Japan Census Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Japan

What is in This Collection?
Records included in this collection are from Toyama University Library, in Toyama prefecture and Nara Prefectural Library. It includes census, village, land, and genealogical records spanning from 1325-1940.

The census records included in this collection are called Shumoncho (宗門帳). The Shumoncho were created to check the religion of the villager in conjunction with a Christianity suppression law during the Edo period.

Some records may have faded ink or water damage.

Reading These Records
For help with reading these Japanese records, see the following resources:


 * Glossary of Japanese Genealogical Terms

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

Census
 * Names of family members
 * Birth dates of family members
 * Ages of family members at the time of census
 * Sect affiliation

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before using this collection it is helpful to know:
 * Your ancestor's given name and surname
 * Identifying information such as residence

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page.
 * 1) Select Prefecture (都道府県)
 * 2) Select County or City (郡又は市)
 * 3) Select Title (題名), Volume (巻), 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 date
 * Continue to search the index and records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives
 * 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
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct

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.