What is a Koseki Tohon?

Also, do birth certificates exist in Japan?

A single document is sufficient to record the names of your children and serves as a marriage, birth, death, or divorce certificate for most Japanese. The Family Register is this document. To find out more about Family Register matters in Tokyo, please visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government website.

How do I obtain Koseki? You will need to give Honseki information (permanent residence) to your local city hall in order to obtain Koseki family records. You can verify the Honseki by using the Juminhyo records if you don't have it.

You may then wonder, "What is a Japanese family registry?"

A family register (koseki), an official document, is used to record and verify the family relationships and identity of Japanese citizens based on family law. These registers are only maintained for Japanese citizens. They also serve to certify Japanese citizenship as they are not available for foreigners.

What is Juminhyo?

??) is a list of all current addresses that are maintained by the local governments of Japan. Japanese law obliges citizens to report their current address to local authorities, who compile the information to tax, national insurance, and census purposes.