History

1982	A study on methods of comprehensive research on Japanese culture was carried out with a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture.
1983	A study on an organizational framework for comprehensive research on Japanese culture was carried out with a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture.
1984	A survey concerning research on Japanese culture was carried out as a project of the National Museum of Ethnology.
1985	An ad hoe committee on the International Research Center for Japanese Studies was established by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture and an Investigative Committee was established by the National Museum of Ethnology (April).
1986	The Investigative Committee presented its final report on plans for the Center (March 31).
	The Preparatory Office for the Establishment of the International Research Center for Japanese Studies was established with UMEHARA Takeshi as Director (April 5).
	The Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Center was established in accordance with a decision by the Minister of Education, Science and Culture (May 14).
1987	The International Research Center for Japanese Studies is established in Kyoto as an Inter-University Research Institute of the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture (May 21). UMEHARA Takeshi inaugurated as the first Director-General. The Center comprised Administrative (Management and Coordination Division and Research Cooperation Division) and Research Departments. The Center comprised Administrative (Management and Coordination Division and Research Cooperation Division) and Research Departments.
1988	The Library and Research Information Department (Library Division) was established. The Management and Coordination Division was reorganized into the General Affairs Division and Accounting Division (April 8).
1990	The Center moved to its current site in Oeyama-cho (July 27).
	An opening ceremony was held for the Information-administration, International communication buildings and the Library (December 10).
1991	The north research wing was completed (October).
1992	A Mainframe computer was purchased and the Computer Division was established in the Library and Research Information Department (January).
	The Department of Japanese Studies, School of Cultural Studies, Graduate University for Advanced Studies was established (April 10).
1994	The auditorium, restaurant and staff rooms, residential facilities for visiting research staff (family occupancy apartments), and library stack rooms were completed.
1995	KAWAI Hayao, Professor Emeritus, International Research Center for Japanese Studies, was inaugurated as the second Director-General (May 21).
	The Research Assessment was conducted by the outside assessors.
1997	The Center's Tenth Anniversary Ceremony was held (May 24).
1998	The Office of Research Exchange was established (April 9).
1999	Residential facilities for visiting research staff (single occupancy apartments) were completed (March 25). The Office for Virtual Resources was established (April 1).
2001	YAMAORI Tetsuo, Professor Emeritus, International Research Center for Japanese Studies, was inaugurated as the third Director-General (May 21).
2004	The form of establishment of the International Research Center for Japanese Studies was changed and the Center became a member institution of the National Institutes for the Humanities, which is an Inter-University Research Institute Corporation. The Accounting Division became the Finance Division(April 1).
2005	KATAKURA Motoko Professor, Faculty Studies, Chuo University, was inaugurated as the fourth Director-General (May 21).
2007	The Center's Twentieth Anniversary Ceremony was held (May 21).
2008	INOKI Takenori, Professor, International Research Center for Japanese Studies, was inaugurated as the fifth Director-General (April 1).
2010	The library stacks II was completed (June 30).
2012	KOMATSU Kazuhiko, Professor, International Research Center for Japanese Studies, was inaugurated as the sixth Director-General (April 1).