Why does a kobunsho show a blank page in Chrome?
An electronic official document from Japan comes as a ZIP: an XML file with the data and an XSL stylesheet that turns it into a readable notice. When you open the XML from your disk, Chrome refuses to load the stylesheet next to it, so you get a blank page or a run of plain text. Opening the XML inside the ZIP without unzipping it fails the same way.
The official way: Edge, Safari or e-Gov
The Japan Pension Service asks you to unzip the whole file first, then open the XML in Microsoft Edge or Safari. Since 18 March 2026, the e-Gov 公文書表示 page also displays them: select every XML and XSL file you unzipped, and it opens them in your default browser.
How to open a kobunsho ZIP here
Drop the ZIP on the tool, or choose it with Choose files. If you already unzipped it, select the XML and XSL files together. The cover letter (kagami) opens first, and the list shows every other notice. Print / Save as PDF prints the document alone; choose Save as PDF in the print dialog to keep a PDF copy. PDF files in the ZIP open in a new tab, and CSV files show as a table, even when they are encoded in Shift_JIS.
Are my documents uploaded?
No. The ZIP is read and the stylesheets are applied in your browser, with an open source XSLT engine, xslt-polyfill (libxslt in WebAssembly). Names, pension numbers and amounts never leave your device, and they are gone when you close the tab.
Chrome removes XSLT on 17 November 2026
From Chrome 158, Chrome no longer runs XSLT at all, and viewers that rely on its built-in XSLTProcessor stop working there too. This viewer brings its own engine, so it keeps working. Our guide to the XSLT removal explains the change. This free tool is made by XMLNest and is not affiliated with e-Gov, the Digital Agency or the Japan Pension Service.
Questions
Why is my e-Gov document blank when I open it?
The XML needs the XSL stylesheet from the same ZIP. Chrome does not load stylesheets for files on your disk, so the page stays blank. Load the whole ZIP here, or unzip it and use Edge, Safari or the e-Gov 公文書表示 page.
Do I need to unzip the file first?
No. Choose the ZIP as it is and the viewer unzips it in your browser, Japanese file names included. Password-protected ZIP files are not supported: unzip those first, then select the XML and XSL files together.
How do I save a kobunsho as a PDF?
Press Print / Save as PDF, then choose Save as PDF as the destination in the print dialog. The PDF holds the document on screen only, so save the cover letter and each notice one by one.
Can I read the CSV and PDF files from the ZIP?
Yes. CSV files show as a table, in Shift_JIS or UTF-8, and PDF files, sent for example when a name uses rare characters, open in a new tab or can be saved.
Is this an official e-Gov tool?
No. It is a free tool made by XMLNest, with no link to the Digital Agency (e-Gov) or the Japan Pension Service. If something looks wrong, check the document in Edge or on the e-Gov page and contact the office that sent it.