You're trying to get something done — and Japan is in the way
You don't want "a document service." You want the case closed. Here's where we come in.
"I'm applying for citizenship by descent."
Your application needs your grandparents' Japanese family register, going back generations — certified and translated. We trace it and obtain it.
Heritage & citizenship"I'm getting married overseas."
The registrar abroad wants your Japanese family register or a marriage-record certificate — certified, translated, and apostilled. We obtain and prepare all of it.
Marriage abroad"The office abroad rejected my documents."
Wrong certificate, missing apostille, uncertified translation. We obtain the correct originals and prepare them so they're accepted the first time.
Apostille & translation"I need to prove my Japanese education."
A new employer, university, or immigration office wants your graduation certificate and transcript from a Japanese school — we request them and have them certified.
Study & work"I was born or once lived in Japan."
You need your own birth, marriage, or residence records for a life event overseas — but the office only deals in Japanese, in person.
Personal records"I just don't have time to figure this out."
The instructions are in kanji, the office is closed in your time zone, and one mistake means starting over. Hand the whole thing to us.
Done for youWhat our clients say
I'd been rejected twice by my home country's registrar for a missing apostille. They got it right on the first try and walked me through exactly what changed.
I needed my university transcript from Osaka for a work visa with a two-week deadline. It arrived in time, fully translated and certified.
Three steps. We do the running around.
You shouldn't need a dozen emails and a Japanese phone number. Most cases need only a short briefing from you.
Tell us the goal
In plain English, tell us what you're trying to accomplish and where the document will be used. We confirm exactly which records you need — and which you don't.
We obtain & prepare it
We liaise with the Japanese offices, collect the certified originals, translate them, and arrange the apostille on your behalf.
You receive it, ready to use
Digital copies for review, originals couriered to your door — correctly certified and accepted by the authority that asked for them.
One point of contact. One flat quote agreed upfront. No surprises in Japanese.
A specialist, not a translation app
This isn't paperwork you want to "mostly" get right. It's worth handing to someone who does only this.
We work backwards from your goal
We start with what the receiving authority actually requires — then obtain exactly that. No wasted requests, no rejected submissions.
On the ground in Japan
We deal directly with city and ward offices, tax offices, schools, and universities across Japan — including offices that only accept in-person, Japanese-language requests.
Everything explained in English
You always know what's happening and why. No machine-translated confusion, no guessing at kanji forms.
We've seen the rejections before
Wrong document type, missing apostille, uncertified translation — we know what receiving authorities actually reject, and we prepare your case to avoid it the first time.
Who's handling your documents
Japan Document Service is operated by IGRS Inc., based in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. We work directly with municipal offices, tax offices, and educational institutions nationwide on behalf of clients overseas.
We are not a law firm, judicial scrivener, or administrative scrivener office. We do not provide legal advice or file legal applications on your behalf — we obtain existing public records and arrange their certified translation and apostille, under a power of attorney you provide.
These are records you're already entitled to
We simply get them for you.
Family Register & Removed Register
Koseki and Joseki — the core records for citizenship by descent, genealogy, and proving family relationships, including older handwritten registers.
Certificate of Residence (Juminhyo)
Current or past proof of your registered address in Japan — for banking, pensions, visas, and procedures overseas.
Diplomas & Academic Transcripts
Graduation and enrollment certificates and grade transcripts from Japanese schools and universities — for visas, jobs, and further study.
Tax & Income Certificates
Tax-payment and income certificates (nōzei / kazei shōmeisho) — often required for visa sponsorship, loans, and residency applications abroad.
Birth & Marriage Records
Acceptance and items certificates for births and marriages registered in Japan — for weddings, family registration, and life events overseas.
Certified Translation & Apostille
The add-on that makes any of the above usable abroad: certified English translation plus a Ministry of Foreign Affairs apostille — accepted in all Hague Convention countries.
Published rates that beat the apostille agencies
Most apostille services in Japan charge from ¥27,500 per apostille and won't quote translation until you've committed. We publish our rates, come in lower on every line — and obtain the original document for you in the same job, all in English, with no trip to Japan.
Government and consular fees and international courier are passed through at cost. Every case is confirmed as a single flat quote before we begin — no surprises. If a requested record genuinely doesn't exist, we only charge for documents we successfully obtain.
One price, fully handled
Marriage Abroad
Family register obtained + certified translation + apostille — everything a registrar overseas asks for, in one package.
from ¥39,000Study & Work Visa
Diploma and transcript obtained from your school + certified translation + apostille, ready for the employer or university.
from ¥45,000Citizenship by Descent
Multi-generation family-register trace + certified translations + apostille — the full document set for your application.
from ¥98,000Questions people ask before starting
I'm not sure exactly which document I need. Can you help? +
Yes. Most clients start without knowing the exact document name — only the goal (a visa, a wedding, a citizenship application, etc.). Tell us what you're trying to accomplish and where it will be used, and we'll confirm exactly which records are required.
How are you able to request my records for me? +
Under Japanese law, family registers and similar records can only be requested by the person themselves, their direct relatives, or someone holding a valid power of attorney (POA). Once we confirm your case, we send you a simple POA form to sign — no notarization required in most cases — which authorizes us to make the request on your behalf. We explain exactly what you're signing and why, in plain English.
Do I need to travel to Japan or visit a Japanese office? +
No. The entire process — from initial request to final delivery — is handled remotely. You communicate with us entirely in English, and originals are couriered to your address.
Can you provide certified translations and apostille? +
Yes. We offer certified translation and Ministry of Foreign Affairs apostille as part of the same engagement, so you receive a single document set ready for submission. Apostille is accepted in all Hague Convention countries (Italy, Australia, the US, most of Europe, and more).
How long does it take? +
Most single-document requests take 2–3 weeks from the time we receive your signed authorization, depending on the issuing office and whether translation or apostille is also required. Multi-generation family register traces for citizenship cases typically take 4–6 weeks. Expedited processing is available for an additional fee — let us know your deadline when you contact us.
What does it cost? +
See our published pricing above. Every case is confirmed as a single flat quote before we begin, based on exactly which documents and services you need — no hidden fees.
What if the document doesn't exist or can't be located? +
If a requested record genuinely doesn't exist (for example, if it was never registered, or records were lost in specific historical circumstances), we'll tell you as soon as we confirm this with the issuing office, and refund the portion of your fee for that specific document. We only charge for documents we successfully obtain.
Which areas of Japan do you cover? +
We work with municipal and ward offices, tax offices, and schools nationwide. Koseki records, for example, are tied to your registered honseki (place of family registration) rather than your last address, and we handle requests regardless of which prefecture that's in.
Is my information kept private? +
Yes. Family registers and personal records are sensitive. Your information and documents are kept confidential and handled with care throughout the process.
Tell us what you need from Japan
Describe your situation below. We'll reply within 1 business day with exactly which documents are required, how long it takes, and a flat-fee quote — at no cost and no obligation.