Regarding Tozando,Ive ordered a few items before and it was great,so I keep coming back.My latest order was a Musashi Iaito shipped to Portugal.Things went perfect in everything related to Tozando.My order was placed on 18th September,and I'm still waiting for it to be delivered due to UPS incompetence and the absolute impossibility of communicating with the people in charge of import.Tozando warned me in advance the Iaito could be stopped at Customs,so I expected that.UPS was absolutely useless in telling me what to do.Even after UPS had all documents necessary to release my package(Police authorization)they kept creating obstacles and delaying the process,and they are charging for every day of storing the package.I will update on this once I get my Iaito,but if you live in Portugal get all the information you can at customs(theyve been extremely helpful at Aeroporto Sa Carneiro)and your local Police Station(PSP).DONT choose UPS to handle the delivery unless you have no choice.
Was this review helpful to you?
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Musashi Koshirae Basic
August 17, 2010
Reviewer:
MB
from Peterborough, cambridgeshire United Kingdom
This is my 1st modern iaito, replacing a 30 year old alloy weighing in at 1097g. There is no comparison. At 802g, this is a pleasure to train with due to the weight, balance and therefore ease of cutting. The only fault is my lack of skill.
Thanks to Junko for making the changes to my order, twice.
Delivery time was quoted as 2 to 3 weeks which was fairly exact, coming midway between 2 and 3.
Well packaged, sturdy box within a sturdy box, with a blue cotton bag.
(For UK customers, it was stopped at customs requiring written confirmation of length, sharp or blunt, curved or straight. An email explaining, with my BKA account page attached, saw it delivered the next day. There was £17-ish import tax to pay and a small courier fee for handling the tax)
Was this review helpful to you?
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Just received it about 5 weeks early!
March 5, 2008
Reviewer:
Andy McL
from NH, United States
Thank you Tozando!
I am very happy it came so much earlier than expected. Everything looks very tight and have been crafted with care. The packaging was top notch (a box within a box, wrapped in newspaper, finally iaito was in a nice black 2 layer cloth bag).
The only item that surprised me is the tsuka and sageo color. The Iron Navy color is greenish and light. I would call it sage or maybe dark sage.
I had already planned on buying a more expensive custom Iaito in the future so I am not upset about the color. I hope to buy my next one in person if possible.
Again thank you Tozando! I look forward to practicing with it and increasing my skills and knowledge in one of Japan's many arts.
Tozando is great. UPS not so much... 
Musashi Koshirae Basic