Japan starts recording the furigana (reading) of names in the family register
Source material is a Japanese government announcement (in Japanese); this page is a summary.
From 26 May 2025 Japan brought into force the amended Family Register Act, which adds the furigana (reading) of names to the items recorded in the family register (戸籍).
Key facts
| Effective date | 26 May 2025 (Reiwa 7) |
|---|---|
| Responsible ministry | Ministry of Justice (法務省) |
| Legal basis | Amended Family Register Act — adding the furigana of names to the items recorded in the family register |
| Notices | From the start date (26 May 2025), municipalities send out the furigana due to be recorded, in sequence |
| Filing (correction) | You must file if the notified furigana is wrong; no filing is needed if it is correct |
| If you do not file | The notified furigana is recorded in the family register as it is from 26 May 2026 |
| Filing period | Within 1 year of the start date (26 May 2025) |
| Fee | Free |
| How to file | On paper or through Mynaportal (マイナポータル) |
Last checked:
Following an amendment to the Family Register Act, Japan added the furigana (the reading written in kana) of names to the items recorded in the family register (戸籍) from 26 May 2025 (Reiwa 7). After the start date, municipalities send out notices in sequence showing the furigana due to be recorded. If the furigana is correct you do not need to file anything and it will be recorded in the family register as it is from 26 May 2026; you only need to file if it is wrong. Filing furigana is free of charge, can be done on paper or through Mynaportal, and is possible for 1 year from the start date.
Background — why this change
The aim is that, once the furigana of a name is fixed as a single reading in the family register, database searches and other processing become easier and errors can be prevented; the furigana can also be recorded on the copy of the resident record and on the My Number Card and used as identity verification material; and it prevents people from using several different furigana to impersonate others and evade various regulations.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
Summaries reflect national-level programs. Municipal (city/ward/town) programs may differ — confirm with the official desk before applying.
FAQ
When did this start?
The amended Family Register Act took effect on 26 May 2025 (Reiwa 7), adding the furigana of names to the items recorded in the family register.
Do I have to file something when the notice arrives?
If the notified furigana is correct you do not need to file anything, and it will be recorded in the family register as it is from 26 May 2026. You only need to file if it is wrong.
Is there a fee for filing?
There is no fee for filing furigana, and you can file on paper or through Mynaportal.