The KIBR was founded in 1942 by Hitoshi Kihara to promote biological research in Japan.

The Institute maintains a store of genetic resources - about 6,000 varieties of wheat and 800 of capsicum (chili peppers).

The results of the research conducted at KIBR are regularly published in peer reviewed publications.

[2] Founded in May 1942 in Kyoto by Hitoshi Kihara, known for the proposal of the genome theory,[3] the KIBR moved to Minami-ku, Yokohama in May 1957.

[2] On 15 September 2010, the institute was visited by the Emperor of Japan Akihito and Empress Michiko.