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The Japanese Personnel Inquiry Records (PIR): Elite, Adoption, Family Composition in the 1900s

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  • Hiroshi Kumanomido
  • Yutaro Takayasu
  • Suguru Otani

Abstract

We construct a novel elite-level dataset on prewar Japanese elites using the Personnel Inquiry Records (PIR), a historical biographical source covering 1903 to 1939. The PIR contains rich information on family structure, education, occupation, and spatial mobility, capturing elite formation during Japan's transition from a feudal to modern society. By reconstructing intergenerational links and family networks, we document the persistence and transformation of elite status. The dataset provides a foundational resource for quantitative historical research on elite reproduction, social stratification, and institutional development.

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  • Hiroshi Kumanomido & Yutaro Takayasu & Suguru Otani, 2025. "The Japanese Personnel Inquiry Records (PIR): Elite, Adoption, Family Composition in the 1900s," Papers 2504.18788, arXiv.org.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2504.18788
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    References listed on IDEAS

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