Certified translation of Japanese death certificates

Which Japanese death document should you translate?

Translate the document the receiving institution names. If it only asks for a death certificate, the UK government's guidance for deaths in Japan identifies the Japanese death certificate as the certified copy of the death notification (shibo todoke kisai jiko shomeisho). It can be requested from the city, ward, or town office after the death notification (shibo todoke) has been filed there. The Japanese records of a death are:

• Certified copy of the death notification (shibo todoke kisai jiko shomeisho): a copy of the notification form, including the physician's death certificate, certified by the municipal office.
• Physician's death certificate (shibo shindansho), or post-mortem report (shitai kenansho): the half of the notification form completed by the doctor or medical examiner, stating the cause of death.
• Certificate of acceptance of the death notification (shibo todoke juri shomeisho): a short municipal certificate confirming that the notification was accepted, with the date and place of death.
• Family register (koseki): records the date, time, and place of death and the removal of the person from the register.

We translate whichever of these you have. If you are unsure, send them all through our order form: the quote identifies each document and prices it before you pay.

Source: GOV.UK, What to do after a British person dies in Japan. Last reviewed: October 2026.

Which document shows the cause of death?

Only the physician's death certificate (shibo shindansho), or the post-mortem report (shitai kenansho), states the cause of death. The certificate of acceptance and the family register record when and where the death occurred, but not the cause. If an insurer or another institution asks for the cause of death, translate the certified copy of the death notification, which includes the physician's certificate.

What does a certified translation of a Japanese death certificate include?

A complete English translation of every page, laid out to mirror the original, with stamps, seals, and blank fields recorded where they appear. It comes with a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy stating that the translation is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent to translate from Japanese into English, with the translator's name, contact details, and the date. Both are emailed as PDF and Word files within 48 hours of payment. The translation contains only what the original says; it does not add explanations of Japanese procedures or medical terms.

Can a Japanese death certificate be used for probate in the UK?

GOV.UK guidance for deaths in Japan states that the local Japanese death certificate can usually be used in the UK for most purposes, including probate, and that if it is not in English you will need an official translation. Our translation comes with a signed certificate of accuracy, and the PDF can be printed for submission.

Source: GOV.UK, What to do after a British person dies in Japan: "The local Japanese death certificate can usually be used in the UK for most purposes, including probate. If it is not in English, you will need to obtain and pay for an official translation." Last reviewed: October 2026.

What if parts are handwritten?

The medical sections of a shibo shindansho are frequently written by hand. They are translated like the printed parts. If a passage is genuinely illegible, it is marked as illegible in the translation rather than guessed, so the translation records the state of the original.

How much does a death certificate translation cost?

Translation costs $24.95 per page of the original, which includes our signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy and standard delivery within 48 hours. The death notification form carries the notification and the physician's death certificate side by side, so the certified copy of the death notification is counted as two pages: $49.90. If the copy includes a supplementary sheet, each sheet is one more page. A one-page certificate of acceptance is $24.95, and a koseki is billed per page of the register. Orders of three or more documents receive 10% off, and five or more receive 15% off. Your quote states the fixed total before you pay. You can review our complete fee structure and sample order totals on our pricing page.