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About the family register system(戸籍制度について)

Last updated date:2021/10/4

About the family register system

The family register is the only public record in Japan in which information on the family relations of Japanese nationals is registered and authenticated. The family register contains genealogical information on married couples and their children bearing the same family name, and provides details of each individual member's status from birth to death. Please note that there is no family register for non-Japanese residents.

Regarding the scope of the Family Registration Law

The Family Registration Law does not contain provisions on specific purposes and target persons, but also applies in effect to non-Japanese residents in Japan. In the event notification is made between a Japanese national and non-Japanese resident, this fact will be written in the family register of the Japanese national concerned. In the event notification is made between two non-Japanese residents, this written notification shall be retained for a period of 10 years, and shall be granted official recognition. As such, in the event two non-Japanese residents initiate a legitimate process which affects their familial status in Japan (for instance, marriage, divorce, etc.), or in the event of some natural event which alters the family composition (birth, death, etc.), notification is to be made to the head of his or her municipality in accordance with the procedures prescribed in the Family Registration Law. Please note that if two non-Japanese residents get married, divorced etc. through an embassy or consulate of his or her country using that country's methods, there is no need to submit notification at a Japanese family register counter.

Regarding family register certificates for non-Japanese residents

For example, if two non-Japanese residents initiate a process which affects their familial status in Japan (marriage, divorce, etc.), there is no family register for non-Japanese residents, so they cannot have a certificate of family register/partial family register etc. issued to prove their family relationship. However, to prove that two non-Japanese residents have initiate a legitimate process which affects their familial status in Japan, they need to have submitted notification of this to their municipality to be issued with a certificate of acceptance.

List of family registry divisions in ward offices

List of family registry divisions in ward offices
Name of ward officeCounterTelFax
Family Registry Division, Aoba Ward Office[21] 2nd Floor, Aoba Ward Office045-978-2225045-978-2418
Family Registry Division, Asahi Ward Office[12] 1st Floor, Asahi Ward Office045-954-6031 045-955-4411
Family Registry Division, Izumi Ward Office[201] 2nd Floor, Izumi Ward Office045-800-2341 045-800-2508
Family Registry Division, Isogo Ward Office[25] 2nd Floor, Isogo Ward Office045-750-2341 045-750-2535
Family Registry Division, Kanagawa Ward Office[107] 1st Floor, Kanagawa Ward Office Annex045-411-7031045-324-3586
Family Registry Division, Kanazawa Ward Office[205] 2nd Floor, Kanazawa Ward Office045-788-7731045-701-5234
Family Registry Division, Konan Ward Office[20] 2nd Floor, Konan Ward Office045-847-8331 045-841-1281
Family Registry Division, Kohoku Ward Office[24] 2nd Floor, Kohoku Ward Office045-540-2250045-540-2260
Family Registry Division, Sakae Ward Office[11] 1st Floor, Sakae Ward Office Main Building045-894-8340045-894-3413
Family Registry Division, Seya Ward Office[23] 2nd Floor, Seya Ward Office045-367-5641045-362-1488
Family Registry Division, Tsuzuki Ward Office[15] 2nd Floor, Tsuzuki Ward Office 045-948-2251 045-948-2259
Family Registry Division, Tsurumi Ward Office[4] 2nd Floor, Tsurumi Ward Office045-510-1700 045-510-1893
Family Registry Division, Totsuka Ward Office[4] 2nd Floor, Totsuka Ward Office045-866-8331045-862-0657
Family Registry Division, Naka Ward Office[21] 2nd Floor, Naka Ward Office Main Building045-224-8291045-224-8289
Family Registry Division, Nishi Ward Office[6] 1st Floor, Nishi Ward Office045-320-8331045-324-3585
Family Registry Division, Hodogaya Ward Office[1] 1st Floor, Hodogaya Ward Office Main Building045-334-6231045-335-6781
Family Registry Division, Midori Ward Office[24] 2nd Floor, Midori Ward Office045-930-2247045-930-2255
Family Registry Division, Minami Ward Office[11] 2nd Floor, Minami Ward Office045-341-1115045-341-1123
Where to inquire
Content Contact details
Inquiries concerning this page Service Desk Division, Ward Support Department, Civic Affairs Bureau (*Inquiries in Japanese only)
Tel: 045-671-2176
Fax: 045-664-5295
Email: sh-madoguchi@city.yokohama.jp

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