Customs saw my Xmas presents

“Sweaters” is what the shipping form claimed was in the box my mother sent to us for Christmas.
The shipping box has been opened, examined, resealed with kraft tape emblazoned with Japan Post in big red letters. It was shipped on to us with a duty fee payable.
I’ve never had a parcel containing gifts opened and examined. Maybe we’ve just been lucky; maybe the Customs office is cracking down to make up a budget deficit. Perhaps they have a thing against sweaters. Who knows? It’s a pretty decent racket the Customs Office has going. Here’s what the customs form says:
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Classification:
JERSEYS, PULLOVERS, CARDIGANS OR SIMILAR ARTICLES 6110.92-2
Rate of Duty: 11.50% (of assessed value)
Consumption Tax: 4.00% (of a different assesed amount)
Area Consumption Tax: 25% (of a very small assessed value)
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And the post office charges 200 yen to handle the Customs duty payment! I truly do not mind paying the duty, but it’s a bit of a surprise out of the blue like that. I expect duty on commercial shipments–shoes in particular always get slapped with a hefty extra fee–but on a private gift from Mom? Outrageous…good thing I picked up freebie a Customs Office pen at a community fair a few years back.