Geospatial Information Authority of Japan facts for kids
| 国土地理院 Kokudo Chiri-in |
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Geospatial Information Authority of Japan logo
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 Geospatial Information Authority of Japan Headquarters |
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | June 2, 1869 |
| Preceding agency |
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| Jurisdiction |  Japan |
| Headquarters | Yubinbango 305-0811, Ibaraki Prefecture, Tsukuba City, Kitago No. 1, Japan |
| Employees | 671 civilian staff (2018) |
| Annual budget | 9,640,335 thousand yen |
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| Parent agency | Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport |
The Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, or GSI, is a special part of the Japanese government. Its main job is to survey and map all the land in Japan. Think of them as the official mapmakers for the whole country! From 1949 until March 2010, it was known as the Geographical Survey Institute. Even though its name changed, it still uses the same initials: GSI. It works under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, which is a big government department in Japan. You can find their main offices in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture.
The GSI also runs a fun place called the Science Museum of Map and Survey. It's located in Tsukuba and is a great spot to learn about maps and how we measure the Earth.
Exploring Earthquakes
The GSI helps scientists learn more about earthquakes. Since 1996, they have set up special systems in Japan. These systems constantly record tiny changes in the Earth's electromagnetic field. Scientists believe these changes might be linked to earthquake activity.
The GSI shares all this raw data with other scientists. This helps everyone study how changes in the Earth's field might connect to earthquakes. You can even find some of this data online. The GSI is also part of a national group that helps predict earthquakes.
GSI in Books
The GSI even appears in a famous book! It was mentioned in the novel Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. In the story, one of the characters, "stormtrooper," planned to work there. When the book's story takes place, in the late 1960s, the GSI was located in Tokyo.
Learn More
- Japanese maps, to learn about the history of mapmaking in Japan.
- Japanese map symbols, to see the official symbols the GSI uses on its maps.
- Global Map, a project that creates digital maps of the world.
