Japanese biliary atresia registry was established in 1989 with the aid of the Japanese Research Society on Biliary Atresia. Ninety-eight cases from 43 institutions were registered for the first year. The male-female ratio was 0.5. All patients underwent collective surgery at the age from 6 to 211 days. Jaundice cleared in 52 patients after the primary operation. At the end of 1989, 50 patients are surviving without jaundice and 8 patients died within one year.