Japan Village Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Japan

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes records from 709 to 1949, and includes village records from all over Japan. These records include land records, genealogies, religious censuses, and individual family records.

Japanese villages were responsible for several types of records that can be of significant genealogical value, especially when the religious inquisition census records (shumoncho) are unavailable.

These records include the following:


 * Land and property records
 * Tax records (who paid taxes, etc.)
 * Population and status records (a type of census)
 * Lists of people who were drafted into the military
 * Financial records
 * Conservation project records

Reading These Records
These records are in Japanese. For help reading these records see the following guides:


 * Glossary of Japanese Genealogical Terms

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Village records
 * Full name of ancestor
 * Age
 * Date of transaction
 * Occupation
 * Residence
 * Birth date

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:


 * Approximate year of birth
 * Name of village

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select Prefecture ( 都道府県 )
 * 2) Select County or City ( 郡又は市 )
 * 3) Select Town or Village ( 町又は村 )
 * 4) Select Record Type ( 記録の種類 )
 * 5) Select Title ( 題名 ), Volume ( 巻 ) or Page ( 頁 ), and Year ( 年 ) to view the images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the age to calculate a birth year
 * Use dates to track any migration to different areas of Japan
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * Titles may be clues to property ownership, occupations, rank, or status within the community

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Check for variant spellings of the names
 * Use other identifying information (such as occupation) to decide if it’s the entry you’re looking for

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Japan.
 * Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.