TN 31 (08-05)

A. Background

Vital statistics records are kept as family registers by the civil authorities. During WW II, many family registers in Okinawa were destroyed. These records were reconstructed beginning in 1948 based on statements from family members. Comparision with authentic documents from other sources has shown entries for events before the reconstruction date to be incorrect.

Entries for events occurring after the reconstruction of a family register are highly reliable. However, entries for events which occurred before the reconstruction of a family register are not reliable.

B. Procedure

If a claimant submits a reconstructed family record as proof of an event before the date of the reconstruction, ask him/her to submit additional evidence established at an earlier date.