Some guys offered me a really nice tsugaru shamisen but the Itomaki is made from ivory and I can’t import ivory… What do I do?
Tell them to paint the itomaki a different color and just tell customs it’s wood or plastic or something.
Sorry if that sounded like a joke. That’s actually what I have done in past situations that are similar. Just straight out lie to customs. I have told them over and over that my dou is made of some of kind of synthetic plastic. Maybe Brazil has a stricter customs ?
But my old friend Gustavo plays Tsugaru Shamisen in Brazil and I was pretty positive his itomaki were ivory too.
If you’re really nervous about it, you might be able to ask the seller if they will go to a shamisen store and replace them with a set of ebony itomaki. Chances are though, customs wont realize that the itomaki are ivory. Normally, they are looking for carvings or un-worked tusks to confiscate.
Itomaki dont seem to set off the “ivory radars”. Ive traveled with ivory itomaki, a few koma, and bachi back and forth to Japan with no trouble. My teacher has had ivory itomaki mailed to her in envelopes. The sender wrapped them inside the letter. A trick is to remove the itomaki from the tenjin, and wrap them in bubble-wrap or something of that sort. It will be less noticeable and chances are, there are so many packages to go through that Customs wont check super thoroughly. I think it should be okay, but if you are still uncomfortable, it might be better to have them replaced with ebony 
Good luck!
Joseph and Kevin!!!Thanks!!! He sells other tsugaru shamisens and I will ask If he could change the ivory one with a ebony one