| May 1961 |
The Science Council of Japan announces to the government the establishment of the “Institute
of Polar Research” (tentative name) as a organization of Ministry of Education, Science and Culture for the cataloging, storage, and research of materials obtained as a result of Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. |
| April 1962 |
“Polar Department” of the National Science Museum established. |
| April 1965 |
The “Polar Department” is expanded and renamed the “Polar Division,” and is divided into the No. 1 and No. 2 Polar Sections. |
| April 1966 |
The National Science Museum is reorganized and the “Polar Division” is also reorganized into the “Polar Research Division”. The Division is divided into the Polar Laboratories No. 1 and No. 2. |
| April 1970 |
Evolution of the “Polar Research Division” continues, and the Division becomes the nucleus of Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition as the “Polar Research Center”. The Center is divided into the Polar Operations Division, Polar Research and Materials Division, and the Administration Section. |
| August 1970 |
Moves from Ueno to Itabashi, to the location formerly occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army’s No. 2 Tokyo Arsenal. |
| September 29, 1973 |
Establishment of the National Institute of Polar Research. The institute has four sections in the Division for Research (Geoscience, Glaciology, Ecology, Polar Region Engineering), two sections in the Data Collection and Processing Division (Biology, Inorganic Materials), two sections and six groups in the Administrative Office, and one section and two groups in the Operational Office. Syowa Station has become the base for NIPR observational activities in the Antarctic. |
| April 1974 |
Establishment of the Cold Region Construction Section to the Research Division, the Data Analysis Section to the Data Collection and Processing Division, the Collaborative Observation Section to the Operational Office, and the Library. |
| April 1975 |
Addition of the Polar Meteorology Research Section and the Polar Minerals and Mining Research Section to the Research Division, and the establishment of the new No. 1 and No. 2 Cryobiology Research Section. |
| April 1978 |
Addition of the Polar Meteorology Research Section and the Polar Minerals and Mining Research Section to the Research Division, and the establishment of the new No. 1 and No. 2 Cryobiology Research Section. |
| April 1979 |
Reorganization of the Upper Atmosphere Physics Research Section of the Research Division into the No. 1 and No. 2. The Cold Region Construction Section is renamed the Antarctic Logistics and Polar Region Engineering Research Section. |
| April 1981 |
The Meteorite Collection Section to the Data Collection and Processing Division established. Establishment of Mizuho Station. |
| April 1983 |
Elimination of the Polar Meteorology Research Section of the Research Division. Establishment of the Atmospheric and Hydrospheric Remote Sensing Research Section. |
| April 1984 |
Meteorite Research Section added to Research Division. Aurora Science Data Section added to the Data Collection and Processing Division. |
| June 1990 |
Arctic Environment Research Center and Information Science Center established. Data Analysis Section eliminated from Data Collection and Processing Division. |
| April 1993 |
Atmospheric and Hydrospheric Remote Sensing Research Section eliminated from Research Division and Polar Atmospheric Material Cycle Research Section established. The Department of Polar Science, the School of Mathematical and Physical Science created as a program of postgraduate study in the Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI). NIPR became a parent institute of SOKENDAI. |
| June 1994 |
Establishment of the Crustal Activity Evolution Research Section to Research Division. |
| April 1995 |
Establishment of the Center for Antarctic Environmental Monitoring as one of the research facilities. |
| May 1996 |
Reorganization of the Center for Antarctic Environmental Monitoring and elimination of the Inorganic Materials Group from the Data Collection and Processing Division. |
| April 1997 |
Reorganization of the Arctic Environment Research Center and the Center for Antarctic Environmental Monitoring. |
| April 1998 |
Antarctic Meteorite Research Center established as a research facility. Environmental Impact Section of the Operational Office established. Meteorite Research Section (research fellows group) eliminated from the Research Division, and Meteorite Collection Section eliminated from the Data Collection and Processing Division. |
| April 2004 |
NIPR was established by the Inter-University Research Institute Corporation as a Research Organization of Information and Systems. At the same time, the Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI) was established by the National University Corporation. The School of Mathematical and Physical Science was renamed the School of Multidisciplinary Sciences, and incorporates the departments of Statistical Science, Polar Science, and Informatics. |
| October 2006 |
The research framework is regrouped to include the Polar Data Center and the Polar Science Resources Center in the Division for Polar Information. The Center for Antarctic Programs within the Division for Polar Programs is reorganized into the Antarctic Operation Center. |
| April 2008 |
The Intellectual Property Section is established. |
| April 2009 |
The Office of Polar Expeditions and the Antarctic Operation Center are merged as the Center for Antarctic Programs. |
| May 2009 |
NIPR relocates from Kaga, Itabashi Ward, Tokyo to the new campus in Midori-cho, Tachikawa-shi, Tokyo. |
| July 2010 |
Joint Administration Office consolidated along with the Institute of Statistical Mathematics. |
