Trying to find lost family in Japan... where to start?

Emoni · 11 Feb 2012

Hello everyone,

I was recently asked to help locate distant family relatives in Japan by someone in the United States. I agreed to do what I can, however, I'm unsure of where to start. I do have some partial names and details, but am at a loss as of what to do next.
Does anyone have any hints as to where and what I can do to begin?

Thank you.

Glenski · 12 Feb 2012

If you have "details" about their previous whereabouts, perhaps visiting that city's city hall or ward office will be a starter. Checking phone books from the library, too. What "details" do you have?

Emoni · 12 Feb 2012

Quite a bit really, family names (no kanji...) and a former living address, no kanji. Birthdates as well.

Thanks for the help.

Leo Alfa RS · 16 Jan 2013

Dear Emoni, and All...

I'm sorry using your forum, please accept my apologize.. I have the same problem as you.

My Name is Leo Alfa from Indonesia...

I want to find my grandpa from my mother, he lives in Indonesia when Japan colonize in Indonesia (1942 - 1944) > Bangka Island

He works at Mitsubishi Kaibun Kaisa (MKK) as Treasurer, I don't know the first name but I know His surname = Karube (軽部)

I want my mother to meet her father or email me.

anpan · 17 Jan 2013

former living address is available.

Hi,
as for a former living address, even if it is in romaji, maybe i can locate it.
as for name, you can not get certificate at city hall. you need first and last name.
when you know address in japan in kanji, can you visit there ?
If you do not mind, can you write it in this forum, or can you contact with me via email ?
my email address is here.

Emoni said:
Quite a bit really, family names (no kanji...) and a former living address, no kanji. Birthdates as well.

Thanks for the help.

HI, I cannot open your attached file. or my computer is broken ?
do you know his address in Japan ? Or honseki ?

Leo Alfa RS said:

Dear Emoni, and All...

I'm sorry using your forum, please accept my apologies.. I have the same problem as you.

My Name is Leo Alfa from Indonesia...

I want to find my grandpa from my mother, he lives in Indonesia when Japan colonize in Indonesia (1942 - 1944) > Bangka Island

He works at Mitsubishi Kaibun Kaisa (MKK) as Treasurer, I don't know the first name but I know His surname = Karube (軽部)

I want my mother to meet her father or email me.

Click to expand...

Leo Alfa RS · 28 Jan 2013

anpan said:
Hi,
as for a former living address, even if it is in romaji, maybe i can locate it.
as for name, you can not get certificate at city hall. you need first and last name.
when you know address in japan in kanji, can you visit there ?
If you do not mind, can you write it in this forum, or can you contact with me via email ?
my email address is here.

---------- Post added at 16:28 ---------- Previous post was at 16:21 ----------

HI, I cannot open your attached file. or my computer is broken ?
do you know his address in Japan ? Or honseki ?

Hi Anpan,

Thanks for your reply, I don't know about the attachment maybe the resolution little high, i just compressed now. About the address I don't know, but He and his family live in Tokyo, they family have the biggest hotel in Tokyo arround year 1945.
I try new upload pic with medium resolution (VGA):

My Grandpa:

My Grandma:

Granpa Name in Kanji:

I hope everyone can help me to find my grandpa, i do this for my mom...

Warm regards and my honor,

Leo Alfa

anpan · 30 Jan 2013

ＨＩ， thank you for precious information.
maybe name of your grandpa is 苅部長八. I searched his name in website, but I cannot find any information. I need mailing address of your grandpa.

masaegu · 30 Jan 2013

anpan said:
I searched his name in website, but I cannot find any information. I need mailing address of your grandpa.

相変わらずＫＹな発言をされますね。住所がわかっていればＯＰはこのようなスレは立ててないと思いますが。

Leo Alfa RS · 27 Feb 2013

anpan said:
maybe name of your grandpa is 苅部長八. I searched his name in website, but I cannot find any information. I need mailing address of your grandpa.

Hi Anpan,

Thanks for your information:
I don't know the address? But please see my previous post.
My grandpa family name was KARUBE, He was work at "Mitsubishi Kaibun Kaisa"(MKK) as "Treasurer" around year 1945 in Bangka Island (Indonesia).
He was living in Indonesia when Japan colonize in Indonesia (1942 to 1944) - Bangka Island.
Please share my grandpa and my grandma photograph on my previous post.
Any information I will appreciate.

My Honor,

Leo Alfa

====================================================

私はアドレスが分からない？しかし、私の以前の投稿を参照してください。
私のおじいちゃんの家族の名前は軽部だった、彼は仕事はバンカ島（インドネシア）における1945年の周りに "財務"と"三菱Kaibunカイサ"（MKK）であった。
バンカ島 - 日本はインドネシア（1942年から1944年）に植民地化するとき、彼はインドネシアに住んでいます。
おじいちゃんと私の以前の記事で私のおばあちゃんの写真を共有してください。
私は感謝する任意の情報を表示します。

私の名誉、

レオアルファ

mtoda · 13 Feb 2014

Hey Leo and Anpan,

Have you guys had any luck in locating long lost family? I also have a similar case where my grand father was stationed in Taiwan. He left Taiwan in 1945, but my father was left behind as well. I'm just trying to see how i can get started with a search like this. Any tips helps. Thanks!

Leo Alfa RS · 16 Feb 2024

Hi guys, how are you? I hope everything will be gona be alright, i still don't get information about my granpa family, just make correction for MKK is from Mitsubishi Kabushiki Kaisha a Tin Mining company as treasurer. I hope get luck, I get help to ask my friend who work as Indonesian Ambassador at Japan,pleae wish me luck.. many thanks

Leo

mdchachi · 16 Feb 2024

Leo Alfa RS said:
Hi guys, how are you? I hope everything will be gona be alright, i still don't get information about my granpa family, just make correction for MKK is from Mitsubishi Kabushiki Kaisha a Tin Mining company as treasurer. I hope get luck, I get help to ask my friend who work as Indonesian Ambassador at Japan,pleae wish me luck.. many thanks

Leo

Good luck.

Trying to find lost family in Japan... where to start?

Emoni

先輩

Glenski

Just me

Emoni

先輩

Leo Alfa RS

後輩

anpan

先輩

Leo Alfa RS

後輩

anpan

先輩

masaegu

先輩

Leo Alfa RS

後輩

mtoda

Registered

Leo Alfa RS

後輩

mdchachi

Moderator

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