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Forbidden Items to Bring to Singapore

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ecureilx
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Post by ecureilx » Thu, 14 Feb 2013 5:24 pm

sundaymorningstaple wrote:Probably always been like that, had you asked a customs officer.
chief, the two Katana I saw, both belong to COPS !!! I guess they should have consulted the customs people .. or they did so ..

I am talking like 10 years ago .. when I saw 'em ..

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sundaymorningstaple
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Post by sundaymorningstaple » Thu, 14 Feb 2013 9:22 pm

There were selling katanas in the Handyman shop on the 4th floor of the back block of the Shaw Centre (old building) 20 years ago. So how? These were on display and while the blades weren't "sharp", and I doubt seriously that they were folded high carbon steel, they could still decapitate a person I'd be willing to guess. So, I believe they were told that by their superiors so that they didn't have a bunch of whacko gangs bringing in real katanas.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

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Brah
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Post by Brah » Thu, 14 Feb 2013 10:27 pm

I understood that real katanas can't be taken out of Japan, but that doesn't include tourist junk.

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Post by WanWanWan » Thu, 14 Feb 2013 11:11 pm

Excellent, so kitchen knives and DVDs are acceptable. The vagueness of the customs website is frustrating. I emailed them (it was about two lines long) and they gave me what looked like an automated response which went into depth about bringing alcohol and guns into Singapore. Completely irrelevant.

It is good to know that they can be brought in. I will not accept a 'no' or an 'it's too difficult' from the moving company.

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Post by nakatago » Fri, 15 Feb 2013 6:54 am

On a personal note, as a martial artist and as a geek, I really think katanas are cool and would like to own one (they're awesome as hell).

However, they aren't exactly the most practical weapons today. How the hell would you go around with one without being stopped by cops or having the cops called on you? And owning one to just display at home? No go as I don't even have the space/more-than-temporary living quarters to even display if I printed one of my comic strips and framed it.

So yeah, the expense and the trouble of owning one (even a decorative one), more especially in Singapore, is just not worth it.

Besides, I know I could use a one dollar ballpoint pen to lethal effect in a fight anyway. :wink:
"A quokka is what would happen if there was an anime about kangaroos."

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ecureilx
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Post by ecureilx » Fri, 15 Feb 2013 10:30 am

Brah wrote:I understood that real katanas can't be taken out of Japan, but that doesn't include tourist junk.
:D :D

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mummy mantras
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Post by mummy mantras » Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:13 am

I've ordered a ton of stuff off Amazon UK, and customs never once told me that they needed to review it (for a fee or otherwise!).

Likewise, I always come back from the UK with lots of CDs and DVDs (usually stuff like Yes, Prime Minister and The Two Ronnies) and I've never once been stopped or asked to pay for them to be reviewed for importation!

Maybe I look far too good-natured and innocent to be trying any funny stuff, so they just wave me through... :wink:

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