Searching for Japanese family crests(kamon)

I went to Yamanashi Prefecture after receiving a request to investigate a family crest(kamon).

The most reliable way to find out the family crest passed down from one’s ancestors is to check the family crest carved on the main family grave. However, you cannot just go and check the graveyard suddenly, and you must first find and consider the location of the ancestral graveyard.

In order to find the location of the graveyard, you need to find “someone who knows the location of the grave,” that is, the descendants of the main family or the temple where the grave is located. Furthermore, in order to find the descendants of the main family and the temple, you need to identify the place where the ancestors may have lived. In order to do so, you must first trace back the family register.

When conducting a family crest investigation, it is necessary to make careful preparations over several months. In this case, we first obtained the family register, and fortunately we were able to trace back to the oldest family register that can be obtained under current law, and we were able to find the ancestor’s registered domicile. However, we could not find anyone with the same surname as the ancestor in the registered domicile or in the neighborhood.

So we interviewed the surrounding temples and got the information that “We think there is a grave of the client’s family name in the communal cemetery that is not managed by our temple, but is not a parishioner of ours.”

This time, we first went to greet the head priest of the temple and went to check the local grave after getting permission, and we were able to find the client’s ancestral grave. Moreover, the family crest was carved there, and we were able to tell the client the ancestral crest, which made him very happy.

The cemetery is not on the temple grounds, but on the slope of the mountain, but the path is well maintained.

Sometimes we go by motorcycle to investigate the site.

On the way back, we made a detour to the famous “Hottarakashi Onsen” in Yamanashi Prefecture. It is a hot spring with a great view from the bath.

We have created an English page for people living overseas who have roots in Japan.

We will research your ancestors, family crests, and create family trees for those with roots in Japan.
Please feel free to contact us.
https://kakeizu-sakusei.com/familytreecreation/