Great video!!! Question~ Does the Koseki Shohon have a record of the cause of death of an individual? Are there any other documents in Japan that would record the cause of death?
Great question! Before I answer, just wanted to clarify one thing: A koseki shōhon only lists one person (and not the full family unit, which is what the koseki tōhon lists). I have never seen a newer or older koseki (tōhon or shōhon) which lists the cause of death of an individual, so I assume it's never listed. The older, handwritten koseki, however, often list the time, date, and place of death. I did a little bit of research on accessing someone's cause of death information in Japan. If it's for your own curiosity, your best bet may be to request the koseki tōhon which lists the person in question, and ask at the same office if you're able able to get a copy of the "shibō todoke (死亡届)" or "shibō shomeisho (死亡証明書)". They may tell you to go to the regional legal affairs office (which may or may not be in the same building) or they may inform you that because it's personal information, they cannot share that information without a valid reason (legal or medical, for example). Just remember that you can only request the koseki of someone you have direct lineage with - mother and father, parents of mother and father, etc. (no aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) so it would probably be very challenging to learn the cause of death of someone who you do not have direct lineage. Hope that helps!
Thanks for useful vid! My grandmother was Japanese and met my grandfather (A Filipino attorney working for US army) in Okinawa. I have a couple of questions I’m hoping you or someone else can help me with. I can find out her DOB from my cousins I know when she died in the Philippines. However I believe she was disowned by her parents for marrying a Filipino so would there still be a record of her in the Koseki with an X on top as you mentioned or just an X? I have no idea which part of Okinawa she’s from, whether she was born there or just met me Grabdpa there, or any of her family details other than her maiden name being Gibo. The other question I have is do I count as a “direct” descendent if I am the step granddaughter of Tomoko Reiko Givo? I am not a biological descendent but she was married to my biological grandfather in the 50s til her death in 97. I never knew my biological grandma she died in 52. Tomoko was a brilliant, beautiful and kind grandmother to us. I’d love to find which town she is from when I visit Okinawa from Australia in a few months. I just want to see where she grew up and pay homage to her. Any guidance or assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. 🙏
Thanks so much for the question! It may be a bit tough to access her information, but I don't think it's impossible! I just did a quick search, and your grandmother's maiden name may be 宜保 (Gibo), a geographic name and last name found in Okinawa. It sounds like it's a pretty rare name, which will likely work in your favour. If you have documents which state her Japanese address, that address may be her honseki/domicile (the address that a koseki is connected to, which may or may not be where someone actually lives/lived). If you have the domicle, full name of the person in question, the person's date of birth, and proof to show direct lineage, you should be able to request copies of the koseki that she was listed in, if that's something you're intersted in doing. Even though you don't share DNA with her, if you can show that she married your grandfather, and you can also show how you're related to your grandfather, then I think you have a strong case! Regarding her being disowned by her family, this may or may not have translated to her being removed from the family koseki. If she was removed, she likely would have created her own koseki or joined the koseki of a relative. She would still be listed on her childhood koseki though, with her parents, siblings, and likely other family members as well. Above her name (and perhaps other details about her life events), a big X would be drawn, marking that she left the koseki (due to marriage, death, divorce, loss of citizenship, etc.). Her information would still be legible beneath the X. I hope that helps and I wish you all the best!
Great video!!!
Question~ Does the Koseki Shohon have a record of the cause of death of an individual? Are there any other documents in Japan that would record the cause of death?
Great question!
Before I answer, just wanted to clarify one thing: A koseki shōhon only lists one person (and not the full family unit, which is what the koseki tōhon lists).
I have never seen a newer or older koseki (tōhon or shōhon) which lists the cause of death of an individual, so I assume it's never listed. The older, handwritten koseki, however, often list the time, date, and place of death.
I did a little bit of research on accessing someone's cause of death information in Japan. If it's for your own curiosity, your best bet may be to request the koseki tōhon which lists the person in question, and ask at the same office if you're able able to get a copy of the "shibō todoke (死亡届)" or "shibō shomeisho (死亡証明書)". They may tell you to go to the regional legal affairs office (which may or may not be in the same building) or they may inform you that because it's personal information, they cannot share that information without a valid reason (legal or medical, for example).
Just remember that you can only request the koseki of someone you have direct lineage with - mother and father, parents of mother and father, etc. (no aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) so it would probably be very challenging to learn the cause of death of someone who you do not have direct lineage.
Hope that helps!
Thanks for useful vid! My grandmother was Japanese and met my grandfather (A Filipino attorney working for US army) in Okinawa. I have a couple of questions I’m hoping you or someone else can help me with.
I can find out her DOB from my cousins I know when she died in the Philippines. However I believe she was disowned by her parents for marrying a Filipino so would there still be a record of her in the Koseki with an X on top as you mentioned or just an X? I have no idea which part of Okinawa she’s from, whether she was born there or just met me Grabdpa there, or any of her family details other than her maiden name being Gibo.
The other question I have is do I count as a “direct” descendent if I am the step granddaughter of Tomoko Reiko Givo? I am not a biological descendent but she was married to my biological grandfather in the 50s til her death in 97. I never knew my biological grandma she died in 52. Tomoko was a brilliant, beautiful and kind grandmother to us. I’d love to find which town she is from when I visit Okinawa from Australia in a few months. I just want to see where she grew up and pay homage to her.
Any guidance or assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. 🙏
Thanks so much for the question!
It may be a bit tough to access her information, but I don't think it's impossible!
I just did a quick search, and your grandmother's maiden name may be 宜保 (Gibo), a geographic name and last name found in Okinawa. It sounds like it's a pretty rare name, which will likely work in your favour.
If you have documents which state her Japanese address, that address may be her honseki/domicile (the address that a koseki is connected to, which may or may not be where someone actually lives/lived). If you have the domicle, full name of the person in question, the person's date of birth, and proof to show direct lineage, you should be able to request copies of the koseki that she was listed in, if that's something you're intersted in doing.
Even though you don't share DNA with her, if you can show that she married your grandfather, and you can also show how you're related to your grandfather, then I think you have a strong case!
Regarding her being disowned by her family, this may or may not have translated to her being removed from the family koseki. If she was removed, she likely would have created her own koseki or joined the koseki of a relative. She would still be listed on her childhood koseki though, with her parents, siblings, and likely other family members as well. Above her name (and perhaps other details about her life events), a big X would be drawn, marking that she left the koseki (due to marriage, death, divorce, loss of citizenship, etc.). Her information would still be legible beneath the X.
I hope that helps and I wish you all the best!