# National Institute of Polar Research

> Japanese research institute for Antarctica

**Wikidata**: [Q1213729](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1213729)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Institute_of_Polar_Research_(Japan))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/national-institute-of-polar-research

## Summary
The National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) is Japan's national research institute dedicated to Antarctic and polar science. Founded in 1973, it is a research institute and science museum focused on polar exploration and is part of the Research Organization of Information and Systems.

## Key Facts
- Founded (inception): 1973.  
- Primary purpose: research institute focused on polar exploration; described as a Japanese research institute for Antarctica.  
- Part of: Research Organization of Information and Systems (joined or restructured effective 2014-01-02).  
- Separated from: National Museum of Nature and Science (historical organizational origin).  
- Location / headquarters: Midori-chō, Tachikawa, Japan; coordinates 35.7125 N, 139.409 E.  
- Instance types: research institute, science museum, and listed as an open-access publisher.  
- Memberships: COMNAP and Confederation of Open Access Repositories.  
- Official websites: https://www.nipr.ac.jp/ (Japanese) and https://www.nipr.ac.jp/english/ (English).  
- Common aliases: NIPR; Japanese names 極地研 (Kyokuchiken) and 国立极地研究所.  
- Select identifiers: ISNI 0000000121615539; ROR 05k6m5t95; GND 117124-0; VIAF 133013514; Ringgold 13554.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the National Institute of Polar Research?
A: The National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) is Japan's national research institute for Antarctica and polar science, established in 1973. It functions as a research institute and science museum and is part of the Research Organization of Information and Systems.

### Q: Where is NIPR located?
A: NIPR's headquarters are in Midori-chō, Tachikawa, Japan. The institute's coordinates are 35.7125° N, 139.409° E.

### Q: What does NIPR do and who is it affiliated with?
A: NIPR focuses on polar exploration and related research. It is a member of international and open-access organizations such as COMNAP and the Confederation of Open Access Repositories, and is administratively part of the Research Organization of Information and Systems.

### Q: How can I access NIPR online or on social media?
A: NIPR maintains Japanese and English websites (https://www.nipr.ac.jp/ and https://www.nipr.ac.jp/english/), a Twitter account @kyokuchiken, Instagram @nipr_japan, Facebook nipr.j, and a YouTube channel (ID UCKBfHnw2FXcYXLU1yCQsJuw).

## Why It Matters
The National Institute of Polar Research is Japan’s institutional hub for Antarctic and polar science, providing organizational structure, scientific expertise, and public-facing resources for polar exploration. As a research institute and science museum, NIPR supports scientific investigation into polar environments and preserves and disseminates polar knowledge. Its membership in international bodies such as COMNAP connects Japanese polar activities to global logistics, cooperation, and standards, while its participation in the Confederation of Open Access Repositories and designation as an open-access publisher help make polar research outputs accessible. Being part of the Research Organization of Information and Systems since 2014 situates NIPR within a broader national research infrastructure, supporting collaboration and resource sharing. For researchers, policymakers, and the public, NIPR serves as Japan’s primary institutional presence in Antarctic science and a focal point for data, outreach, and international partnership in polar research.

## Notable For
- Being Japan’s national research institute dedicated specifically to Antarctic and polar research (established 1973).  
- Organizational placement within the Research Organization of Information and Systems (effective 2014).  
- Dual role as a research institute and science museum, and recognition as an open-access publisher.  
- Membership in international polar and open-access networks, including COMNAP and the Confederation of Open Access Repositories.  
- Active multilingual web presence with both Japanese and English official sites and multiple social media channels.

## Body
### Overview
- Official name: National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR).  
- Short names and aliases: NIPR; 極地研 (Kyokuchiken); 国立极地研究所.  
- Wikidata description: Japanese research institute for Antarctica.  
- Field of work: polar exploration.  
- Instance types recorded: research institute, science museum, open-access publisher.

### History and Organizational Status
- Inception year: 1973.  
- Separated from: National Museum of Nature and Science (organizational origin noted).  
- Part of: Research Organization of Information and Systems (references indicate an organizational link effective 2014-01-02).

### Location and Facilities
- Headquarters: Midori-chō.  
- Located in: Tachikawa, Japan.  
- Coordinates: 35.7125° N, 139.409° E.

### Affiliations and Memberships
- Member of COMNAP (Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs).  
- Member of the Confederation of Open Access Repositories.  
- Administrative/organizational affiliation: part of the Research Organization of Information and Systems.

### Identifiers and Library/Archive Records
- ISNI: 0000000121615539.  
- ROR: 05k6m5t95.  
- GND: 117124-0.  
- VIAF: 133013514.  
- Ringgold ID: 13554.  
- Freebase ID: /m/03hh7g8.  
- NDL (National Diet Library) authority ID: 00288367.  
- IDref ID: 066988748.  
- CiNii Research ID: 1140845216535670784.  
- KISTI ID: K000213379.  
- Library of Congress authority ID: n50072912.  
- National Library of Brazil ID: 000305420.  
- Yale Lux ID and other catalog identifiers recorded.

### Language and Publications
- Primary language used: Japanese.  
- Designated as an open-access publisher and a member of open-access repository networks.

### Online and Social Media Presence
- Official websites: https://www.nipr.ac.jp/ (Japanese, preferred) and https://www.nipr.ac.jp/english/ (English).  
- Twitter: @kyokuchiken (example follower data: 15,037 followers as of 2020-04-22; 32,563 preferred count as of 2023-02-02 recorded).  
- Instagram: nipr_japan.  
- Facebook: nipr.j.  
- YouTube channel ID: UCKBfHnw2FXcYXLU1yCQsJuw (channel name 国立極地研究所 NIPR; follower counts recorded at various points).

### Coverage and Recognition
- Wikipedia title: National Institute of Polar Research (Japan).  
- Commons category: National Institute of Polar Research.  
- Sitelink count: 10 (presence across multiple language Wikipedias and Wikimedia projects).

## References

1. Directory of Open Access Journals
2. GRID Release 2017-01-10
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. CiNii Research
5. [Source](http://www.nipr.ac.jp/outline/history.html)
6. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20190714135243/https://www.coar-repositories.org/community/members-and-partners-by-country/)
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Czech National Authority Database
9. GRID Release 2016-12-06
10. Open Funder Registry
11. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
12. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
13. YouTube API
14. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)