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.
戸籍を取る。
To obtain a copy of one's family register.
結婚すると戸籍が変わる。
Your family register changes when you get married.
パスポートの申請には戸籍謄本が必要なので、本籍地の役所に請求した。
Since a certified copy of the family register is required for a passport application, I requested one from the office at my registered domicile.
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.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 戸籍謄本: certified copy of the family register (full)
- 戸籍抄本: extract of the family register (partial)
- 戸籍に入る: to be entered into a family register (as with marriage)
- 本籍: registered domicile (where the register is held)
- 戸籍を移す: to transfer one's family register