Died in Kobe, Japan! :-(

[fionnghal]

hi Listers,
i'm hoping someone amongst you can help me track down where to apply for my grt grandad's death lines.

he died while on a visit to the east - searching i believe, for sources of timber.

a local newpaper account records his death as:
10 February 1909 Kobe Harbour, Japan

 i found his death registration:

CONSULAR DEATH INDICES 1906-1910
Joseph Applyard, Vol.12 Kobe consulate pg.1589.   

however, i haven't been able to find Kobe Consulate.  perhaps it doesn't exist any more.

i've tried looking for records relating to deaths in Japan at national archives but haven't had much luck. 

anyone got any pointers please,

thankyou for your time and trouble
le durachd   
fionnghal

[PrueM]

Hi fionnghal 

You've probably already seen this, but I thought I'd post it anyway - NA fact sheet about British overseas deaths/consular papers:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/rdleaflet.asp?sLeafletID=214

The Embassy in Japan is now in Tokyo, with Consulates in Nagoya and Osaka.  I think you'll find records from 1908 would be in the National Archives.  There should be a death certificate for your man, which would be available for purchase, but you need to get the index reference for it first.

Cheers
Prue

[gazania]

The Consular bmd certificates should be available from the following:

http://www.familyrecords.gov.uk/partners/gro.htm

Before the GRO records went online I obtained a consular birth certificate for my aunt, registered (by letter!) with the Consulate at Ascunsion, Paraguay in 1901.  I was on a visit to London and went to St Catherine's house where the GRO records were then held. I trawled the old heavy ledgers, found the reference etc and bought the certificate.

Hope this is of some help, Gazania