Shipping & Returns (January, 2026 )
General Terms and Conditions of Use
1. No Refunds or Cancellations
We maintain partnerships with distinguished Japanese artisans, including Kobaien, to offer their finest products to customers worldwide at the most competitive prices possible. To achieve this pricing structure, we do not accept refunds or cancellations once an order has been placed. Our pricing excludes costs associated with returns or cancellations, enabling us to maintain the lowest possible retail prices.
2. Handcrafted Products and Production Timelines
All products offered through this store are handcrafted by skilled artisans using traditional methods. Due to the nature of handcrafted production, manufacturing and shipping timelines may be subject to unexpected delays beyond our control. Such delays may be caused by factors including but not limited to: material availability, artisan production schedules, quality control requirements, and seasonal production variations.
Customers acknowledge that estimated production and shipping times are approximate and not guaranteed. We do not accept order cancellations based on production or shipping delays. Orders remain binding regardless of any delays in manufacturing or shipment.
3. Returns Due to Customer Circumstances
If a package is returned to us due to customer-related issues (including but not limited to: refusal of delivery, incorrect shipping address, refusal to pay customs duties, or inability to receive the package), the following conditions apply:
3-1. If the issue is attributable to the customer (incorrect address, incorrect recipient information, refusal of customs duties, etc.), the customer shall bear all reshipping costs. We will retain the order and reship once the customer has remitted the required shipping fees.
3-2. If the issue is attributable to our company (shipping error, incorrect address entry, etc.), we shall bear all reshipping costs and reship the package at our expense.
All reshipping costs shall be determined through prior consultation between the customer and our company.
4. Limitation of Liability - Product Use
All products sold through this store (including but not limited to inksticks, inks, brushes, and related materials) are intended exclusively for their traditional purposes: Japanese calligraphy and watercolor painting on paper. Any use of our products for purposes other than their intended application is undertaken entirely at the customer's own risk.
We ICHI Inc. and Kobaien shall not be held liable for any damages, losses, injuries, or consequences of any kind arising from the misuse, alternative use, or non-traditional application of our products. This limitation of liability applies regardless of the nature or extent of such damages and is a fundamental condition of sale.
5. Import Compliance and Customs Responsibilities
All customers serve as the importer of record in their destination country and are solely responsible for: (a) payment of all applicable import fees, duties, taxes, and customs charges; and (b) ensuring that ordered products may be lawfully imported into the destination country and comply with all applicable laws and regulations thereof.
6. Shipping and Delivery
6-1. We assume no responsibility or liability for shipping delays, delivery failures, package damage, loss in transit, or any other shipping-related incidents once the package has been transferred to the carrier. Customers acknowledge and accept these terms as a condition of placing an order.
6-2. Certain products (particularly liquid inks and brushes) may be prohibited for shipment to specific countries. Customers are responsible for verifying their country's import regulations prior to placing an order. We do not conduct shipping compliance verification at the time of dispatch. If we identify products that cannot be legally shipped after an order is placed, we reserve the right to cancel the entire order. No partial shipments will be made in such circumstances.
7. Product Variations
Products may vary in color, shape, size, or appearance from photographs displayed on this online store due to factors including but not limited to: seasonal variations in natural materials, handcrafted production methods, and product size differences. Customers acknowledge and accept these potential variations as a condition of purchase. We do not accept returns, refunds, or exchange requests based on natural variations between actual products and photographic representations.
8. Shipping Weight Calculation
All stated shipping weights include the weight of protective packing materials and packaging.
9. Acceptance of Terms
By placing an order through this online store, customers acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by all terms and conditions stated herein.
10 🇺🇸 Shipping to the USA 🇺🇸
We have strived to deliver Kobaien products to our customers at the lowest possible price while ensuring maximum safety. For now, what We are about to share is the best we can do. We are sorry.
We kindly ask you to review the following points before placing your order:
◆Customs Duties & Import Fees
U.S. Customs may charge import duties, taxes, and other import-related fees upon arrival. These costs are not included in our shipping charges.
Since 2025, all imports from Japan to the USA are subject to a 15% baseline tariff (a tax imposed by the government on imported goods), calculated on the item's value excluding shipping costs. Recipients must pay this tariff along with any applicable state taxes, which vary by location and product category.
For example, if you purchase a $10 item from a Japanese online store, you must pay an additional $1.50 to the U.S. government as import duty, which is 15% of the $10 purchase price. If you buy two $10 items, the import duty would be = $3 ($10 x 15% x 2).
Important: If the required tariff and duties are not paid, U.S. Customs may seize or destroy the shipment. Please check applicable rates before ordering or refer to the official U.S. Customs and Border Protection website: https://www.cbp.gov/
◆Delivery Inspection & Documentation
U.S. Customs has recently strengthened inspection procedures for UPS shipments, and some parcels may be temporarily held for document verification.
If UPS or U.S. Customs requests a Commercial Invoice, please contact us immediately — only we can issue this document. We will provide it promptly, and you should then communicate directly with UPS or U.S. Customs for clearance. Handling through Japan may cause delays or additional storage fees.
◆Shipping Fees
The shipping fee at checkout covers standard delivery. Additional charges may apply for heavy packages, and we will contact you before shipping if this occurs.
◆Delivery Time
UPS (United Parcel Service) handles our package delivery. In some areas, packages may be left unattended. Please note that delivery to the U.S. may take longer than usual. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Yamato Transport (UPS) Tracking: https://www.ups.com/track
Thank you for your continued support.
Shipping
Due to the war of invasion against Ukraine by Russia., some countries are not able to ship products from Japan.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
It may be possible for us to handle this matter on an individual basis.
If your country does not appear in the checkout page as a shipping destination, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We hope that the world will soon be at peace.
CONTACT US >>
Approximate time from order to shipment.
We employ the least expensive means of preparing shipments in Japan. Therefore, it takes approximately 4-5 business days (excluding weekends and holidays) from the time your order is placed to the time it is shipped.
We can send itemss to the following countries and with the following shipping costs.
Every package we ship to you comes with a tracking number. The tracking number will be emailed to you after shipment.
Our shipping methods are;
1) Express Mail Service, Fastest and Safe. Recommended
- EMS, Top priority Mail Service by Air, which is the fastest and registered international mail service run by Japan Post.
- Delivery in 2-3 weeks ( It depends on the postal situation in your area. ) .
- Tracking / Signature required on delivery.
- The full value of your order is covered by insurance for damage in case of shipping accidents.( up to 2,000,000JPY) . In this case, "shipping accidents" are those certified as "shipping accidents" by the local post office in your country.
- https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/ems/index_en.html
2) IePL ( International ePacket Light )
- Delivery in 3-4 weeks ( It depends on the postal situation in your area. )
- Tracking number, Slower than Express Mail Service, No compensation for product damage or loss resulting from accidents during delivery.
- Delivery is to the mailbox at the address specified by the recipient. We do not guarantee in-person delivery.
- https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/service/epacketlight_en.html
3)YAMATO TRANSPORT
- YAMATO TRANSPORT is a Japanese company. Once your package arrives in the United States, its shipping partner UPS (United Parcel Service) takes over delivery.
- Delivery typically takes about 2 to 3 weeks. However, depending on the time of year, U.S. import customs clearance and customs inspections may take longer, potentially causing significant delays in delivery.
- The payment method for customs duties and other fees is “Payee Pays”. If payment of duties and taxes by the recipient cannot be confirmed before delivery, the recipient may be charged a fee of $12.00 USD (per shipment) at the time of delivery. Failure to pay may result in forced return or disposal of the shipment.
- Depending on the area, delivery may be left unattended.
- Compensation is up to 200,000 Japanese yen. Compensation is paid based on the actual loss amount, using the item value stated on the shipping label as the basis.
- https://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/ytc/en/send/services/oversea/
We do not take any responsibility for any delivery accidents in any shipping methods. Customers are assumed to have understood and agreed to this before placing an order.
If your country is not on this list, please let us know. We will work with you to solve the problem.
g: gram
¥: Japanese Yen
Japan Domestic
Flat rate ¥700
Taiwan ( 台灣 ) ,South Korea, Mainland China ( 中華人民共和国 )
EMS ( Express Mail Service )
0 g - 500g ¥2450
501g–600g ¥2600
601g–700g ¥2750
701g–800g ¥2900
801g–900g ¥3050
901g–1,000g ¥3200
1,001 g - 1,250 g ¥ 3500
1,251 g - 1,500 g ¥ 3800
1521 g - 1,750 g ¥ 4100
1,751 g - 2,000 g ¥ 4400
2,001 g - 2,500 g ¥ 4900
2,501 g - 3,000 g ¥ 5400
3,001g - 3,500g ¥ 5900
3,501 g - 4,000 g ¥ 6400
4001g - 4,500g ¥ 6900
4501g - 5000g ¥ 7400
5001g - 5500g ¥ 7900
5501g - 6000g ¥ 8400
6001g - 7000g ¥ 9200
7001g - 8000g ¥ 10000
8001g - 9000g ¥ 10800
9001g - 10000g ¥ 11600
IePL ( International ePacket Light )
0 g - 100g ¥1720
101g–200g ¥1820
201g–300g ¥1920
301g–400g ¥2020
401g–500g ¥2120
501g–600g ¥2220
601g–700g ¥2320
701g–800g ¥2420
801g–900g ¥2520
901g–1,000g ¥2620
1,001 g - 1,100 g ¥ 2720
1,101 g - 1,200 g ¥ 2820
1,201 g - 1,300 g ¥ 2920
1,301 g - 1,400 g ¥ 3020
1,401 g - 1,500 g ¥ 3120
1,501 g - 1,600 g ¥ 3220
1,601 g - 1,700 g ¥ 3320
1,701 g - 1,800 g ¥ 3420
1,801 g - 1,900 g ¥ 3520
1,901 g - 2,000 g ¥ 3620
Indonesia, Philippines, India, Thai, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong ( 香港 ), Makau ( 澳門 )
EMS ( Express Mail Service )
0 g - 500g ¥2900
501g–600g ¥3150
601g–700g ¥3400
701g–800g ¥3650
801g–900g ¥3900
901g–1,000g ¥4150
1,001 g - 1,250 g ¥4500
1,251 g - 1,500 g ¥4850
1521 g - 1,750 g ¥5200
1,751 g - 2,000 g ¥5550
2,001 g - 2,500 g ¥6150
2,501 g - 3,000 g ¥6750
3,001g - 3,500g ¥7350
3,501 g - 4,000g ¥7950
4001g - 4,500g ¥8550
4501g - 5000g ¥9150
5001g - 5500g ¥9750
5501g - 6000g ¥10350
6001g - 7000g ¥11350
7001g - 8000g ¥12350
8001g - 9000g ¥13350
9001g - 10000g ¥14350
IePL ( International ePacket Light )
0 g - 100g ¥1750
101g–200g ¥1870
201g–300g ¥1990
301g–400g ¥2110
401g–500g ¥2230
501g–600g ¥2350
601g–700g ¥2470
701g–800g ¥2590
801g–900g ¥2710
901g–1,000g ¥2830
1,001 g - 1,100 g ¥2950
1,101 g - 1,200 g ¥3070
1,201 g - 1,300 g ¥3190
1,301 g - 1,400 g ¥3310
1,401 g - 1,500 g ¥3430
1,501 g - 1,600 g ¥3550
1,601 g - 1,700 g ¥3670
1,701 g - 1,800 g ¥3790
1,801 g - 1,900 g ¥3910
1,901 g - 2,000 g ¥4030
USA
YAMATO TRANSPORT / International TA-Q-BIN
0g – 2000g ¥5000
2,001g - 5,000g ¥7600
Europe, Middle East, Canada, South America
UK, Netherlands, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, Lithuania, Turkey, France, Liechtenstein, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Kuwait, Germany, Finland, Canada, Monaco, Austria, Checo, Israel( Not deliverable to GAZA(Zip code: P840-P899), KHAN YUNIS(P930-P969), NORTH GAZA(P800-P839), RAFAH(P970-P999)), Argentina, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand, Belarus ( Only Registered Standard Air Mail, up to 1,9kg as total. If exceeded, we will cancel your order.)
EMS ( Express Mail Service )
0 g - 500g ¥4150
501g–600g ¥4400
601g–700g ¥4650
701g–800g ¥4900
801g–900g ¥5150
901g–1,000g ¥5400
1,001 g - 1,250 g ¥6000
1,251 g - 1,500 g ¥6550
1521 g - 1,750 g ¥7150
1,751 g - 2,000 g ¥7700
2,001 g - 2,500 g ¥8750
2,501 g - 3,000 g ¥9800
3,001g - 3,500g ¥10850
3,501 g - 4,000g ¥11900
4001g - 4,500g ¥12950
4501g - 5000g ¥14000
5001g - 5500g ¥15050
5501g - 6000g ¥16100
6001g - 7000g ¥18200
7001g - 8000g ¥20300
8001g - 9000g ¥22400
9001g - 10000g ¥24500
IePL ( International ePacket Light )
0 g - 100g ¥1880
101g–200g ¥2060
201g–300g ¥2240
301g–400g ¥2420
401g–500g ¥2600
501g–600g ¥2780
601g–700g ¥2960
701g–800g ¥3140
801g–900g ¥3320
901g–1,000g ¥3500
1,001 g - 1,100 g ¥3680
1,101 g - 1,200 g ¥3860
1,201 g - 1,300 g ¥4040
1,301 g - 1,400 g ¥4220
1,401 g - 1,500 g ¥4400
1,501 g - 1,600 g ¥4580
1,601 g - 1,700 g ¥4760
1,701 g - 1,800 g ¥4940
1,801 g - 1,900 g ¥5120
1,901 g - 2,000 g ¥5300
Africa
South Africa, Egypt
EMS ( Express Mail Service )
0 g - 500g ¥4600
501g–600g ¥4900
601g–700g ¥5200
701g–800g ¥5500
801g–900g ¥5800
901g–1,000g ¥6100
1,001 g - 1,250 g ¥6850
1,251 g - 1,500 g ¥7600
1521 g - 1,750 g ¥8350
1,751 g - 2,000 g ¥9100
2,001 g - 2,500 g ¥10600
2,501 g - 3,000 g ¥12100
3,001g - 3,500g ¥13600
3,501 g - 4,000g ¥15100
4001g - 4,500g ¥16600
4501g - 5000g ¥18100
5001g - 5500g ¥19600
5501g - 6000g ¥21100
6001g - 7000g ¥23500
7001g - 8000g ¥25900
8001g - 9000g ¥28300
9001g - 10000g ¥30700
IePL ( International ePacket Light )
0 g - 100g ¥1920
101g–200g ¥2180
201g–300g ¥2440
301g–400g ¥2700
401g–500g ¥2960
501g–600g ¥3220
601g–700g ¥3480
701g–800g ¥3740
801g–900g ¥4000
901g–1,000g ¥4260
1,001 g - 1,100 g ¥4520
1,101 g - 1,200 g ¥ 4780
1,201 g - 1,300 g ¥ 5040
1,301 g - 1,400 g ¥ 5300
1,401 g - 1,500 g ¥ 5560
1,501 g - 1,600 g ¥ 5820
1,601 g - 1,700 g ¥ 6080
1,701 g - 1,800 g ¥ 6340
1,801 g - 1,900 g ¥ 6600
1,901 g - 2,000 g ¥ 6860
