History

1883-1911 : Observation in Tokyo

Time	Organizational service overview
Mar. 1883	Magnetic observation was initiated at a temporary station in Imai-cho, Akasaka-ku, Tokyo, by the Geographical Bureau of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Telegraphic Bureau of the Ministry of Industry for the First International Polar Year program.
Jan. 1897	Magnetic and atmospheric electric observation was officially begun at the Central Meteorological Observatory (CMO) [details].

Sourcebook of magnetic observation for First International Polar Year

1912-1925 : Relocation to Kakioka and continued observation

Time	Organizational service overview
Dec. 1912	The station was moved to its current location in Kakioka. Magnetic observation was started in January of the following year.
Aug. 1920	The organization became the Kakioka Magnetic Observatory, affiliated with CMO, in line with the Imperial Ordinance No.294 enactment of the Meteorological Observatory Government Regulations.
1924	Kakioka was designated as an international standard observatory at a conference of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG).
Aug. 1925	The Main Office Building, Experiment House, Absolute House, Atmospheric Electricity House, dormitories and other structures were completed.

Kakioka Magnetic Observatory circa establishment and founding director Shuichi Imamichi

1926-1945 : Ongoing wartime observation

Time	Organizational service overview
May. 1926	Seismic observation was begun at Kakioka.
Jun. 1929	Atmospheric electric observation was begun at Kakioka (- Feb. 2021).
Jan. 1930	Observation of solar surface phenomena was begun at Kakioka (- Aug. 1945).
Jul. 1932	For the 2nd International Polar Year, magnetic observation was begun at the new Toyohara Magnetic Observatory on Sakhalin (- Nov. 1946).
Aug. 1932	Geoelectric observation was begun at Kakioka (- Feb. 2021).
Jul. 1936	The organization became Kakioka Magnetic Observatory, CMO.
Mar. 1938	Memoirs of Kakioka Magnetic Observatory was first published.
Nov. 1939	The organization was renamed the Kakioka Magnetic Observatory under an enactment of the Meteorological Office Government Regulations.

Massive geomagnetic storm observed at Kakioka on 24 March 1940
(variation range of the horizontal component H: 661 nT)

1946-1957 : Observation from post-war period to International Geophysical Year (IGY)

Time	Organizational service overview
Aug. 1946	The Ikutora Magnetic Observatory was opened (- Aug. 1949).
Dec. 1948	Geoelectric observation was begun at the Kanoya Branch of Kakioka Magnetic Observatory.
Jun. 1949	The organization became a subsidiary of CMO under the enactment of the law to establish the Ministry of Transport.
Jun. 1949	The Haranomachi Observation Facility (originally established in December 1946 as Haranomachi Geoelectric Observatory) and Kanoya Observation Facility (originally established in September 1948 as the Kanoya Branch of Kakioka Magnetic Observatory) were opened.
Sep. 1949	Geoelectric, atmospheric electric (- Mar. 2011) and meteorological observation (- Mar.1997) was begun at the Memambetsu Branch of Ikutora Magnetic Observatory.
Sep. 1949	Meteorological observation was begun at Kanoya (- Jun. 1966).
Nov. 1949	The organization was renamed the Kakioka Magnetic Observatory with internal General Affairs, Geomagnetism, Geoelectricity and Research divisions.
Nov. 1949	Memambetsu Observation Facility (originally established in September 1949 as the Memambetsu Branch of Ikutora Magnetic Observatory) was opened.
Jan. 1952	Magnetic observation was begun at Memambetsu.
Jan. 1954	Certification services were begun.
Jul. 1956	CMO was upgraded to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) as an affiliate agency of the Ministry of Transport. Kakioka Magnetic Observatory was made a subsidiary institution.
Mar. 1957	Standard magnetic theodolite (A-56 and H-56) development was completed and observation was begun (officially adopted in Jan. 1958)
Jul. 1957	Organizational contribution was made to the International Geophysical Year (IGY). Magnetic and geoelectric quick-run observation, geomagnetic variation observation, atmospheric conductivity observation and atmospheric light observation (- Mar. 1998) were begun.
Jul. 1957	Kakioka was designated as a magnetic observatory to report for the Ursigram World Day Service (IUWDS).
Sep. 1957	The internal organization was restructured with General Affairs, Technology, Observation and Research divisions. Haranomachi was closed.

International Geophysical Year (IGY) logo

1958-1972 : Observation from the IGY to establishment of KASMMER

Time	Organizational service overview
Jan. 1958	Magnetic observation was begun at Kanoya.
Jan. 1961	Technical Report of the Kakioka Magnetic Observatory was first published (- 2003).
Nov. 1963	Development of a vector proton magnetometer (MO-P type) was completed.
Mar. 1964	The International Quiet Sun Years (IQSY) were adopted, and observation of ultra-low geomagnetic pulsations and other variables was conducted.
Mar. 1967	Geoelectromagnetic earthquake prediction observation (Kakioka 1967, Memambetsu 1968, Kanoya 1969) was begun based on a proposal from the Geodetic Council.
Oct. 1967	Memambetsu was designated as an observatory for data used to determine Northern Hemisphere geomagnetic activity index value (Kn) based on a recommendation from the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA).
Dec. 1968	Conductivity anomaly (CA) observation for earthquake prediction was begun in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture.
Nov. 1970	Magnetic observation was conducted on Chichijima Island as part of the International Active Sun Years (IASY) program.
Mar. 1972	A new standard magnetometer facility KASMMER was installed
1972	The organization contributed to the international Monitoring of the Sun-Earth Environment (MONSEE) project.
1972	Continuous magnetic observation was begun at the permanent station on Chichijima Island, along with pulsation observation in April of the following year.

Optical pumping magnetometer of KASMMER

1973-1988 : Observation using KASMMER

Time	Organizational service overview
1Jan. 1973	Kakioka was designated as an observatory for data used to determine geomagnetic storm activity index values (Dst) based on a resolution from the IAGA General Assembly.
Sep. 1975	Kanoya was designated as an observatory for materials for geomagnetic storm definition based on a resolution from the IAGA General Assembly.
Apr. 1976	The organization contributed to the International Magnetospheric Study (IMS) program. Geomagnetic pulsation (ULF) observation was resumed at Kakioka and continued as part of routine operation thereafter.
Feb. 1978	In accordance with the Volcanic Eruption Prediction Plan, continuous observation of total magnetic force and ongoing monitoring of scalar and vector fields were begun at Mt. Sakurajima (- Mar. 1999). Similar observation was also begun at Mt. Aso in February of the following year.
Jan. 1980	A central service for analysis regarding precise nighttime observation of secular variations in total magnetic force was launched in line with the Earthquake Prediction Program.
Jul. 1984	The Kakioka Magnetic Observatory was positioned as an Auxiliary Organ of JMA based on an order for organization from the Ministry of Transport following an amendment to the National Government Organization Law.
Aug. 1986	The organization contributed to emergency volcanic observation of Mt. Izu-Oshima Mihara. Significant anomalous changes in total magnetic force were observed.

Volcanomagnetic observation using a portable proton magnetometer

1989- : Observation toward digital monitoring era

Time	Organizational service overview
Mar. 1990	As part of standard magnetometer (KASMMER) (1990-1993) updates, variation sensor huts were built and a continuous measuring system with Overhauser magnetometers was installed (F-component sensors (Mar. 1992) and 3-component (H, Z, D) sensors (Mar. 1993)).
Dec. 1992	Kakioka was admitted as a member of the world observation network under the Intermagnet project (along with Memambetsu in 1993 and Kanoya in 2002).
Mar. 1995	The Absolute House and instruments for absolute measurement at Kanoya were replaced with the current equipment.
Apr. 1995	General and precise observation for earthquake surveying were discontinued. Earthquake intensity observation was begun.
Mar. 1996	The variation instruments at Kanoya were upgraded to the current versions (along with Kakioka and Memambetsu in Mar. 1997).
Jan. 2002	The first Kakioka Magnetic Observatory newsletter was published.
Mar. 2003	The Kakioka Magnetic Observatory Report (annual report) was published in CD-ROM format. The first Technical Report of the Kakioka Magnetic observatory and partial translations were published.
Nov. 2004	Kakioka hosted the XIth IAGA Workshop on Geomagnetic Observatory Instruments, Data Acquisition and Processing (at Kakioka and the nearby Tsukuba).
Apr. 2011	Memambetsu and Kanoya were made unmanned for remote operation, with structural status changed from branch observatories to observation facilities.
Jan. 2013	The 100th anniversary of magnetic observations at Kakioka.
Apr. 2016	The internal organization was restructured into General Affairs, Technology and Observation divisions.

Logo for XIth IAGA Workshop on Geomagnetic Observatory Instruments, Data Acquisition and Processing