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YEARDATEACTIVITY
1961SeptemberCabinet decides to relocate government offices that can function outside of Tokyo
1963September 10Cabinet agreement on construction of an academic new town: (1) Tsukuba area is to be developed; (2) The area of development is to be approximately 4000 hectares; (3)Japan Housing Corporation (JHC) is to be the agent for land purchase and development of the town
1964DecemberCabinet establishes Tsukuba Science City Construction Headquarters
1966December 28First contract for land purchase signed
1968October 16National Research Center for Disaster Prevention construction starts
 December 24Decisions on New Housing Town Development Project, Collection Government and Public Facilities Project, and Park Project as a part of city planning, Decision on zones and projects as a part of the Land Readjustment Project
1969November 6Research and Science City Construction Project Groundbreaking Ceremony
1970May 19Tsukuba Science City Construction Law enacted
1972January 18Hanamuro government housing opens (Takezono)
 March 1First research institute opens - National Institute for Research in Inorganic Materials
1973OctoberTsukuba New Town Development Co. Ltd. (private sector) established
1973October 1Tsukuba University opens
1974AprilTakezono Higashi Kindergarten, Takezono Higashi Elementary School, Takezono Higashi Junior High School open
 June 26National Land Agency established
1975MayThe Promotion Headquarters formulates the "Principles of Social Measures for Taking Over the Financial Burdens of the Towns and Villages in Tsukuba Science City"
1977January 25Gakuen Higashi Odori (street) completed
 AugustTsukuba Science City Committee created (members include Ibaraki prefectural government, six towns and villages, national and private research and educational institutions, and the Japan Housing Corporation)
1979OctoberUniversity of Library and Information Science opens
1980March 3143 institutes complete relocation and establishment in Tsukuba (general completion of the city)
 September 19Prime Minister's decision on the construction plan of the Research and Education district (enacted on September 25th)
1981AprilAgreement is reached to hold Expo '85 in Tsukuba
 April 27Joban expressway from Kashiwa to Yatabe opens
 August 18Surrounding Area Development Plan approved by Ibaraki governor
 October 1Japan Housing Corporation and the New Town Development Corporation became the Housing and Urban Development Corporation
1982JulyTokodai Business and Research Park completed
1983June 10Tsukuba Center Building opens
1985JanuaryJoban Expressway is connected to the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway
 March 8Tsukuba Center Bus Terminal and CREO shopping mall open
 March 17Expo '85 in Tsukuba starts (runs until September)
 May 21Tsukuba Techno-park Toyosato Project authorized
1987April 1Express bus service from Tsukuba to Tokyo starts
 OctoberTotal number of national institutions reaches 47
 November 303 towns (Oho-machi, Toyosato-machi, Yatabe-machi) and one village (Sakura-mura) merge to form Tsukuba City
1988January 311 more town (Tsukuba-machi) merges with Tsukuba City
 MarchJoban Expressway is connected to Iwaki City
 SeptemberTsukuba Science City celebrates the 25th anniversary of its inception
1989AprilIbaraki Prefectural Tsukuba School of Nursing established
 May 31New Tsukuba Plan enacted (National Land Agency)
 June 22Special Act for Promoting Organized Development of Housing Sites and Railways in the Greater Metropolitan Area implemented
 JulyIbaraki Prefecture Tsukuba Office established in the Tsukuba Information Center
1990AprilGreater Tsukuba Concept comes to agreement
 AprilTokyo Kasei Gakuen, Tsukuba Junior College established
 AprilTsukuba College of Technology established
 June 8Tsukuba Culture Center "ARS" opens
1991March 11Metropolitan Inter-City Railway Company established
 March 25Tsukuba Cultural Foundation established
 JulyTsukuba Heliport opens
1992September 1Multi-purpose traffic underpass construction starts
 November 24Population of Tsukuba reaches 150,000 mark
1993JanuaryTotal number of national institutes at 46 due to restructuring in the MITI Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
 FebruaryBasic Conceptual Plan for Centralization of Tsuchiura, Tsukuba, and Ushiku (Ibaraki Prefecture)
 March 25Sub-divided commercial lots in Tsukuba Techno-Park Sakura go on sale
 OctoberTsukuba Science City celebrates the 30th anniversary of its inception
 October 4City Center Zone given Urban Design Award by construction ministry
 October 7MOG restaurant mall opens
1994AprilTsukuba Sogo Kenshin Center opens
 April 28Gakuen South 1 Multi Parking opens
 JulyIbaraki and Tsukuba conclude the agreement of the New Joban Line development with a representative of the people who own the land
 July 1Express bus service to Narita Airport starts
 OctoberCeremony held in Akihabara to open construction on the new Joban line
1995January 13Housing property in Tsukuba Techno-Park Sakura go on sale
 OctoberInternational Conference on the Conservation and Management of Lakes is held in Tsukuba and Tsuchiura
 November 15Science and Technology Basic Law enacted
1996AprilTokyo Kasei Tsukuba Women's University opens
 AprilInternational Cooperative Business Group is reorganized and the 45 international research facilities are established
 April 1Tsukuba Center bicycle parking lot opens
 July 10Tsukuba Capio opens
 AugustTsuchiura Tsukuba Convention Bureau established
 September 11Chikunan Clean Center completed
1997March 27Construction of Tsukuba International Convention Hall starts
1998MarchExpress bus service between Mito and Tsukuba starts
 MarchNew station (Hitachino Ushiku) opens on the Joban Line
 AprilRevisions completed on the "Science City Area Construction Plan" and the "Development Plan of the Surrounding Suburban District"
 OctoberTotal number of national instutitutes is 46
1999JuneTsukuba International Congress Center (Epochal Tsukuba) opens
2000OctoberProfessor Emeritus Hideki Shirakawa of the University of Tsukuba wins the Nobel Prize in Chemistry
2001FebruaryNew Joban Railway officially named Tsukuba Express
 AprilReorganization reduces the total number of institutes to 34 as the Independent Administrative Institutes are established
2002NovemberKukizaki Town merges with Tsukuba City
 NovemberUniversity of Library and Information Science merges with University of Tsukuba
2003AprilIncubation facility called "Tsukuba Entrepreneur Plaza" established
 SeptemberTsukuba City and University of Tsukuba agree on mutual collaboration
2005August 24Tsukuba Express train line opens
2006April 1Tsukuba Community bus "Tsku bus" service starts
2007February 13"Tsukuba" license plate became available
 September 1Oho Child's Hall opens
 November 30Tsukuba 20th year commemoration
2008February 14Groundbreaking ceremony for new Tsukuba city hall
 November 11Imperial couple and King & Queen of Spain visit Tsukuba
2009April-
2010April 30Closing of Tsukuba city hall branches (Yatabe, Toyosato, Tsukuba, Kukizaki, Sakura and Oho)
 May 6New Tsukuba city hall open for business at new location

Topics: Tsukuba
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Page last modified on May 13, 2010, at 09:48 PM EST