Japan Genealogies - FamilySearch Historical Records

Title in the Language of the Records
日本、藩、系譜

Record Description
This collection will include records from 1700 to 1900. These records are in Japanese. See the For Help Reading These Records section of this article for translation tools.

This is a collection of Japanese clan genealogies from Japan. The records are arranged by family. Dates and localities will vary for each record depending on the family. All records from this collection are housed at the National Archives of Japan in Tokyo.

Some families have genealogies detailing pedigrees back to medieval times, listing descent from notable individuals.

For a list of family names currently published in this collection, select the Browse link from the collection landing page.

Record Content
‘’’Clan Genealogies’’’ may include the following information:


 * Family name
 * Name of spouse
 * Name of children
 * Children's birth dates
 * Occupation
 * Date and place of birth
 * Date and place of death
 * Names of parents

How to Use the Record
To begin your search, it would be helpful if you knew the following information:


 * Ancestors name
 * Approximate year and place of birth
 * Prefecture

Search the Collection
To search by image: To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select the appropriate "Family Name" ⇒Select the appropriate "Country" ⇒Select the appropriate "Prefecture" ⇒Select the appropriate "County or City, Town or Village" ⇒Select the appropriate "Title, Vol./Page, and Year" which will take you to the images.

Search the collection by image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

When searching: As you are searching it is helpful to know such information as your ancestor’s given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence and age, and family relationships. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times.

For Help Reading These Records
These records are in Japanese. For help with reading the records, see the following resources:
 * The Genealogy of the Japanese Language
 * Glossary of Japanese Genealogical Terms

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * Use the estimated age to calculate a birth date.
 * Look at all entries for a name before deciding which is correct.
 * Check for variant spellings of any names.
 * Titles may be clues to property ownership, occupations, rank, or status within the community.
 * Look at the Related Wiki Articles section for more Japanese records to search.

Related Websites

 * Japan Genweb
 * Japan Websites
 * Japan For Further Reading
 * Map of Japan 1812
 * Japanese History

Related Wiki Articles

 * Japan
 * Japan Genealogy
 * Japan Research Methods
 * Japan, Village Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Japan Vital Records Index (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
Citations for individual image records are available for this collection. Browse through images in this collection and click on the "Show Citation" box: Japan, Genealogies, 1700-1900

When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org. Source citations include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.