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'''The Koseki is your number one source of vital information and should be your main goal in finding your ancestors in Japan.''' | '''The Koseki is your number one source of vital information and should be your main goal in finding your ancestors in Japan.''' | ||
==== What is a Koseki? ==== | ==== What is a Koseki? ==== | ||
Beginning in 1872-1873 a law was instituted requiring all Japanese citizens to register all of their vital information. This information is collected by village and city officials and is called a Koseki. A Koseki is a record with all the registration of all the populations of Japan. It is similar to a census record, but it also contains all the births, deaths, marriage, divorces and adoptions of everyone living in the household. After 1947 the law changed and a household consisted of the husband, wife and children. Prior to 1947 the records were kept in the head-of-household system, so all the extended family members living in a house were included. If the ancestors you are searching for were living after 1872, it is likely they can be found in Koseki records. If your ancestor lived prior to 1872, you will need to search for other records. | Beginning in 1872-1873 a law was instituted requiring all Japanese citizens to register all of their vital information. This information is collected by village and city officials and is called a Koseki. A Koseki is a record with all the registration of all the populations of Japan. It is similar to a census record, but it also contains all the births, deaths, marriage, divorces and adoptions of everyone living in the household. After 1947 the law changed and a household consisted of the husband, wife and children. Prior to 1947 the records were kept in the head-of-household system, so all the extended family members living in a house were included. If the ancestors you are searching for were living after 1872, it is likely they can be found in Koseki records. If your ancestor lived prior to 1872, you will need to search for other records. | ||
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Koseki may differ on the type of paper they are printed on, though they will all be similar in appearance: | Koseki may differ on the type of paper they are printed on, though they will all be similar in appearance: | ||
*plain or decorative paper | *plain or decorative paper | ||
*rice paper (like tissue paper) | *rice paper (like tissue paper) | ||
*purple mimeograph sheets | *purple mimeograph sheets | ||
Here is an example of a Koseki image: | Here is an example of a Koseki image:[[Image:Koseki.png]]<br> | ||
A Koseki has a series of columns and boxes, some of which may be crossed out. This happened when someone died or has moved to a different head of household’s Koseki, e.g. in cases of marriage or adoption. | A Koseki has a series of columns and boxes, some of which may be crossed out. This happened when someone died or has moved to a different head of household’s Koseki, e.g. in cases of marriage or adoption. | ||