Professional Family History Research Firm & Offer Professional Family Trees
CEO: Masao Hata
5-25-15 ooyata,
Adachi-ku, Tokyo, 120-0001 Japan
Telephone: +81-3-6433-9105 / Fax: +81-3-6433-9106
E-mail: m.hata@tradition-blue.jp / URL: http://tradition-blue.jp/
We are a family history research firm based in Japan. We specialize in translating old
Japanese/Chinese into modern Japanese, and to English as well as conducting family history
research, and creating traditional Japanese-style and original Western-style family trees. Ourfamily history researcher is a respected specialist in his field and has had experience in over
1,800 family history research cases. We would be greatly honored to have you seek our services.
Please do let us know if there is anything we can do to assist you in tracing your family lineage.

Our name, Tradition Blue consists of two parts. Tradition, the translation of the Japanese“Densho”, and Blue, the color of “Hope”. TB also stands for “Transmission Business of values
from generation to generation”. There are certain values we should pass down to the next
generations. We believe that our parents and ancestors whose existence led to our existence
today, also our children and grandchildren are the people who mean the most in our lives and theprecious values. To strengthen “Family Bonds” and to create “Love and Hope” by passing
such values not just from the past to the present, but also from the present to the next
generation, This is our ideal “Transmission Business”

We offer two different types of research methods. The Koseki (Family Registry) Research that
can trace up to 4 to 6 generations as far back as 150 years, and the Field Research that cantrace up to 7 to 10 generations as far back as 200 to 300 years.

he Family Registry Law was established in 1871, and since then, all Japanese citizens have beenrequired to report births, acknowledgements of paternity, adoptions, disruptions of adoptions,deaths, marriages and divorces. By obtaining these records from the local authorities, we areable to trace up to 4 to 6 generations as far back as 150 years. These registry records contain
information that you may have never known. They will include the name of the head of household
as well as each family member’ detailed information. These records may also reveal information
regarding family members born in the late 1800's who may have passed away in the 1900's. The
Family Registry Law sets the preservation period of death records to 150 years, and theserecords are being disposed year after year. When death records created under the patriarchal
system are disposed, it becomes difficult to ascertain the registered permanent address and/or
kinship among family members. If you are interested in tracing your family lineage, it is essentialthat you obtain these records before they are disposed of. These records can be requested via
mail and hence it is not necessary to go to the local authorities for such requests. However, it
must be noted that records may have been destroyed due to wars, national disasters, or fired. Insuch cases, records will not be retrievable even if it has not reached the 150 year preservation
limit.

Based upon the information obtained from the Koseki, we will bring the research to the next stepby examining the records kept at family temples such as cemetery (bochi), Buddhist memorialtablet (ihin), and old temple records (kakocho). We also visit the head family’s house (honke /main branch of your family) to find more information. With the field research, we can trace up to
7 to 10 generations as far back as 200 to 300 years. Due to the religion policies set forth by thegovernment, the people of the Edo period (1600-1868) were required to register with a temple.
The practice of erecting stone pagodas and placing (Buddhist) memorial tablets at the family
altars is said to have started in the Genroku period (1688-1704). Even to this day, spirit tablets
and old temple records can be found by visiting the old family, and stone pagodas can be found at
the family cemetery. We will investigate and analyze the Buddhist name, name, and date of deathfound in these temple records. This will allow us to research as far back as the Kyohou era(1716-1736). If your family is not the main branch of your family, we will need to visit the houseand cemetery of the head family in order to obtain the temple records. There is a high possibility
that we can find old documents including family trees that reveal further information by visiting
the old family (a family of pedigree). However, memorial tablets and old temple records are often
kept at the family altar inside the house, and for this reason, we will need the understanding andcooperation of the family members upon conducting this research. We will also need to contact

them to explain the situation and gain approval in advance. Under normal circumstances, having
you, the client, introduce us to your old family will resolve this issue, but we will need to handle
this matter in a flexible manner if you were not previously in contact with your old family. Thefield research will utilize all of the temple records available to date and bring your research tothe next level.

If you wish to delve deeply into tracing your family roots, obtaining records from the family
temple will not be sufficient. However, researching information prior to the Edo period (16001868) is difficult, even for the most experienced research specialists. The foundation of theresearch will be built around the information obtained from Koseki records and family temple
records. In addition, we will locate and speak with the tribal elder to learn of the ancient lore andrural community of the past. We will also investigate local archives and old documents that may
include family trees and time-honored documents (yuishogaki). This research will inherently
require more time and resources. However, the information obtained from such research
regarding the origin of your family is sure to become a family treasure to be passed down fromone generation to the next.

As innovations in technologies continue to more forward and globalization continues to evolve
rapidly, our sense of values get more diversified. While all corners of the world keeps changing
rapidly, the number of people who are left questioning their own identity would continues to rise.
The one universal value that has remained unchanged for hundreds, and thousands of years is thevalue we place on our families. I believe it is the family identity that is born out of this timelessvalue that will allow us to face the ever-changing values and reinforce our own sense of identity.
We at Tradition Blue wish to contribute to create a vital society by establishing family identities
and strengthen family bonds through the accumulation and organization of family history
information. We sincerely hope that our company grows to be loved and needed by many people
for years to come.

-Professor, Waseda University Business School / Director, Waseda University Marketing
Research Institute- The baby boomers (born between 1947-1949) are in their 60's today and are
the front runners of the nuclear family movement. This generation denied the traditional family
function passed down to them. While denying this, they did not move forward to create
something "new". The relationship with family, relatives, and the surrounding community has tobe revisited in light of the desire for psychological satisfaction and bonds. Putting this intoperspective, the family tree will award us the opportunity to revise our views of the traditionalfamily that we once denied. The emotions that will flood us by reconnecting with our ancestors
and future generations will surely trigger new ways we view our families and prove as aninvaluable asset to all of us.

Family trees are a graphic representation of family bonds. My family tree is a representation of
my family history, a truly invaluable token. Please do not simply record names but overlay
historical vignettes from your family’s history. You will surely rediscover your own identity inthe process of creating your family tree. While some may tend to think that family trees are only
for those from old and distinguished families, this is a mistaken perception. Any individual will beable to conduct their research to some extent. The responsibility of a family history researcher isto link the spirits of the ancestors with the descendants. Staying true to my past experience andyour needs, I guarantee that I will execute my responsibilities to the best of my ability.