2018. 12. 3

Japan Society of Civil Engineers
International Activities Center

IAC News No.74
Report on JSCE Study Tour Grant 2018
The Study Tour Grant (STG) program, which is supported by the JSCE International Scientific Exchange Fundhas invited outstanding civil engineering students and young engineers who are recommended by the Agreementof Cooperation (AOC) sosieties every year since 1992. This year, seven students and engineers from Myanmar,
Vietnam, Mongolia, Turkey, the Philippines, Thailand, and Bangladesh participated in the program.
STG ParticipantsParticipant

Recommending Organization

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Lan

Vietnam Federation of Civil Engineering Associations (VFCEA)

Ms. Khaliunaa Darkhanbat

Mongolian Association of Civil Engineers (MACE)

Ms. Khin Phyu Phyu Thandar

Myanmar Engineering Society( MES)

Mr. Ali Gürkan GENÇJSCE Turkey Section

Ms. Amie Lou G. Cisneros

Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE)

Mr. Jetsada Kumphong

JSCE Thailand Section

Mr. Anindya Samya Saha

Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB)

Photo1 At the Experience Area of Toyako Visitor Center, Volcano Science Museum(Second from the left is Meister Shinji Goto, who provided explanations.)

Following the program planned by the International Scientific Exchange Fund Committee, STG participants
spent one week from August 26th to September 1st to learn about the civil engineering technology of Japan andto make a technical exchange with Japanese civil engineers and researchers. The program is consisted of three
activities: visiting technical research facilities, observing the construction sites, and giving presentations at the1International Summer Symposium (International Program) held at the 2017 JSCE Annual Meeting.
On August 27th, they visited the Kajima Technical Research Institute Nishichofu Complex in Chofu, Tokyo andthe improvement project on the Tokyo Outer Ring Road, the Central Junction North-Side Ramp (joint venturewith Obayashi Corporation).
On the following day, they visited the Railway Technical Research Institute and the Shimizu Institute ofTechnology, then flew to Sapporo.
On the morning of August 29th, the first day of the JSCE Annual Meeting, they participated in the 20th
International Summer Symposium (International Program) at Hokkaido University. Together with international
students studying in Japan, the STG participants presented their papers using PowerPoint. After the symposium
they had lunch at the school cafeteria, and in the afternoon, they visited civil engineering facilities related to
Ishikari River flood control, such as the Sousei Bridge and Kawano Hakubutsukan (river museum). In theevening, they went back to Hokkaido University to attend a networking reception hosted by the International
Activities Center (IAC). They formed closer relationships with IAC officials and students from other countries
who had also participated in the Symposium.
On August 30th, their last day in Hokkaido, the STG participants together with Yuka Ito of the Young Civil
Engineers Power Up Sub-Committee (JR East) and Tadatoshi Nakayama (NIPPON KOEI CO., LTD.) went bychartered bus to see the construction site of Hokkaido Electric Power’s Ishikari Bay New Port Power Stationand the Toyako Visitor Center, Volcano Science Museum. At the Ishikari Bay New Port Power Station, they
visited the facilities in the power station and the construction site of the LNG terminal tank after receiving an
outline explanation of the construction plan. They were particularly interested in the mechanism of thermal
power generation and asked many questions. At the Toyako Visitor Center, Volcano Science Museum, Meister
Shinji Goto explained in English the history of Mt. Usu, the mechanism of volcanos, and the damage situation,and then introduced the Experience Area. Thanks to his explanation, the STG participants were able to feel theoverwhelming power of nature and the spirit of the Earth. They enjoyed their visit to Hokkaido even though they
had to race through their two-day trip, and flew back to Tokyo in the evening.
On the 31st, the day before their departure, they had some free time in the morning, and in the afternoon, all the
STG participants enjoyed visiting Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree and other tourist sites in Tokyo. In the evening, theyattended a dinner party with the International Scientific Exchange Fund Committee. The participants talked
about their impression of the Symposium in which they had given their presentations, the sites they visited, andtheir future aspirations and career options. The peaceful atmosphere was conducive to friendly conversation andstrengthening of relationships with the committee members.
Finally, thanks to the cooperative efforts of everyone involved, particularly those of the Hokkaido Regional
Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and Hokkaido Electric Power,
the program concluded successfully and without incident. We express our gratitude and hope to receive yourongoing cooperation and support.
【Reported by International Scientific Exchange Fund Committee】

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-Internationalization of Japanese Universities-

Internationalization of Education in Civil Engineeringat Nagoya University
Under the slogan “Becoming a university that supports world-class advanced research,”which is led by President Seiichi Matsuo, Nagoya University promotes education forinternationalization on a university-wide basis. In addition to participating in the Ministryof Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Top Global University
Project, we have also established satellite campuses in many countries in Asia, and there
are a variety of ongoing international programs at the university. The Civil andEnvironmental Engineering Program has focused on international education since its Hiroki Tanikawa
establishment. In particular, since we started officially receiving international students (Leader, Nagoya
University Global

under the MEXT International Special Graduate Programs that commenced in 1987, the Environmental Leaders
Civil and Environmental Engineering Program has continued to expand its education for

Program [NUGELP])

internationalization. The international program provided
by the Civil and Environmental Engineering Program is
one of the oldest international educational programs at
Nagoya University (Figure1). Since 1987, we haveaccepted excellent international students, most of whom
are in doctoral courses, with the Forefront Program that
was adopted as one of the MEXT International Special
Graduate Programs. As a result, many world-class humanresources have been produced. In 2008, Nagoya
University established a program to develop international

Figure1 International Programs Provided By the Civil
and Environmental Engineering Programhuman resources specializing in the environment field,
Leaders Program (NUGELP) supported by MEXT

名古屋大学環境土木国際プログラムオフィス（CEEIPO）,
Forefront, NUGELP

Strategic Funds for the Promotion of Science andhttp://www.civil.nagoya-u.ac.jp/ceeipo/that is, the Nagoya University Global Environmental

Technology,

Strategic

Programfor

Fostering

Environmental Leaders. Mainly targeting students in master’s courses, NUGELP forms a mixed community ofJapanese and international students, and provides educational programs only in English. NUGELP collaborates
with JICA human resource development projects in receiving outstanding young high-level government officials
from the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Mongolia, and countries in Africa as master’s students.
Those students are in line for forging the future of the government of their home country after completion of
their master’s course. The international program has received 365 students as of 2017 through those programs.
In 2017, 45% of the 174 graduate students specializing in civil engineering were international students; it is notuncommon to find international students studying next to Japanese students in the classroom or laboratory.
Students are now familiar with internationalization in their daily life because of grassroots international exchange.
For example, we have a tutoring system in which Japanese students support international students when they
start their campus life. This is how we provide education for internationalization both to Japanese andinternational students. (Photo 1)
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Photo 1 Completion Ceremony in September 2017

The Nagoya University Civil and Environmental Engineering Program aims at “sustainable joint development”
that sustainably realizes the development of countries in Southeast Asia in the field of social infrastructure aswell as the consolidation of Japan’s global presence and the development of scientific technology. We provide
all-English educational programs in order to become the hub of sustainable joint development through fosteringof human resources with the ability to see things from a broad perspective, to be highly specialized, and to
expand their expertise to the sustainable development of their home country. In particular, the above-mentioned
two educational programs on internationalization include the compulsory Global Research Internship (GRI), in
which Japanese students go overseas and international students go to institutes in Japan to engage in concentrated
research for more than two weeks. Also, regarding the overseas study tour, students take the initiative in deciding
the destination, activities, and schedule. They proceed with preparations after holding a competition, and conduct
a study session before departure and a debriefing session after returning to Japan, hoping to make the tour evenmore fulfilling. (Photo 2)

Photo 2 2017 Overseas Study Tour in Canberra

The development of civil engineers with an international background who will become the bridges between
developing countries and Japan is imperative if we want to realize sustainable development together with
developing countries. The Nagoya University Civil and Environmental Engineering Program has appointed an
associate professor in charge of internationalization in the faculty since 2017. With a clerical assistant in chargeof international students, a clerical assistant in charge of JICA projects and the Civil Engineering International
Committee (15 from each department), we conduct education for internationalization in the Civil andEnvironmental Engineering Program. With the aim of developing civil engineers who not only speak fluent
English but also have advanced communication skills, we try to establish a system in which international4exchange of students is expanded in the international programs, and thus continue its support. The improved
design of social infrastructure will create the framework of society after another one to two hundred years. We
continue to focus on internationalization so that civil engineers graduating from Japanese universities cancontribute to global sustainable development.
【 Reported by Hiroki Tanikawa, Professor, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Department ofEnvironmental Engineering and Architecture; International Chair, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Program [from 2014 to 2018]; Leader, Nagoya University Global Environmental Leaders Program [NUGELP])】

Student Voice“Top 3 Valuable Lessons in Japan”
Three years ago, when most of my friends were busy with getting married and having ababy, I made a decision that I would go to Japan to start my new life. In the eyes of myparents, their daughter did something that totally was not agreeable to her age of 28 years
old, it should be the age of finding a boyfriend or getting married just like her friends did
however, their daughter decided to go abroad, leaving home. As a girl who grew up under
the attentive care of her parents, I was so eager to go outside to see a fantastic world. We
have only one life, don’t we? I just don’t want to spend my life in an ordinary way but Luyao Wang
go on my own way. So despite of my parents’ objection, I chose a different way from

Saitama Univercity

others did. Now I’m studying at Saitama University for my second master’s degree. When I look back upon thepast three years, I never thought I would be able to learn much from Japan and realized that what a wise decision
I made three years ago.
About the life in JapanThe first one and a half years in Japan, it might be the mostrelaxing time in my life. Lectures were given only half day inJapanese, and as a transition period of adjusting to a newenvironment, I tried to slow down my pace of daily life as muchas possible. Comparing to the busy life of office workers, I got
much time to study a new language and enjoy spending time bymyself and with my new friends. Also, I visited Hokkaido,
Okinawa, Lake Kawaguchi, Mount Fuji, Karuizawa, and someother famous tourist spots around the country with my friends andhad many unforgettable memories.
After graduating from the Japanese language school, I started
studying at Saitama University to acquire my second master’s Japanese Language School Graduation Ceremony
degree. Now my research is to develop a structural seismic
damaged detection system with a low cast, utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI). To proceed that research, besides
the basic knowledge about civil engineering, it is necessary to acquire knowledge about deep learning and5

programming. Focusing on the life as a student in Saitama University, it is impossible not to mention the person
whom I most respect. That person is my supervisor, Professor Dang Ji, who has given me the opportunity to join
his lab. He is not only a good teacher, but also a kind brother to me. I deeply appreciate his great effort in guiding
me in my research and helping me go through the hard time that I have in the unfamiliar environment.
In addition, I have gotten a precious opportunity to do a part time job at Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE).
Although I just started that job only a few months ago, I have learnt so much from my working partners,
especially their focused, dedicated, and disciplined working attitude and it is greatly honored to work with them.
Japan and Japanese have taught me a great deal, and I would like to share a few of the lessons from which I havegained from with you.
About the culture of Japan
1. “Thank you” and “Sorry” in Japan•

Sorry (Sumi Masen/Gomen nasai)- My new life in Japan started
from the Japanese language school. “Sumi Masen” is the firstJapanese word that I learned, and it has been the most frequently
used word in my daily life. In China when we get help from others
we only say “Thank you” to express our gratitude, whereas in Japan,
I always heard that Japanese say “Sumi Masen” before saying“Thank you”. Japanese consider what other people think, thus
they use “Sumi masen” or “Gomen nasai” to express their apologies
for disturbing others.

•

Thank you (Arigatou)- In Japan, everybody says “Arigatou” foreven minor matters. No matter who they are, co-workers, friends oreven family members, they never stint in saying “thank you”. Everytime I go out with my Japanese friend, she always says “O san,thank you for going out with me today”. Sometimes we take for

At Hokkaido University

granted that we don’t need to say “thank you” since we are close friends or family. The longer I stay Japan,
the more I come to realize that I seldom say “thank you” to my family and friends back home.
2. A Lesson Learned from Crossing Road•In China- The traffic lights are always ignored by pedestrians, and they see the traffic lights are placed justfor cars and buses. Cyclists may cross your way no matter traffic lights are on or off. The way of crossing
roads in China is that you NEVER cross road alone, or even in pairs, but Wait a small group and cross theroads together. Take a position in the middle of the group and then walk along with them. Crossing roads in
China always makes me nervous.

•

In Japan- I never worry about that I must try my best to play the real-life game “Pedestrian vs. Cyclists”
when I cross road in Japan. Everybody follows traffic rules and cars always give the priority to pedestrians.
One day I happened to see that a car stopped to let some pupils cross a crosswalk. I know that is common
in Japan! However, after crossing the road, those pupils did something I never expected: they turned aroundand bowed to express their thanks to the driver! I was impressed by them. That you would never see suchthat scene in China. The driver and pupils taught me the importance of having mutual respect; at the sametime, I realized that the kindness, love and respect were in the Japanese culture.
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3. Some Incredible Things which I Never Experienced in My Hometown
After two months I came to Japan, I noticed some amazing things. For
example:•There are no public trash cans on the streets; however, no garbage
is found anywhere and the streets are unbelievably spotless in
Tokyo

•

Mutual concession creates the “an empty seat in train”: In a train
packed with passengers, there is often an empty seat in which noone dares to sit.

•

When I was writing this essay, I suddenly come to realize that I
have never heard a single horn blowing in these three years.

I have strong attachment to the people of Japan. What I learned fromthem is much more than I mentioned in this essay: To respect for

At the seashore in Okinawa

other’s time and property. It is normal for Japanese to be punctual, andthere is no room for theft in Japan; To be polite as much as you can; To appreciate the beauty of nature (OHanami)-Spring has become my favorite season, and when I walk under falling cherry petals, I feel like walking
in a fairyland. I have been living in Japan for three years, and my life has changed forever by those amazing
experiences.
【Reported by Luyao Wang, Saitama University】【Alumni of DOBOKU Series】“Reflecting on my Time at Kyoto University andAdventures Beyond”
Paul Smith, Director, Shinka Management
As I sit down to write this reflection of my time studying in Japan and the opportunities
that have followed, it is announced that the death toll from flooding and landslides inwestern Japan has exceeded 200 and is expected to rise further. Add to this the millionsof citizens ordered to evacuate their homes, and it would be fair to call this Japan’s
worst flooding disaster since the Nagasaki floods in 1982. This news sits heavy withme, having spent six years contributing to flood forecasting research at Kyoto
University’s Disaster Prevention Research Institute.
Living now in South Australia, the driest state in the driest inhabited continent onearth, I have long ago shifted my specialty from flood forecasting to optimization of Paul Smith

Shinka Management

water infrastructure, and more recently an even greater departure to focus onestablishing a business in the field of manufacturing management.

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My Journey to JapanAs a young man, Japan and the Japanese language
fascinated me, initially due to the uniqueness andalien nature of the culture and language, but
increasingly due to the opportunity associated withtechnical and commercial relations between myhome country and Japan, which for Australia had
been our most important trading partner for 35
years. This, together with a desire to move outsideof my comfort zone, inspired me to spend a year ina high school in Hakodate, Hokkaido, and laterWith Colleagues from Kyoto University Disaster Prevention

apply to undertake masters and PhD studies as a Research Institute (2006)
student of Kyoto University’s Graduate School ofEngineering as a recipient of a Monbukagakusho Scholarship.

Japanese universities, each with their own personality and expertise, have a lot to offer the foreign student. In
the case of Kyoto University and my very supportive, open-minded and wise Professor Toshiharu Kojiri, theopportunity offered me was that of an environment to explore and grow. First and foremost, the focus during
these years was academic studies which I found fascinating, but in addition to this time was available fordeveloping linguistic, social and creative skills that continue to serve me well today in my more entrepreneurial
adventures.
Transitioning from Student to Teacher
Now in my 40’s, I am into my sixth year of running a
consulting and training company, Shinka Management,
which I founded together with a like-minded friend backin 2012, with the mission of supporting global industry inlearning

andmanagement

adopting
practices.

JapaneseThisfield,

manufacturing
calledLean

Manufacturing in the west, has a history of several
decadesandcontinues

to

grow

in

popularity.

Increasingly, companies around the world are looking tolearn about lean manufacturing practices and culture;

Hosting Clients from Airbus on the Lean Japan Tour (2018)

especially kaizen and the Toyota Production System; to help improve safety, quality and productivity within
their companies. Our team is uniquely placed to provide foreign companies with access some of the best leanmanufacturing know-how that exists in Japan.
In addition to consulting and training services provided globally, our team runs regular week-long study missions
to Japan under the title Lean Japan Tour, a program we run at least ten times a year that provides corporate
leaders with an opportunity to learn and experience lean manufacturing directly in Japan.
In addition to the classroom seminars focused on the Toyota Production System and hands-on training
experienced during the tour program, our clients over the years have been fortunate to visit factories belonging
to around forty different Japanese companies and organisations, including automotive, food and beverage,
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transport and government related organisations. The week of learning activities is complemented by culturalactivities unique to Japan. Our clients return to their home countries, not only enlightened about Japanese
operations management practices, but also touched by the generosity and warm hospitality of the Japanese people.
Having myself benefited deeply from my relationship with Japan, it is always a great pleasure to introduce others
to this very special country.
Having started as a two-man operation serving limited clients in Australia, we’ve had the great fortune ofgrowing Shinka Management into a team now comprising engineers, bilingual management consultants,
interpreters and former factory managers from Toyota Motor Corporation, and are proud to support clients fromover 50 countries.
The Journey Ahead
We have a lot to learn as our team continues to grow our business going forward, but for myself I have no doubtthat my journey to date would not have been possible without the time made available during my studies in Japan
to explore a mix of academia, engineering and entrepreneurial interests. It is this time which gave me theconfidence and skills to undertake this exciting and rewarding phase in my life.
Professor Kojiri sadly passed away shortly after the completion of my studies in Kyoto, but I will forever bethankful to him and the other academic staff at the Disaster Prevention Research Institute, for the patience andgenerous support provided to myself and the other foreign students based at the institute. I hope to continue toutilise the skills developed during my time in Japan to connect foreign companies with Japanese industry throughour work at Shinka Management.
Profile: Born in Australia in 1977, Paul studied Japanese language in high school prior to spending a year in Hokkaido as a Rotary
Exchange Student. Paul completed his bachelor studies in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Adelaide, andhis masters and PhD in Civil Engineering Systems at Kyoto University as a Monbukagakusho Scholarship recipient. Paul runs amanagement consulting firm headquartered in Australia (http://shinkamanagement.com/) supporting global industry with leanmanufacturing consulting, training and Japan industry study tours.

《Column》Kenji Tanaka, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Associate Professor
Mr. Paul was a model for other students. In addition to be excellent in academics, he brought vibrancy
to the laboratory with a Brazilian student named Paul. Holding high interests in Japanese culture, hecertainly had noticed the uniqueness of the Japanese culture. “Why Japanese pray to both the temples
and the shrines?” there was once he asked me a question like this. When there were insufficientpersonnel to conduct irrigation facility planning survey in the danger zone of Afghanistan, hevolunteered to do it. With the spirit of adventure and challenge, the versatile Paul will expand his
activities to achieve bigger success without doubt.
※Alumni of DOBOKU Series is in collaboration with Editorial Committee of JSCE Magazine.

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- Overseas Project Introduction of the Cambodia Northern Line Rehabilitation Project
There are two railway lines in Cambodia. One is northern line (385 km) and the otherone is southern line (264 km). Both lines were seriously damaged and destroyed during
1970’s civil war (Photo 1). Especially, some sections in the northern line was stopped its
operation for about 45 years after the civil war. Therefore, it is one of the dreams for
Cambodia to re-construct the railway lines and start the train operation same as before.
The northern line starts from Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia and extend
Hisashi Yamasaki
KOEI

385km toward the north up to Poipet, a city at the border of Cambodia and Thailand. NIPPONThe Scope of rehabilitation works of northern line covered to 1) re-construct the LTD.

CO.,embankment, 2) repair the track, 3) repair the bridges, 4) install side
ditches, etc. The project is divided into 19 package consisted of many
contractors from China, Thailand, and Cambodia. We, NIPPON KOEI
CO., LTD. worked as the consultant to supervise above all packages.
The first package started the construction from January 2016. The train
operation for entire northern line started from July 2018, taking almost
2.5 years from the start of the project.
Although many problems happened during the construction, the most

Photo 1 Seriously Damaged Track

impressive memory that I have is the day of the train-operation opening
ceremony, which was carried out on 4th April 2018. After the speech by the Minister of Public Works andTransport, the first train with many passengers on board started slowly from the station blowing the whistle,
getting huge cheers from the local people, breaking the 45-year- suspended operation.

Cheers from Local People

Train at Pursat Station【Reported by Hisashi Yamasaki, NIPPON KOEI CO., LTD.】10

Updates◆The 2nd Seminar on the Dissemination of Japanese Technical Standards Overseas (December 12, 2018)
http://committees.jsce.or.jp/kokusai/node/134◆Japanese Civil Engineers the Global Leaders Symposium Series No.13 (December 18, 2018)
http://committees.jsce.or.jp/kokusai/node/132◆Young Civil Engineers’ s Salon (December 18, 2018)
http://committees.jsce.or.jp/kokusai/node/136◆CECAR8 Online Registration (Early Bird: June 1, 2018 – Jan 31, 2019)http://www.cecar8.jp/◆The International Infrastructure Archives– A Compilation of Japan’s Greatest Projects in Transfer of Civil Engineering Technology in Service –http://www.jsce.or.jp/e/archive/◆Asian Civil Engineering Coordinating Council (ACECC) International Newsletter
http://www.acecc-world.org/newsletter.html◆IAC “News Pick Up!!” on the JSCE Japanese website
http://committees.jsce.or.jp/kokusai/node/118◆Summary of featured articles in JSCE Magazine Vol. 103, No. 12, December 2018
http://www.jsce-int.org/pub/magazine◆Journal of JSCE
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/journalofjsce◆IAC Students and Alumni Network
http://www.jsce-int.org/IAC_network§ IAC News Subscription §The IAC News is one of the communication tools to share information and ideas with the members. We would like to invite
you, your friends and colleagues to join the communication and to subscribe the IAC News. Please register online:(http://www.jsce-int.org/node/150). We look forward to meeting you.
§ IAC Facebook §Recent activity of International Activities Center is introduced on this Facebook. Please see this home page.
(https://www.facebook.com/JSCE.en)
Comments and Questions
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