The WHO Centre for Health Development (WHO Kobe Centre) was established in Kobe, Japan in 1995. The official inauguration on 17 March 1996 realized the vision of the Governor of Hyogo Prefecture, the Mayor of Kobe City and the Director-General of WHO to set up a research centre in Japan focusing on health development. See a background on the development of the center and its contributions to local and international health work, together with a chronology.