Historical Japanese Land Certificate (Chiken), 1882 – Original Meiji Era Government Document

Original Japanese land ownership certificate (Chiken), issued on February 20, 1882, during the Meiji period. An authentic Imperial Japanese government document with handwritten entries and official seals.

The certificate was issued in Fukuoka Prefecture, in the historical province of Buzen, Kiku District, on the island of Kyushu. It records ownership of a land plot measuring approximately 532 m², including its location, owner, assessed value, and land tax. The document bears the name of Tsuda Koreyasu, head of Kiku District, a government official also associated with the early development of the port of Moji.

Land certificates known as Chiken were introduced during the Meiji land tax reform, which began in 1873. One of the major reforms of modern Japan, it established a system of registered private land ownership, official land valuation, and monetary land taxation.

The front features an ornamented government form produced by the Printing Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of Finance. Individual property details were entered by hand and authenticated with official seals.

The reverse contains printed provisions of Japanese land legislation of the period, defining the rights of landowners, including the transfer and sale of property, and restrictions on land ownership by foreign nationals. Five additional sections were provided to register subsequent changes of ownership.

Material and Technique

Paper, official government-printed form with handwritten ink entries and official seals. Double-sided document.

Size

Approx. 25 × 32 cm (9.8 × 12.6 inches).

Condition

Good antique condition, with age-related discoloration, staining, folds, and signs of storage, more pronounced on the reverse. The principal handwritten entries, official seals, and printed text remain largely legible. Please refer to the photographs for details.

Shipping

Safe and tracked shipping from Latvia. Protective packaging.

For US buyers: US customs processing is prepaid through the shipping service, so no additional customs processing payment is required upon delivery.