How to Use for Genealogy Research
The “honseki-chi” (registered address) listed in koseki may no longer exist as a current municipality due to mergers, abolitions, or renaming since the Meiji era. Historical administrative area datasets help identify the modern municipality that corresponds to an old place name.
Service Overview
GIS datasets documenting all municipal changes (mergers, splits, renaming) across Japan since the Meiji era, provided by the Geospatial Information Authority and partner institutions.
Use Cases
- Identifying the current municipality corresponding to an abolished honseki-chi
- Converting old district (gun) and village names to current addresses
- Understanding administrative boundary changes during the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras
