The is a research institute in the field of theoretical physics, attached to Kyoto University in Japan. It was inaugurated in 1952. While the center is often referred to as "YITP", this can be confusing as YITP also stands for the C. N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics at Stony Brook University in the United States. Early history In 1949, Japanese theoretical physicist Hideki Yukawa was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. He became the first Japanese citizen to receive the Nobel Prize. To commemorate this historic event, the president of Kyoto University immediately proposed to create a memorial hall on campus for Yukawa. In 1950, the Science Council of Japan unanimously resolved a request to the central government to allocate a special funding for the promotion of research in theoretical physics. Enthusiastic discussions among Japanese physicists followed in support for the idea of creating a new institution, similar to the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen or the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. Yukawa Hall was inaugurated in 1952 and in 1953, it became the Research Institute for Fundamental Physics (RIFP). Hideki Yukawa was appointed as the first director of the institute. He led the institute until his retirement in 1970. Research Institute for Fundamental Physics (1953-1990) Research Institute for Fundamental Physics was a new type of national research center for theoretical physics with its facilities open for research collaborations by the community of theoretical physicists in Japan. The institute adopted a new system for its operation. Although it formally belongs to Kyoto University, its basic policy has been decided by the representatives of physicists elected from all over the country with institute's own academic staff. One of the unique roles played by the institute was to provide a forum for physicists on problems at the forefront of research in theoretical physics. Many physicists participated in the organization of topical workshops and international conferences at RIFP and stayed to work in collaboration with others. These traditions are still carried by the Yukawa Institute. The institute started with four academic staff including Yukawa. The institute grew gradually; it had 13 academic positions in 1961. The research activity extended over areas of theoretical physics. Those areas were condensed matter theory, field theory, nuclear theory, particle theory, statistical mechanics, and nuclear and relativistic astrophysics. In 1980 it added two more academic positions for new research areas: non-equilibrium statistical physics and