Ode to the Violin Smilie

[IparryU]

German customs demand $475,000 for Japanese musician's violin

National Aug. 23, 2012 - 06:56AM JST ( 81 )
German customs demand $475,000 for Japanese musician's violin Violinist Yuzuko Horigome was passing through Frankfurt Airport when she was stopped and fined AFP

TOKYO —

German customs seized a $1.2 million violin from a Japanese professional musician and are demanding she pay almost $475,000 to get it back, reports said on Wednesday.

Belgium-based Yuzuko Horigome was transiting through Frankfurt Airport last week after performing in Japan, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said.

When she tried to walk through the green gate for travelers arriving in the EU with nothing to declare, customs officers stopped her and said she needed to pay 190,000 euros in duty on her 1741 Guarnerius violin.

On top of this were fines, taking the total cost to an eye-popping 380,000 euros ($475,000), the Tokyo Shimbun said.

Customs confiscated the valuable fiddle because she could not provide the documents for her 1986 purchase, the Yomiuri said.

“The instrument is an implement for my work. For musicians, instruments are like parts of your bodies,” she told the Yomiuri. “I have used Frankfurt Airport many times and never had problems like this before. I don’t know why this happened.”

She has since submitted documents to prove her ownership of the violin, but negotiations have been difficult, the Asahi Shimbun said, quoting the musician.

Horigome, who has worked in Europe for three decades, was also contacting the governments of Japan and Belgium to see if they could help, the Tokyo Shimbun said.

A spokesman for the German authorities has suggested that the violin might be returned if it is regarded as necessary for her job, the Yomiuri said.

Guarnerius violins are considered among the world’s best, ranked alongside those made by Stradivarius and Amati.

Horigome plays in cities around the world with top conductors and orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic and the Berliner Philharmoniker.

© 2012 AFP

WARNING: Japan Today link...
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/german-customs-demand-475000-for-japanese-musicians-violin

[Taro Toporific]

German customs demand $475,000 for Japanese musician's violin
...Belgium-based Yuzuko Horigome was transiting through Frankfurt Airport last week after performing in Japan, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said.
When she tried to walk through the green gate for travelers arriving in the EU with nothing to declare, customs officers stopped her and said she needed to pay 190,000 euros in duty on her 1741 Guarnerius violin...
...Horigome, who has worked in Europe for three decades, was also contacting the governments of Japan and Belgium to see if they could help, the Tokyo Shimbun said.

Whoa. Horigome must be a legal resident of Belgium---Why should she have to declare anything to enter Germany? I would think the EU customs laws would have excluded almost everything, especially a work tool like a violin (not that I understand EU laws at all).

[Coligny]

Whoa. Horigome must be a legal resident of Belgium---Why should she have to declare anything to enter Germany? I would think the EU customs laws would have excluded almost everything, especially a work tool like a violin (not that I understand EU laws at all).

In case you missed, the krauts are getting a bit of assholes with the whole "europe" things...

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

In case you missed, the krauts are getting a bit of assholes with the whole "europe" things...

I can think of 6 million reasons (actually, probably closer to 36 million, but...) why they're still better than they used to be...(I still envisage Frau Merkel goose-stepping and wearing her dirdl when she makes her shiese flicks, though...)

[yanpa]

She was also entering *from* Japan, which from a German point of view is proper Gaikoku. Doesn't matter where you're resident from a customs point of view. Still a bit of a cunty thing to do.

If she was coming in from Belgian, France and the other Schengen "look ma no borders!" countries, there wouldn't be any kind of checks.

[yanpa]

In case you missed, the krauts are getting a bit of assholes with the whole "europe" things...

I can think of 6 million reasons (actually, probably closer to 36 million, but...) why they're still better than they used to be...(I still envisage Frau Merkel goose-stepping and wearing her dirdl when she makes her shiese flicks, though...)

Seriously. The place is way better than its reputation. I lived there for 15 years (just need Italy to complete the trifecta ), would happily go back.

[Coligny]

It's when you are across the border that Germany sucks...

Believe us...

[Samurai_Jerk]

In case you missed, the krauts are getting a bit of assholes with the whole "europe" things...

I can think of 6 million reasons (actually, probably closer to 36 million, but...) why they're still better than they used to be...(I still envisage Frau Merkel goose-stepping and wearing her dirdl when she makes her shiese flicks, though...)

Seriously. The place is way better than its reputation. I lived there for 15 years (just need Italy to complete the trifecta ), would happily go back.

I've heard from a couple of people who traveled there that it sucked and the people were assholes.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I loved der Vaterland and it's people...just don't fancy being the next target of their national penchants: scat, breakfast beer, sausages, goosestepping, lederhosen, dopplefausting, backpacking in outback Australia and genocide. I'll have their strudel and Bavarian forest cake, though.

Generally, Germans remind me of Merkins in a lot of ways (which shouldn't surprise considering how many Germans immigrated to the Untied States).

While I wouldn't go so far as to say something like, um, Deutschland Uber Alles, I'm inclined to agree with yanpa that Germany's not bad.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Germans remind me of Merkins in a lot of ways

Our friendship is officially over.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I've heard from a couple of people who traveled there that it sucked and the people were assholes.

Are you sure about whether that was "were" or "liked?"

National fixation with scat, anal and fausting.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Germans remind me of Merkins in a lot of ways

Our friendship is officially over.

Fuck...lucky I didn't say why.

[IparryU]

I loved der Vaterland and it's people...just don't fancy being the next target of their national penchants: scat, breakfast beer, sausages, goosestepping, lederhosen, dopplefausting, backpacking in outback Australia and genocide. I'll have their strudel and Bavarian forest cake, though.

Generally, Germans remind me of Merkins in a lot of ways (which shouldn't surprise considering how many Germans immigrated to the Untied States).

While I wouldn't go so far as to say something like, um, Deutschland Uber Alles, I'm inclined to agree with yanpa that Germany's not bad.

Breakfast beer?!!?!?! me likes

But 'mericans are no way in hell like no fugging Krauts... I am just trying to make an example but I cant cause i dont know that much about them...

i will just take a step back and let SJ/HTR speak for now...

[Coligny]

Yeah, at least Krauts can make good cars and their trains run on time...

[Samurai_Jerk]

Yeah, at least Krauts can make good cars and their trains run on time...

Trains? What kind of Euro-fag bullshit is that?

[Coligny]

Trains? What kind of Euro-fag bullshit is that?

choo-choo-motherfucker.jpg

[matsuki]

I loved der Vaterland and it's people...just don't fancy being the next target of their national penchants: scat, breakfast beer, sausages, goosestepping, lederhosen, dopplefausting, backpacking in outback Australia and genocide. I'll have their strudel and Bavarian forest cake, though.

Generally, Germans remind me of Merkins in a lot of ways (which shouldn't surprise considering how many Germans immigrated to the Untied States).

While I wouldn't go so far as to say something like, um, Deutschland Uber Alles, I'm inclined to agree with yanpa that Germany's not bad.

Breakfast beer?!!?!?! me likes

But 'mericans are no way in hell like no fugging Krauts... I am just trying to make an example but I cant cause i dont know that much about them...

i will just take a step back and let SJ/HTR speak for now...

The Krauts I know tend to like American culture....only it's usually stuff from the 80's or older. Their choice of music at Karaoke totally convinced me that "the Hoff" is as big in Germany as they say he is.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

The Krauts I know tend to like American culture....only it's usually stuff from the 80's or older. Their choice of music at Karaoke totally convinced me that "the Hoff" is as big in Germany as they say he is.

A huge proportion of Merkins are of German descent. There's shitloads of similarities.

Don't know about karaoke, though...I love the Hoff because he took the piss out of himself in a remake of a song I have fond memories of from my youth.

Original (Ted Mulry Gang)

[matsuki]

A huge proportion of Merkins are of German descent. There's shitloads of similarities.

Ehhhhh, remember who you're talkin' to...

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Shit! Sorry...I didn't know Native Americans drank shitloads of beer, too...

[matsuki]

Shit! Sorry...I didn't know Native Americans drank shitloads of beer, too...

Fire water!

Tiswin is no beer but can probably get you more messed up

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Tiswin is a 'tis lose for mine...

Much harder liquor than beer....

[Samurai_Jerk]

A huge proportion of Merkins are of German descent. There's shitloads of similarities.

Yeah but Americans smile and have a sense of humor.

Anyway, you probably don't want to know which nationality reminds me the most of Americans.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Yeah but Americans smile and have a sense of humor.

Actually (and sincerely) that's one area where I see a lot of similarity, although I admit Merkins smile. I'm often surprised by how overly earnest Merkins are. Maybe it's just because I'm such a bludger that I see it this way?

Anyway, you probably don't want to know which nationality reminds me the most of Americans.[/quote]
Kinda think I already know the answer...

[IparryU]

A huge proportion of Merkins are of German descent. There's shitloads of similarities.

Yeah but Americans smile and have a sense of humor.

Anyway, you probably don't want to know which nationality reminds me the most of Americans.

Assies?

Both butcher the "English" language.

Both are loud and arrogant

Both think they are better than Brits

Both like tits, clits, and bong hits

...

[matsuki]

A huge proportion of Merkins are of German descent. There's shitloads of similarities.

Yeah but Americans smile and have a sense of humor.

I meet a lot of Germans that smile and think they have a sense of humor but then I think they are just used to being the only one laughing at their humor with plenty of sympathy smiles...

Anyway, you probably don't want to know which nationality reminds me the most of Americans.

Actually yeah, I think Aussies are 999999X more like Americans than Europeans...cept for the whole accent, over dramatic British ties, and slang.

[Mike Oxlong]

Zee Germans are just like the Yanks...

[Taro Toporific]

Zee Germans are just like the Yanks...

I actually did a cow race like this in Flumserberg just by wandering in and claiming (truthfully) that I was a bulldogger in collegiate rodeo in Colorado.

[Mike Oxlong]

Japanese violinist to get her $1.2 mil Guarnerius back from German customs

German customs officials said Saturday that a $1.2 million violin seized from a Japanese professional musician over unpaid duty will be returned to her. Belgium-based Yuzuko Horigome will not have to pay any tariffs or penalties, customs officials said...

Japan Today link disappearing in a week or so

[IparryU]

Japanese violinist to get her $1.2 mil Guarnerius back from German customs

German customs officials said Saturday that a $1.2 million violin seized from a Japanese professional musician over unpaid duty will be returned to her. Belgium-based Yuzuko Horigome will not have to pay any tariffs or penalties, customs officials said...

Japan Today link disappearing in a week or so

Japanese violinist to get her $1.2 mil Guarnerius back from German customs

National Sep. 23, 2012 - 02:30PM JST ( 24 )

FRANKFURT —

German customs officials said Saturday that a $1.2 million violin seized from a Japanese professional musician over unpaid duty will be returned to her. Belgium-based Yuzuko Horigome will not have to pay any tariffs or penalties, customs officials said.

On Aug 16, Belgium-based Yuzuko Horigome was transiting through Frankfurt Airport after performing in Japan when her violin was confiscated. When she tried to walk through the green gate for travelers arriving in the EU with nothing to declare, customs officers stopped her and said she needed to pay 190,000 euros in duty on her 1741 Guarnerius violin.

On top of this were fines, taking the total cost to 380,000 euros.

Customs confiscated the valuable fiddle because she could not provide the documents for her 1986 purchase. Guarnerius violins are considered among the world’s best, ranked alongside those made by Stradivarius and Amati.

Horigome, 54, who has worked in Europe for three decades, has since submitted documents to prove her ownership of the violin. She bought the violin in Japan in 1986.

Horigome plays in cities around the world with top conductors and orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic and the Berliner Philharmoniker.

not gonna disappear now.