Nihonto Question on Re-Tempering

[Philip]

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.