1.
family register, civil registry
Japan's official system of recording family relationships, births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. Each household has a register that tracks its members' legal status. A fundamental part of Japanese administrative and legal life.
Usage
The 戸籍 system is unique to Japan (and a few other East Asian countries). It records not just individuals but family units, tracking births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and adoptions. It differs from Western systems of birth certificates and civil registration.
A 戸籍謄本 (certified copy of the full register) or 戸籍抄本 (partial extract) is required for many official procedures such as marriage, passport applications, and inheritance.