Last Updated : April 1, 2020
Vision and Mission | Organization of GSJ | Top Officials | History
Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ), AIST is a public organization to carry out various geological surveys and researches. GSJ has consistently provided geological information, which is essential to build a safe and sustainable society, since its establishment in 1882.
Vision and Mission
Vision
Assess the Geology (Quality of Earth) by using our world’s-best geological survey and analytical techniques, and help to solve the social problems relating to stable supply of resources and energy, environmental conservation, and mitigation of natural disasters from a global perspective. As a national institute of geological survey, promote cooperation with domestic and overseas earth scientific organization.
Mission
Gather, compile, and provide geological information, and develop its technologies to overcome various difficulties in global environmental protection, exploration of minerals and energy resources, and natural disaster mitigation. Disseminate the outcomes of its research activities and coordinate international cooperation with geoscience institutions and organizations all over the world.
Organization of GSJ
GSJ consists of three research units of the Research Institute of Earthquake and Volcano Geology, the Research Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, and the Research Institute of Geology and Geoinformation, along with two teams on geothermal energy at the Renewable Energy Research Center, the Geoinformation Service Center including the Geological Museum, and Research Promotion Division.
Top Officials
| Director General |  Yano Yusaku |
| Assistant Director General | Tanaka Yuichiro |
| Assistant Director General | Kamioka Hikari |
| Deputy Director General / Director, Research Promotion Division | Nakao Shinsuke |
| Director, Research Planning Office, Research Promotion Division | Imanishi Kazutoshi |
| Director, Research Institute of Earthquake and Volcano Geology | Itoh Jun'ichi |
| Director, Research Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment | Mitsuhata Yuji |
| Director, Research Institute of Geology and Geoinformation | Arai Kohsaku |
| Principal Research Manager, Renewable Energy Research Center | Asanuma Hiroshi |
| Director, Geoinformation Service Center | Sawaki Takayuki |
History
| 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. |