History

Last Updated: April 13, 2021

　The Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ), AIST is a public organization that performs various types of geological surveys and research. GSJ has consistently provided geological information, which is essential to build a safe and sustainable society, since its establishment in 1882. The mission of GSJ has varied in history. Initially, its primary mission was natural resources exploration including metallic and nonmetallic minerals, oil and natural gas, and coal resources. After the oil crisis in the 1970s, exploration of geothermal resources increased important. GSJ now plays a role in dealing with a range of issues, including geological hazards, water resources, global warming, geological disposal of nuclear wastes, and soil contamination.

1882	The Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ) was established in Tokyo under the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce with the goal to publish geological maps of the country.
1925	GSJ was affiliated with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
1946	Moved to Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
1948	GSJ was transferred to the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology (former AIST) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
1949	The Ministry of Commerce and Industry was reorganized to the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).
1979	GSJ and eight other institutions of AIST in Tokyo moved to Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki Prefecture.
1980	The Geological Museum opened to the public.
2001	AIST was extensively restructured in April 2001 as an independent administrative agency named the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (new AIST), integrating fifteen research institutes of the former AIST. In accordance with the organizational restructuring of AIST, the new GSJ included three Research Institutes, two Research Centers, and five relevant units.
	MITI was reorganized to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
2004	The Institute for Marine Resources and Environment and the Institute of Geoscience were merged into the Institute of Geology and Geoinformation (May).
2007	The Research Center for Deep Geological Environment transitioned to the Research Core for Deep Geological Environment (April).
2009	The Active Fault Research Center and seismic research groups in the Research Institute of Geology and Geoinformation were merged into the Active Fault and Earthquake Research Center (April).
2014	The Active Fault and Earthquake Research Center and some research groups of the Research Institute of Geology and Geoinformation (i.e., the Geodynamics Research Group and volcanic research groups) were merged to the Research Institute of Earthquake and Volcano Geology (April).
	The Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute, AIST (FREA) was established in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture (April). GSJ has sent researchers to the Geothermal Energy Team and the Shallow Geothermal and Hydrogeology Team of the Renewable Energy Research Center of FREA.
2020	The Research Laboratory on Environmentally–Conscious Development and Technology (E-CODE) was launched with other departments in AIST.