A prehistory of Nihon Honyurui Gakkai (=Mammalogical Society of Japan) before 1987—How and why two mammalogy organizations were established after World War II and united to form the Society

In Japan, “Honyu-doubutsu” or “Honyurui” has been used to refer to mammals, but only the latter has been adopted as a taxonomic word. The present study describes the history of the second stage in Nihon Honyu-dobutsu Gakkai (=Mammalogical Society of Japan) that began in 1949 and Honyurui Kenkyu (=Mammal Research) Group that started in 1963, as well as their prehistory, and how and why the two organizations were joined together as Nihon Honyurui Gakkai (=Mammalogical Society of Japan). The following sources were used for describing the history: articles, records, and opinions that appeared in Honyu-dobutsu-gaku Zasshi (=Journal of the Mammalogical Society of Japan), Honyurui Kagaku (=Mammal Science), and Doubutsugaku Zasshi (=Zoological Science) together with other periodicals, books, etc. The first stage of Nihon Honyu-dobutsu Gakkai was formed as Nihon Dobutsu Gakkai (=Zoological Society of Japan) in 1923 but dissolved around 1929, after the death of Shyo-zaburou Watase, the President of the Society. After Word War II, following Honyu-doubutsu Danwakai (=Mammal Seminar) which was organized between 1946 and 1949, the second stage of Nihon Honyu-dobutsu Gakkai was organized in 1949. However, Nezumi Kenkyu (=Murid Research) Group was created in Nihon Dobutsu Gakkai in 1955 and the name was changed to Honyurui Kennkyu (=Mammal Research) Group in 1963 to highlight the mammalogical research for postgraduate students. Therefore, the society and group originated from Nihon Dobutsu Gakkai although they were formed in different years. Since members overlapped between the two organizations immediately before the reestablishment of Mammalogical Society of Japan (third stage), most hoped for improved management and costs, as well as research activities in the society.