About Us

History

Update: July 6, 2022

Chronological table of our history
YearMatters
1932Completion of Yamashina's private laboratory museum in Nampeidai, Shibuya, Tokyo. 16,000 bird specimens, and specimens of bird eggs, mammals, butterflies, etc.
1942Yamashina Institute for Ornithology was established after authorization from the Ministry of Education.
1952Grant-in-Aid for Promotion of Private Scientific Research received from the Ministry of Education. "Journal of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology" launched in commemoration of the 10th year since the establishment.
1961Bird-banding project commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
1972Bird-banding project commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment.
1981Okinawa Rail Rallus okinawae discovered in Okinawa Island. Described as a new species.
1984The land and buildings in Shibuya were sold and the institute moved to Abiko City, Chiba Prefecture. Collections of 18,000 books, 59,000 bird specimens, and 7,400 mammal and other animal specimens, etc.
1986His Imperial Highness Prince Akishino became the President of the institute.
1989Chairman of the Board of Directors, Yamashina Yoshimaro, died at the age of 88. Asano Nagachika was appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Kuroda Nagahisa was appointed as the Director General.
1992The 50 year commemoration ceremony was held. Ornithological Award in memory of Dr. Yamashina Yoshimaro was established.
1999Yamagishi Satoshi was appointed as the Deputy Director General.
2000Collections of 37,000 books, 69,000 bird specimens. 9,000m square meters of land, 1,300m square meters of buildings.
2002Yamagishi Satoshi was appointed as the Director General (Resignation of Director General Kuroda Nagahisa).
2004 Shimazu Hisanaga was appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors (Resignation of Chairman Asano Nagachika). Kakizawa Ryozo was appointed as the Deputy Director General.
2006Resignation of Deputy Director General Kakizawa Ryozo. Hayashi Yoshihiro was appointed as the Deputy Director General.
2010Hayashi Yoshihiro was appointed as the Director General (Resignation of Director General Yamagishi Satoshi). Ozaki Kiyoaki was appointed as the Deputy Director General.
2015Mibu Motohiro was appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors (Resignation of Chairman Shimazu Hisanaga). Okuno Takuji was appointed as the Deputy Director General.
2017Okuno Takuji was appointed as the Director General (Resignation of Director General Hayashi Yoshihiro).
2021Collections of 70,000 books, 80,000 bird specimens.
2022Hiroshi Ogawa was appointed as the Director General (Resignation of Director General Okuno Takuji).