How do I get a Koseki?

Before we can begin your Koseki retrieval you must have a couple of documents to certify your relation. 

The first step is to go to the Japanese Consulate General and ask for your Issei ancestor’s immigration card.

An immigration card is a document early Japanese immigrants filled out upon arrival in Hawaiʻi. It lists the name of the head of the family AND the family’s home address in Japan (honseki). Without this information, you cannot order a koseki. You will need to bring government documents that prove that they are directly descended from their Issei ancestors. Any questions regarding what documents they need should be directed to the Japanese Consulate at (808) 543-3111. 

If you do not yet have documentation that proves their relationship, you should visit the Hawaiʻi State Archives or the Department of Health. For this reason, ordering the koseki is the last steps in researching their family history. Copies of the documents you to show the Japanese Consulate will also need to be sent to Japan to order the koseki. Japanese law says that koseki can only be released to those who can prove that they are direct descendants. This is to prevent discrimination against historically marginalized groups like the Burakumin, because that information is also recorded on the koseki.

Please note that the Japanese Consulate in Hawaiʻi seems to be the only one that still has immigration cards. Other Consulates did not necessarily keep them or returned them to the Japanese government.

If your family is not from Hawaii, this method will not work for them, and they will have to find another way to learn their family’s honseki.

You need to have the exact address, not just a prefecture or city, so that we can find out exactly which town hall would have the koseki tohon. Japan has redistricted several times in the past 100 years, so the koseki tohon may not be at the town hall closest to the village’s former location.

Requests are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. We do not translate documents for out-of-state patrons due to the handing of private identity documents.

I, the undersigned, hereby agree to the following conditions with regard to my request for assistance genealogy or other research.  

JCCH staff/ volunteers will assist me in filling out the relevant forms when requesting a koseki tohon from Japan, but it is my responsibility to mail the forms and the required payment to Japan.  JCCH staff/ volunteers are not held responsible for the outcome of the request to obtain a koseki. The assistance and handling fees apply as below. 

Please read the following statements and fill out the items below.

I understand that the translation work will be done to the best ability of qualified bilingual JCCH volunteers. I understand that the translators are volunteers rather than professionals in the area of translation. I understand and agree to defend and to hold harmless the JCCH and the translator from any liability that may arise from the consequences of this translation.

Please read the following statements and fill out the items below.

I understand that the translation work will be done to the best ability of qualified bilingual JCCH volunteers. I understand that the translators are volunteers rather than professionals in the area of translation. I understand and agree to defend and to hold harmless the JCCH and the translator from any liability that may arise from the consequences of this translation.