The origins of the JPS go back to the establishment of the Tokyo Mathematical Society in 1877, as the first society in natural science in Japan. After being renamed twice, as Tokyo Mathematical and Physical Society in 1884 and as Physico-Mathematical Society of Japan in 1919, it eventually separated into two in 1946, and the Physical Society of Japan was formed. Takeo Shimizu (清水武雄), a contributor to the improvements to the Wilson cloud chamber and the last President of the Physico-Mathematical Society, was also the first president of JPS.