I want US-exclusive Converse sneakers!
However, they are not sold even on the internet or at import specialty stores in Japan…
Actually, this is a very special case. While importing is usually simple, Converse alone is strictly restricted from being imported due to trademark and intellectual property rights.
It is very strict even for personal use, and regarding sales, the regulations are almost the same as those for prohibited import items.
Under such circumstances, we actually challenged importing them this time, so we would like to introduce the method and the results.
Why Is Importing Converse Prohibited?
Looking at the official Converse Japan website,
Regarding the Import of CONVERSE Shoes
August 2011
Recently, a petition to suspend the import of CONVERSE shoes was accepted at Tokyo Customs.
As a result, please note that the import of CONVERSE shoes will be subject to suspension at customs nationwide in the future.
Furthermore, as determined by the Intellectual Property High Court ruling on April 27, 2010, the import of overseas CONVERSE products without permission from the trademark holder in Japan also infringes upon the trademark rights in Japan.
We will continue to take necessary measures for the maintenance and development of the CONVERSE brand.
Converse Japan Co., Ltd.
Converse Footwear Co., Ltd.
there is such a statement.
Normally, the general principle of importing is that if it is a genuine product and not a fake, there is no problem with importing it.
Under such circumstances, why is Converse the only exception where imports are suspended at a national level in Japan?
This involves the law of trademark rights.
In the case of Converse, it is a rare situation where the trademark rights are held by Converse Inc. in the US, and by Itochu Corporation in Japan.
In short, importing Converse, which holds the US trademark rights, means infringing on the Japanese trademark rights held by Itochu Corporation.
In the past, a company that was parallel importing US Converse sneakers was sued by Itochu Corporation. As a result, a ruling was issued stating that it “constitutes trademark infringement,” which led to the current special situation.
Because of such cases, it has become difficult for US shipping companies to export Converse to Japan, even if it is a single personal import.
Will Converse Actually Be Confiscated at Customs?
As mentioned above, it is difficult according to the rules, but is it really impossible to import them?
This time, we received a request after explaining these reasons to our customer, so we would like to report the results.
This request was for the import of two pairs for personal use.
When we sent just one pair before, there was no problem, but when it is two pairs, there is a possibility that it may be considered for “sales purposes.”
We were a little worried when we sent them, but as a result, they cleared customs safely without any issues!
The shipping company told us, “It should be fine since it is for personal use, but there is a possibility that they will be suspended and you will be asked to submit necessary documents!” However, since it was two pairs, there was tentatively no problem.
Even if it is more than that, we think the possibility of confiscation is low, but there seem to be quite a few cases where necessary documents are requested.
Tips to Avoid Converse Being Confiscated at Customs
When we ship sneakers and other items to Japan, we actually do not write down the manufacturer.
What is important to customs is what kind of shoes they are, what materials they are made of, and how much they cost, which are the parts related to customs duties. Therefore, we declare them as “shoes made with a specific material” rather than “Converse sneakers.”
For this reason, we think the reality is that when checking the products at customs, the person in charge may determine that they cannot be imported.
If it is a state-run service like USPS, importing is generally okay. However, if it is a private service like Yamato Transport or Sagawa Express, it tends to lead to a process where documents are requested.
If you really want US-exclusive Converse sneakers but cannot go there to buy them, designating USPS as the shipping company is probably the most reliable method.
However, please understand that this is ultimately a customs decision, so when importing, you are doing so at your own risk even if the items are confiscated.