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Japan Census: Difference between revisions
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== Household Registration Records (''Koseki'') | ==Household Registration Records (''Koseki'')== | ||
=== What they are | ===What they are=== | ||
''Koseki'' is a registration of the population, which is taken nationwide by the government in Japan. This is a compilation of information about each household, including names of all family members. They are regularly updated. When someone is born, married, or died, citizens are required to report it to the village, town, or city record office. | ''Koseki'' is a registration of the population, which is taken nationwide by the government in Japan. This is a compilation of information about each household, including names of all family members. They are regularly updated. When someone is born, married, or died, citizens are required to report it to the village, town, or city record office. | ||
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After a person has died or been otherwise removed from the ''koseki'', the record is considered a ''joseki'' (expired ''koseki''). Direct descendants can get these records from the records office in Japan. | After a person has died or been otherwise removed from the ''koseki'', the record is considered a ''joseki'' (expired ''koseki''). Direct descendants can get these records from the records office in Japan. | ||
=== Content | ===Content=== | ||
*Permanent domicile (''honsekichi'') | *Permanent domicile (''honsekichi'') | ||
*Name and birth date of: | *Name and birth date of: | ||
**The husband or head of the household (''koshu'') | **The husband or head of the household (''koshu'') | ||
**The wife of the head of the household | **The wife of the head of the household | ||
**The children of the head of the household | **The children of the head of the household | ||
**Parents and grandparents of the ''koshu'' (if living in the household) and the ''koshu’s'' wife | **Parents and grandparents of the ''koshu'' (if living in the household) and of the ''koshu’s'' wife | ||
**In some ''koseki'', the children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters of the ''koshu'' are listed, with their birth dates and places | **In some ''koseki'', the children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters of the ''koshu'' are listed, with their birth dates and places | ||
*Date of household establishment | *Date of household establishment | ||
*Marriage date and place of: | *Marriage date and place of: | ||
**The head of the household | **The head of the household | ||
**Each of his children | **Each of his children | ||
*Date and place of death of household members | *Date and place of death of household members | ||
=== How to Obtain Your Family's Koseki (Family Registration): | ===How to Obtain Your Family's Koseki (Family Registration):=== | ||
Searching for your Japanese ancestors cannot be done the same way you would research for someone from non-Asian countries. The main reason is that Japan has very strict privacy laws and access to Vital Records is carefully protected. That being said, the Japanese are wonderful record-keepers and the koseki or Family Registration is the record on which births, deaths, marriages and divorces of Japanese nationals are kept and is a rich source of genealogical information. A child is listed on his or her parent's koseki until they create their own. | Searching for your Japanese ancestors cannot be done the same way you would research for someone from non-Asian countries. The main reason is that Japan has very strict privacy laws and access to Vital Records is carefully protected. That being said, the Japanese are wonderful record-keepers and the koseki or Family Registration is the record on which births, deaths, marriages and divorces of Japanese nationals are kept and is a rich source of genealogical information. A child is listed on his or her parent's koseki until they create their own. | ||
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If not, continue with the steps below: | If not, continue with the steps below: | ||
#Make a pedigree chart with all the information you know and determine who was the 1st generation (issei) to leave Japan. | #Make a pedigree chart with all the information you know and determine who was the 1st generation (issei) to leave Japan. | ||
#Locate the address of the honseki or hometown of where your ancestor came from. You will need their address or you cannot locate their city hall. If they came from a large city like Hiroshima, you will need to know the ward or village.You can find this information in several ways: | #Locate the address of the honseki or hometown of where your ancestor came from. You will need their address or you cannot locate their city hall. If they came from a large city like Hiroshima, you will need to know the ward or village.You can find this information in several ways: | ||
##Personal knowledge of relatives, written information, correspondense or a copy of their passport. | ##Personal knowledge of relatives, written information, correspondense or a copy of their passport. | ||
##Search Passenger List databases on line. A good resource is: http://stevemorse.org/. Sometimes the hometown address is recorded. HINT: Look for other family members who might have traveled with them. Often the husband would | ##Search Passenger List databases on line. A good resource is: http://stevemorse.org/. Sometimes the hometown address is recorded. HINT: Look for other family members who might have traveled with them. Often the husband would immigrate to another country, work for awhile and then come back for his wife - or if he was single, he would return to marry a hometown girl arranged for by his family. Check later years for the family returning to visit relatives and bringing their children to meet the grandparents, etc. Be creative in your spelling as often the names are horribly mispelled. When searching for the wife be sure to use her married name - often you can find the husband by searching for the wife or vise versa. | ||
##Obtain the passport information from the Japanese Consulate (must follow same rules as for obtaining a koseki), though this is often slow and unsuccessful. | ##Obtain the passport information from the Japanese Consulate (must follow same rules as for obtaining a koseki), though this is often slow and unsuccessful. | ||
##Search the Family History Catalog and view microfilms. Look in the "Subject" catagory under Japan immigration, or just Japan. When searching for information on Passenger Lists try to determine where their first Port of Entry was located. HINT: Do not assume that because they ended up in California that their Port of Entry was in California. They may have first gone to Seattle or Canada | ##Search the Family History Catalog and view microfilms. Look in the "Subject" catagory under Japan immigration, or just Japan. When searching for information on Passenger Lists try to determine where their first Port of Entry was located. HINT: Do not assume that because they ended up in California that their Port of Entry was in California. They may have first gone to Seattle or Canada. Be very creative and open minded in your searching. | ||
#Once you know the address of the 1st generation (issei) to immigrate, you must check to see if the village or hometown's name is still in existence. Many villages merged into others, names changed etc. Try using google or wikipedia.com to determine the address of the city hall for the town you are searching | #Once you know the address of the 1st generation (issei) to immigrate, you must check to see if the village or hometown's name is still in existence. Many villages merged into others, names changed etc. Try using google or wikipedia.com to determine the address of the city hall for the town you are searching. HINT: Try www.google.co.jp/ which is the Japanese version of Google if you can't locate it on the English version. You may need someone who can read kanji to translate if the translate version does not work. Most city hall's have a web page and their address is usually located on the bottom of the page. | ||
#Now that you know the name of the ancestor, his estimated birth year, and his address and city hall's information you are ready to contact the city hall. | #Now that you know the name of the ancestor, his estimated birth year, and his address and city hall's information you are ready to contact the city hall. | ||
=== How to Write City Hall for Your Family's Koseki | ===How to Write City Hall for Your Family's Koseki=== | ||
In order to receive your koseki you will first have to prove your lineage to the person for whom you are requesting. The following information will be needed: | In order to receive your koseki you will first have to prove your lineage to the person for whom you are requesting. The following information will be needed: | ||
#A copy of your photo ID (Driver's license, Passport, etc.) | #A copy of your photo ID (Driver's license, Passport, etc.) | ||
#A copy of your birth certificate and a copy of for each set of parents until you reach the ancestor in question. For example, if you want your great grandfather's koseki and he was born in Japan, you would need yours, your parent's on whose line he is on - so if it is your father's line, you would need your father's birth certifcate and both of his | #A copy of your birth certificate and a copy of for each set of parents until you reach the ancestor in question. For example, if you want your great grandfather's koseki and he was born in Japan, you would need yours, your parent's on whose line he is on - so if it is your father's line, you would need your father's birth certifcate and both of his parents' birth certificates. You don't need your great grandfather's because his information is recorded on the koseki in Japan. | ||
#A pedigree chart with your lineage written out with information that you have. Highlight the line you are seeking information on. | #A pedigree chart with your lineage written out with information that you have. Highlight the line you are seeking information on. | ||
#A koseki request form filled out. | #A koseki request form filled out. Be sure to use the form provided by your city hall where you are requesting the records. | ||
#Currently the cost for a copy of a koseki and postage is about $ | #Currently the cost for a copy of a koseki and postage is about $15 US dollars per record and depending on the exchange rate. The rate in yen is around 450 to 750 yen. Japanese City Halls will only accept International Money Orders from the US Postal Service. DO NOT send money orders from banks as it will be returned. Make the International Money Order payable to the specific City Hall where your records are located. | ||
#Enclose a self-addressed envelope. | #Enclose a self-addressed envelope. | ||
#If you cannot write in Japanese, see if you can find someone who can. It will be most helpful if you write the family's name in kanji, as the characters can be very necessary in distinguishing your family. All Japanese names can be pronounced several different ways, so a request written only in Romanization - containing what you think is the correct pronunciation of the name - may be hard to determine accurately. It is worth trying, even if you don't know the Japanese characters. Try checking with other family members to see if they know it if you do not. If not you can write it in Roman letters, but it will greatly slow things down. | #If you cannot write in Japanese, see if you can find someone who can. It will be most helpful if you write the family's name in kanji, as the characters can be very necessary in distinguishing your family. All Japanese names can be pronounced several different ways, so a request written only in Romanization - containing what you think is the correct pronunciation of the name - may be hard to determine accurately. It is worth trying, even if you don't know the Japanese characters. Try checking with other family members to see if they know it if you do not. If not you can write it in Roman letters, but it will greatly slow things down. | ||
#The City Hall is not required to give you a copy of your family's koseki, even after you prove your lineage. You want to make sure you have everything in order and make it as simple as possible for them to respond to your request. Be patient. It can take a couple of weeks, to many months to receive a response. Any $ change from the transaction will be given in Japanese postage stamps - which you can use again as partial payment on your next request. When you receive your family's koseki it is time for another happy dance! | #The City Hall is not required to give you a copy of your family's koseki, even after you prove your lineage. You want to make sure you have everything in order and make it as simple as possible for them to respond to your request. Be patient. It can take a couple of weeks, to many months to receive a response. Any $ change from the transaction will be given in Japanese postage stamps - which you can use again as partial payment on your next request. When you receive your family's koseki it is time for another happy dance! | ||
#It will be necessary to find someone to translate the koseki for you if you cannot read kanji (Japanese character writing). Kanji has changed over the years, so you will need to use the handwriting charts on this page for help. HINT:If there is a kanji you cannot read, download a free language bar from Microsoft.On the Japanese language bar there is an IME pad, using the mouse you can copy the mystery kanji in stroke order and the program will read the kanji in Roman letters. Of course, this is only helpful for someone who knows kanji stroke order. | #It will be necessary to find someone to translate the koseki for you if you cannot read kanji (Japanese character writing). Kanji has changed over the years, so you will need to use the handwriting charts on this page for help. HINT:If there is a kanji you cannot read, download a free language bar from Microsoft. On the Japanese language bar there is an IME pad, using the mouse you can copy the mystery kanji in stroke order and the program will read the kanji in Roman letters. Of course, this is only helpful for someone who knows kanji stroke order. | ||
#Once you have the translated copy of your family's koseki, it is time to input that information onto your Family Group Sheets and Pedigree chart. Using a software program is highly recommended as you will quickly see how complicated Japanese lineage can be because of heir adoptions and name changes. (That is explained further down.) You can | #Once you have the translated copy of your family's koseki, it is time to input that information onto your Family Group Sheets and Pedigree chart. Using a software program is highly recommended as you will quickly see how complicated Japanese lineage can be because of heir adoptions and name changes. (That is explained further down.) You can use FamilySearch for free or another software program that allows you to type the kanji as well as the romanized names. | ||
=== Female Lines - Women | ===Female Lines - Women=== | ||
Women are found on koseki under the male head of household. Usually on a father's koseki until she is married. If her father dies before her marriage it will be under his male heir's name. When you receive your family's koseki you can then request the koseki for your ancestor's wife, as her maiden name, the head of household's name on whose koseki she is found on and the address of where she is from, are all usually recorded on her husband's koseki. This is all the information you will need to now follow all the steps above to now request her family information. | Women are found on koseki under the male head of household. Usually on a father's koseki until she is married. If her father dies before her marriage it will be under his male heir's name. When you receive your family's koseki you can then request the koseki for your ancestor's wife, as her maiden name, the head of household's name on whose koseki she is found on and the address of where she is from, are all usually recorded on her husband's koseki. This is all the information you will need to now follow all the steps above to now request her family information. | ||
== Religious Inquisition Census Records (''Shumoncho'') | ==Religious Inquisition Census Records (''Shumoncho'')== | ||
=== What they are | ===What they are=== | ||
The Religious Inquisition Census is a census that was taken periodically to classify people according to their religion and to detect illegal Christians. The government required that everyone register their religious affiliation with the local Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine. Temple priests were required to give this information to local authorities. They do not include ''samurai''. Some kinds of ''shumoncho'' are: | The Religious Inquisition Census is a census that was taken periodically to classify people according to their religion and to detect illegal Christians. The government required that everyone register their religious affiliation with the local Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine. Temple priests were required to give this information to local authorities. They do not include ''samurai''. Some kinds of ''shumoncho'' are: | ||
*Religion inquisition records (''shumon aratamecho'' or ''shumoncho'' for short) | *Religion inquisition records (''shumon aratamecho'' or ''shumoncho'' for short) | ||
*Individual Surveillance Registers (''ninbetsucho'') | *Individual Surveillance Registers (''ninbetsucho'') | ||
*Registers of Five-Household Units (''goningmicho'') | *Registers of Five-Household Units (''goningmicho'') | ||
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Location: Scattered in archives, private collections, in the homes of descendants of village headmen, and even in some Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. They must be searched out.<ref name="profile">The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Japan,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1986-2001.</ref> | Location: Scattered in archives, private collections, in the homes of descendants of village headmen, and even in some Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. They must be searched out.<ref name="profile">The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Japan,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1986-2001.</ref> | ||
=== Use these records to | ===Use these records to=== | ||
These records are used to find the names of the head of the household and family members. Because they were created before the time when surnames were used, they do not include surnames. | These records are used to find the names of the head of the household and family members. Because they were created before the time when surnames were used, they do not include surnames. | ||
=== Content | ===Content=== | ||
*Describe the make up of the local community | *Describe the make up of the local community | ||
*Classify families according to their status as farmers, artisans, merchants, and outcasts | *Classify families according to their status as farmers, artisans, merchants, and outcasts | ||
*They do not count ''samurai'' or court nobles, and they sometimes omit children and the marginal social groups | *They do not count ''samurai'' or court nobles, and they sometimes omit children and the marginal social groups | ||
'''''Shumon-Aratamecho''<nowiki>:</nowiki>''' | '''''Shumon-Aratamecho''<nowiki>:</nowiki>''' | ||
*The name of the head of each house and the names of household members | *The name of the head of each house and the names of household members | ||
*Sex of each household member | *Sex of each household member | ||
*Relationship to head of household | *Relationship to head of household | ||
*Age at the time of census | *Age at the time of census | ||
*Sect affiliation | *Sect affiliation | ||
*Confirmation of temple affiliation | *Confirmation of temple affiliation | ||
*Location of the family temple | *Location of the family temple | ||
*Number of household residents (sometimes listing of servants, animals owned, and property) | *Number of household residents (sometimes listing of servants, animals owned, and property) | ||
'''''Ninbetsucho''<nowiki>:</nowiki>''' | '''''Ninbetsucho''<nowiki>:</nowiki>''' | ||
*Give the locality and date of the document created | *Give the locality and date of the document created | ||
*Name of household | *Name of household | ||
*Names, ages, sexes, and relationship to head of household | *Names, ages, sexes, and relationship to head of household | ||
*Status of household members, animals owned, and property and tax notations | *Status of household members, animals owned, and property and tax notations | ||
*The amount of taxes paid | *The amount of taxes paid | ||
'''''Goningumicho:''''' | '''''Goningumicho:''''' | ||
*Give the names of each of the five household heads and the chief of the group | *Give the names of each of the five household heads and the chief of the group | ||
*Locality, date, the temple seal attesting to religious orthodoxy | *Locality, date, the temple seal attesting to religious orthodoxy | ||
*Sometimes the names of the household members | *Sometimes the names of the household members | ||
=== How to obtain them | ===How to obtain them=== | ||
About 30 percent of the still existing records are available at the Family History Library. Because they are scattered in archives, private collections, in the homes of descendants of village headmen, and even in some Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, you must search them out. | About 30 percent of the still existing records are available at the Family History Library. Because they are scattered in archives, private collections, in the homes of descendants of village headmen, and even in some Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, you must search them out. | ||
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Privacy laws, and 80-year retentions restrict access to ''koseki''.<ref>Dr. Kin-itsu Hirata and Dr. Greg Gubler, "Family and Local History in Japan. Breaking the Impasse: Sources and Options in Japanese Family History Research," ''World Conference on Records: Preserving Our Heritage, August 12-15, 1980,'' Vol. 11: Asian and African Family and Local History. {{FHL|33546|item|disp=FHL US/CAN Book 929.1 W893 1980 v. 11}}</ref> | Privacy laws, and 80-year retentions restrict access to ''koseki''.<ref>Dr. Kin-itsu Hirata and Dr. Greg Gubler, "Family and Local History in Japan. Breaking the Impasse: Sources and Options in Japanese Family History Research," ''World Conference on Records: Preserving Our Heritage, August 12-15, 1980,'' Vol. 11: Asian and African Family and Local History. {{FHL|33546|item|disp=FHL US/CAN Book 929.1 W893 1980 v. 11}}</ref> | ||
== Religious Inquisition Census | ==Religious Inquisition Census== | ||
A Religious Inquisition Census was taken periodically to classify people according to their religion and to detect illegal Christians. The government required that everyone register at their religious affiliation temple or Shinto shrine. Temple priests were required to give this information to the local authorities. They do not include Samurai. Some kinds of census records are: | A Religious Inquisition Census was taken periodically to classify people according to their religion and to detect illegal Christians. The government required that everyone register at their religious affiliation temple or Shinto shrine. Temple priests were required to give this information to the local authorities. They do not include Samurai. Some kinds of census records are: | ||
*Religious Inquisition Records | *Religious Inquisition Records | ||
*Individual Surveillance Registers | *Individual Surveillance Registers | ||
*Registers of Five-household Units | *Registers of Five-household Units | ||
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Many of these records are on microfilm at the Family History Library. These records are written in old Japanese, so being able to read and search them you will need a knowledge of written Japanese and as well as a good kanji dictionary that will be necessary to decipher them. In order to find these records in the FamilySearch Catalog, it will be necessary to use the language bar on the computer and type in the Japanese characters under the "Keyword" tab to locate these records in the catalog. | Many of these records are on microfilm at the Family History Library. These records are written in old Japanese, so being able to read and search them you will need a knowledge of written Japanese and as well as a good kanji dictionary that will be necessary to decipher them. In order to find these records in the FamilySearch Catalog, it will be necessary to use the language bar on the computer and type in the Japanese characters under the "Keyword" tab to locate these records in the catalog. | ||
== Resident Registration (''Juminhyo'') | ==Resident Registration (''Juminhyo'')== | ||
Record type: Resident Registration. | Record type: Resident Registration. | ||
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Research use: Can be used as a substitute for koseki. Resident registration is a primary source of birth, marriage, and death information in Japan. They identify names of parents, prove other relationships, and are very useful for linking generations.<ref name="profile">The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Japan,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1986-2001.</ref> | Research use: Can be used as a substitute for koseki. Resident registration is a primary source of birth, marriage, and death information in Japan. They identify names of parents, prove other relationships, and are very useful for linking generations.<ref name="profile">The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Japan,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1986-2001.</ref> | ||
== Websites == | ==Websites== | ||
== References | *[https://wiki.samurai-archives.com/index.php?title=Shumon_aratame Samurai Archives - Shumon Aratame] | ||
==References== | |||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
{{Japan}} | {{Japan}} | ||
{{H-langs|en=Japan Census|pt=Japão:Censos}}<br> | {{H-langs|en=Japan Census|pt=Japão:Censos}}<br> | ||
[[Category:Japan]] [[Category:Census_records_in_Japan]] | [[Category:Japan]] | ||
[[Category:Census_records_in_Japan]] | |||