History

2018

• December 6th: Mayor Yoichi Tsuchiya meets with Nagano University (University Document 1)
• December 10th: Mayor Yoichi Tsuchiya meets with Nagano University (University Document 2)
• December 28th: The city approves a plan to use the former National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Ueda Station at Nagano University.

2019

• April: Nagano University leases the former National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Ueda Station from the Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency (FRA).

• April: Research Institute of Chikuma River Basin Environment and Fisheries, Nagano University (tentative name) opening preparation office established.

• April: The research funding “Japanese Eel Unit” from the Fisheries Agency (Japan) accepted and started. The Institute of Freshwater Biology takes the lead in starting a large-scale research project with 35 experimental and research institutes nationwide.

• May: Regulations for the establishing of the Preparatory Office for the Research Institute of Chikuma River Basin Environment and Fisheries, Nagano University (tentative name) attached to Nagano University.

• May: Regulations for the Management and Operation of the Preparatory Office for the Research Institute of Chikuma River Basin Environment and Fisheries, Nagano University (tentative name) attached to Nagano University

• May: Regulations for the Establishment of the Preparatory Committee for the Research Institute of Chikuma River Basin Environment and Fisheries, Nagano University (tentative name) attached to Nagano University

• May: Nagano University Regulations for Handling Toxic and Hazardous Substances Proposed by the Preparatory Office

• July 25: 1st Preparatory Committee for the Opening of the Institute

• July 29: Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) and Nagano University signed a comprehensive research and education partnership (Memorandum of Understanding, MOU).

2020

• January 12: Workshop to review the Institute of Freshwater Biology, Nagano University (Watanabe Memorial Foundation for the Promotion of New Technology Science and Technology Research Grant)

• July 28: 1st 2020 preparatory committee for the opening of the institute

• August 25: 2nd 2020 preparatory committee for the opening of the institute

• September 17th: The Kanto Regional Finance Bureau 266th Kanto Council on National Property consulted and recommended that the land and buildings in Otagiri, Komaki, Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture be sold at market value to the public university corporation Nagano University for use as university facilities and grounds.

• November: The Board of Directors approved the Institute Preparatory Office Report

• February: The Board of Directors approved the Regulations of the Institute of Freshwater Biology, Nagano University

• March: Report on the construction of a joint use and joint research center centered on a local public university (Science and Technology Research Grant from the Watanabe Memorial Foundation for the Promotion of New Technology)

2021

• April 1st: Institute of Freshwater Biology, Nagano University established

• April: An assistant professor is hired through a public recruitment process (specialty: fisheries resources / ecology / population ecology / behavioral ecology)

• April: Research and Development of River Erosion Control Technology and River Ecology FS Research Fund was adopted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (Chikuma River Research Group was organized).

• July 30: Nagano University acquires the former National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Ueda station, a national property, from the Kanto Regional Finance Bureau for 95 million yen. The purchase agreement is on the condition that the property will be used only for the designated purpose of “education and research on freshwater biology and ecology” for the next 10 years as stated in the Utilization Plan in the purchase agreement between Nagano University and the government.

• November 15: Opening ceremony

2022

• April: Selected for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s River Erosion Control Technology Research and Development/River Ecology General Research. The Chikuma River Research Group begins a five-year project research

• April: First IFB Seminar

• October: Nagano University general education course Ecology begins

2023

• April: Establishment of the Institute of Freshwater Biology Steering Committee (Chair: Hiroshi Hakoyama; Committee members: Jun Hayasaka, Kazuaki Takahashi, Shintaro Matsunaga, Sakie Kodama, Michihide Ikeya)

• May: First Institute of Freshwater Biology Steering Committee (held monthly thereafter)

2024

• July 18: Comprehensive collaboration on research and education between the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) and Nagano University (MOU updated) was updated

• August: Nagano University’s summer intensive course, Laboratory course in Freshwater biology begins

• October: Nagano University general education course, Special Lecture on Environmental Biology begins. 237 people registered for the omnibus-style open lecture by researchers from outside the university.

• October: 8th IFB Seminar, Dr. Makoto Yoshida

• January: 9th IFB Seminar, Professor Takahisa Miyatake

2025

• August: Nagano University Liberal Arts Intensive Summer Course, “Freshwater Biology Practicum”
• September: SEAFDEC trainee, Ms. Dwi Rizki Septiana
• September: Dr. Arif Wibowo, Indonesia, visits IFB
• September: 10th IFB Seminar, Professor Noritaka Mochioka
• October: Nagano University Liberal Arts Course, “Ecology”
• October: Nagano University Liberal Arts Course, “Special Lecture on Biological Environment”
• November: 11th IFB Seminar, Dr. David O. Alila
• January: SEAFDEC eel team visits IFB
• February–March: 1st IFB Council Meeting and 2nd IFB Council Meeting

2026

• April: Nagano University Liberal Arts Course, “Ecology”
• June: 3rd IFB Council Meeting

History of the facility before Nagano University acquired it

1897

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce established the Fisheries Training Center at 2 Mita Shikoku-cho, Shiba-ku, Tokyo (the former site of the Fisheries Training Center).

1920

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry establishes the Kizaki Fish Farming Experimental Station of the Fisheries Training School on the shores of Lake Kizaki in Taira Village, Kitaazumi County, Nagano Prefecture (now Omachi City), and begins aquaculture experiments on trout.

1929

• April: The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry separates the testing and research departments of the Fisheries Training School and establishes the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Fisheries Experimental Station in Etchujima, Fukagawa Ward, Tokyo City. The Kizaki Fish Farming Experimental Station is abolished and becomes the Kizaki Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Fisheries Experimental Station.

1939

• May: With the donation of land from Ueda City and a test pond and other structures and buildings from Nagano Prefecture, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry decides to establish a base for conducting aquaculture experiments using midstream rivers in Komaki Land Registry, Ueda City.

• September: Construction begins. The Ueda Experimental Station of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Fisheries Experimental Station is established.

• 14: The Kizaki Branch is abolished.

1940

• March: Two government buildings and one warehouse relocated from the former Kizaki Branch, and one greenhouse relocated from the former Toyohashi Branch are completed.

1941

• April: The required construction is mostly completed, and Nagano Prefecture and Ueda City submit a donation application. Seeds and seedlings are transplanted from the Motokizaki Branch and the former Toyohashi Branch, and testing operations begin.

• November: The Ueda Test Site is renamed the Ueda Branch.

1942

• May: The opening ceremony for the Ueda Branch is held.

1948

• September: The 1948 Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Fisheries Science is held, with 101 participants.

1949

• Due to changes in the national testing and research system, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Fisheries Research Station is closed, and the Fisheries Agency’s Sea Area Fisheries Research Institutes are established in eight locations nationwide. As part of this, the Tokai District Fisheries Research Institute and the Freshwater District Fisheries Research Institute were established at Tsukishima 3, Chuo Ward, Tokyo (currently Kachidoki 5-5-1, Chuo Ward, the former site of the main Fisheries Research Institute). The Ueda Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Fisheries Research Institute became the Freshwater District Fisheries Research Institute Ueda Branch, with two laboratories and a general affairs section.

1953

• The Freshwater District Fisheries Research Institute moved to 399 Miya, Hino-cho, Minamitama-gun, Tokyo (currently 399 Miya, Hino City).

1956

• May: Memorandum of agreement on water intake from the Chikuma River (A: Freshwater District Fisheries Research Institute, B: Ueda City, Rokkamura Weir Land Improvement District).

1957

• The Crown Prince Akihito visits the institute.

1963

• The Crown Prince Akihito visits the institute.

1971

• Construction of new office building (later joint laboratory, current administration building) begins.

1972

• Completion of new office building.

1973

• Start of “Comprehensive research on environmental conservation technology in agriculture, forestry and fisheries” (until 1977).

1978

• Completion of accommodation.

1979

• Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute is abolished, and the Fisheries Agency Aquaculture Research Institute is established at 224-1 Hiruta, Tamaki-cho, Watarai-gun, Mie Prefecture.

• The Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute Ueda Station became the Tokai Fisheries Research Institute Ueda Station, and two inland water department laboratories and a general affairs annex were established. One inland water department laboratory was established in the Tokai Fisheries Research Institute Kachidoki Building.

1981

• Research on pollution prevention, “Research on environmental conservation evaluation of organic sludge and its use in agriculture and forestry” started (up till 1985).

1989

• With the Fisheries Agency Tokai Fisheries Research Institute becoming the National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, the Ueda Station became the National Research Institute of Fisheries Science Ueda Station, and two inland water utilization department laboratories and a general affairs annex were established. One inland water utilization department laboratories was established in the Central Fisheries Research Institute Kachidoki Building.

1990

• Construction of a new research and experiment building started.

1992

• Same as above completed.

1993

• February: Opening ceremony for the same as above held. The research pond refurbished.

1994

• June: The refurbishment of the exterior and interior walls of the building.

1995

• July: Key Basics “Elucidation of interactions between individuals due to semiochemical substances in sweetfish spawning” (single year).

• Internet connection.

1996

• July: Ueda Station opened to the public.

1998

• August: Sweetfish Cold Water Disease Prevention Study Group launched.

2001

• April: Fisheries Agency research institutes merged with Fisheries Research Agency and restarted.

2002

• April: Fisheries Agency survey on the impact of bluegill predation, etc. (2002-2006).

2004

• April: National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Inland Water Utilization Department renamed to Inland Water Research Department.

2005

• April: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Design of habitats in biological conservation - Focusing on the sustainability of metapopulations. (2005-2006).

2006

• April: Ministry of the Environment, Global Environmental Research Fund, Research on habitat network formation technology for native freshwater fish conservation. (2006-2008).

2007

• April: Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Technology Council, Development of technology to prevent damage to fisheries caused by cormorants (2007-2009).

• Fisheries Agency, Invasive fish control and management technology development project (2007-2011).

2008

• April: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Clarification of the coexistence mechanism of sexual and asexual forms of crucian carp. Basic research ©, 20570029, (2008-2012).

• November: Secretariat of the Japan Society of Fisheries Science Chubu Branch Conference, 21, 2008-11-21, Cormorant Symposium, Ueda Onsen Hotel Shoen.

2011

• April: The National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Ueda Station was renamed to the National Research Institute of Aquaculture, Ueda Station due to organizational restructuring.

2013

• April: Fisheries Agency, Fisheries Promotion Project with Consideration for Biodiversity. (2013-2015).

• April: River Improvement Fund, River Foundation, Environmental Carrying Capacity of River Eel Habitats and Causes of Decline: Analysis from Fishing Data.

2016

• April: The National Research Institute of Aquaculture, Ueda Station was renamed to the National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Ueda station due to organizational restructuring.

• December: The direction of closing the Ueda Station was decided at the Management Planning Meeting.

2019

• March: Ueda Station closed.

• April: Nagano University leased the Ueda Station from the Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency and began using it.