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Copy of family register
This family registration form is part of the Japanese vital records (koseki) system based upon local rather than central registration. In Japan, all births, marriages and deaths must be registered at, or supplied to, the appropriate local government office in the home town of the family, quite regardless of where its branch members may reside. Until 1920, when a central records office was added to the system, all Japanese census statistics were gathered from local records. The system dates back to at least the 7th century and it is extremely efficient; Japanese vital statistics are considered to be unusually precise.