One of the most powerful tools for doing family history research in Japan is using the “koseki,” which is the Japanese family registry required in Japan. This registry records births, adoptions, marriages, deaths, etc. for Japanese families.

Recently we discovered a great website, MyKoseki.com, that makes it simple and easy to learn about, find, and use koseki records in your research. The home page on the site gives a detailed background on the koseki and provides a brief intro video, which is also included here:

In MyKoseki.com you can use other tabs at the top, such as Koseki Search, Maps, Helpful Links, and About Us.

Koseki Search

This page has a search field where you can enter the name of an ancestral village. The mailing address for the government office is returned, so you can contact them for information about obtaining records for your ancestors in that place. The page also has a handy instructions link to help you fill out the koseki request form correctly.

Maps

The Maps page displays an interactive map of the prefectures (government administration divisions) for Japan. You can click a prefecture and then go to a Google map showing the locations for cities, towns, and villages.

Helpful Links

This page has a helpful list of websites and other links for doing Japanese research.

About Us

This page contains additional background information about the koseki, as well as site acknowledgements.