Legal and administrative term for the person registered as the head of a household, especially under the former family registration system (戸籍). Still used in official contexts.
戸籍謄本には戸主の名前が記載されている。
The name of the head of the household is recorded in the certified copy of the family register.
rights of the head of a household (obsolete law)
Compound of 戸 (household) and 主 (master/head). The term is historically linked to the 戸籍 (family register) system.