Fedex shipments

[indiochano]

Ok so I shipped a couple of posters from the US to Japan through International Priority (these posters have no real value, just printed posters)... It's supposed to get there on tuesday, but I was checking the status and I got the following:

Mar 13, 2009 6:39 PM
Picked up
NEW YORK, NY

Mar 13, 2009 9:50 PM
Left FedEx origin facility
NEW YORK, NY

Mar 13, 2009 10:22 PM
Departed FedEx location
NEWARK, NJ

Mar 14, 2009 1:11 AM
Arrived at FedEx location
MEMPHIS, TN

Mar 14, 2009 2:13 AM
Departed FedEx location
MEMPHIS, TN

Mar 14, 2009 6:47 AM
Departed FedEx location
MEMPHIS, TN

Mar 14, 2009 8:57 AM
Arrived at FedEx location
ANCHORAGE, AK

Mar 14, 2009 11:05 AM
Departed FedEx location
ANCHORAGE, AK

Mar 14, 2009 4:58 PM
Arrived at FedEx location
ANCHORAGE, AK

Mar 15, 2009 1:11 PM
Int'l shipment release
SENNAN-SHI JP

Mar 15, 2009 1:12 PM
In transit
SENNAN-SHI JP
Package available for clearance


What exactly does "Int'l shipment release" and "Package available for clearance" mean?

Thanks for the help!

 

[yg17]

It means customs has cleared the package for delivery in Japan. It happens with any packages that cross another country's border.

 

[indiochano]

It means customs has cleared the package for delivery in Japan. It happens with any packages that cross another country's border.

but that's intl shipment release right?
so why is the "package available for clearance" after the intl release?

 

[yg17]

but that's intl shipment release right?
so why is the "package available for clearance" after the intl release?

The 2 scans happened a minute apart. Someone's clock could've been off, putting the release before the clearance. It's not a big deal.