and paperwork . I was informed by a sword dealer and polisher that this tight regulation of weapons goes all the way back to rules laid down during the postwar US occupation.