Choosing a Family Tree Creation Service — Five Things to Check Before You Apply

Asking someone else to make your family tree is by no means a small purchase, and it also means entrusting them with your family's important information. In this article, we introduce five things worth checking before you apply.

1. What Is the Pricing Unit?

A price shown as “from ¥X” doesn't tell you what is included. What you should check is the unit. Is it per surname (per lineage), or a total amount?

We charge per lineage: ¥22,000 for information gathering only and ¥55,000 for information gathering + map creation (both tax included).

2. How Far Back Will They Trace?

If a company promises “we'll go back X generations,” please pause for a moment. How far back the research can go depends on how many family registers have survived. Registers burned in the war, or discarded after their retention period — such circumstances can't be known until the research is done.

We believe the honest answer is “we will go back as far as the surviving registers continue,” not a promise of a number of generations.

3. What Will You Receive?

It is reassuring to confirm in writing beforehand what will be delivered.

• The gathered registers themselves (originals or copies)
• The family tree (on paper, as a PDF, or both)
• An account of the research process and an explanation of any parts that could not be traced

We send you the registers and related documents, and if you choose “map creation,” we also deliver a PDF of your family tree.

4. How Long Will It Take?

It depends on the number of lineages and the circumstances of the government offices. The more honest a company is, the less likely it is to say “done in X days.” What matters is whether they contact you when there is likely to be a delay.

5. How Will the Information You Entrust Be Handled?

Family registers record quite personal details about your family. The scope of the letter of authorization, how long records are kept, and how they are handled afterward — these three are things you are entitled to ask about before applying.

A Bonus Tip — You Don't Have to Leave Everything to Them

You can also gather some registers yourself first and hand things over from the point where you get stuck. Many people stop at the registers of collateral relatives (uncles, aunts, cousins), and we are happy to take over from there, too.

For how to think about costs, see The Cost of Making a Family Tree.

For the overall process, see What Is a Family Tree?, and to apply, please see Family Research.