Kitakyushu
International
Techno-cooperative
Association

NEWS
No.21
2016
October

P.2 A message from the President
P.3 FY2015 Operation Results / FY2016 Operation Plan
P.4 Greetings from Former Director of Training Division, and His Successor
P.5 JICA Training Courses
P.8 Recent Activities of Former Participants
P.9 Recent Activities for Overseas Development Cooperation
P.10 International Friendship Programs
P.11 Introduction of Kitakyushu Maintenance Engineering Society
P.12 Adoption as a Program of JICA’s Support forJapanese SMEs Overseas Business Development− JICA Training Course ”Photovoltaic Power Generation Technology” −The course is for leading officers of the countries aiming at massive introduction of photovoltaic (PV) power
generation. I really felt that even the beginners in this field could improve understanding and upgrade thepoints of concern as the course advanced.
By strengthening the personal guidance, no dropouts were made from the beginners, and I could guide theveterans to solve their doubts.
Please see page 6 for details.

Kitakyushu International Techno-cooperative Association

A Message from the President

In Promoting
FY2016 Business Plan
Hideki FURUNO, President
Two months after the start of FY2016, the G7Ise-Shima Summit was held on May 26 and 27 in
the city of Shima in Mie Prefecture. There was ashared sense of crisis at the G7 that the global
economy is facing the risk of a downturn, and astatement was issued that there would be a
general mobilization of political measures to deal
with this. Five days later, on June 1, Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe personally stated at a press
conference that the increase in Japan's
consumption tax which had been scheduled fornext April has been postponed. Immediately after
the G7 summit, President Obama became the firstincumbent president of the US to lay a wreath at
the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, thereby turning a
new page in post-war history. This made theG7.Ise-Shima Summit even more memorable. The
G7 summit emphasized more strongly that Japan
too is being forced to tackle difficult andunpredictable challenges, with prospects for theworld economy becoming increasingly unclear as
it is faced with such worldwide issues as global
terrorism and refugees.
Given this, a look at KITA's situation reveals that
we experienced a big slump in FY2014, including a
35% decrease in business in comparison with theprevious fiscal year due to the decrease in thenumber of JICA training courses as a consequenceof Japan's temporary review of its ODA policy.
However, this slump bottomed out in FY2014 andbusiness started to increase again in 2015. We
cannot predict whether this upward trend willcontinue, but we drew up a slightly bullish budget
for FY2016 based upon our judgment that theoutlook at this point in time is that business willtend to show a slight increase, and upon KITA's
ability to make stronger proposals.
We are intensifying activities in our otherbusiness of technical assistance projects, howeverin FY2015, due to the delay in concluding contracts
for some projects, there was a roughly 40%
decrease on FY2014. Nevertheless, we were able
to draw up a budget for FY2016 based on feedback
that suggests a fairly strong recovery.

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KITA NEWS No.21

In FY2014, the operating profits of KITA as awhole were negative for the first time in four years
and remained in the red in FY2015. However, withthe approval of the administrative divisions of theKitakyushu municipal government, we were able tocomplete KITA decision-making procedures andlaunch a part of the KITA Master Plan. We havedrawn up a budget that anticipates an upward
trend from FY2016 onwards, and will start bymaking every effort to successfully meet our
FY2016 plan.
We have thus reached a watershed now that wehave at last launched the KITA Master Plan,
decided to switch over to current value accounting
as of FY2016 to give us greater freedom in buying
and selling the bonds (government, municipal, etc.)that are the subject of our basic fund management,
and completed the Cabinet Office formalities andso on to reintegrate Kitakyushu MaintenanceEngineering Society (KME) into KITA after a
temporary separation so that it will once again be
active as KITA's KME from the second half of
FY2016, and we will now proceed towards further
new steps.
Given this situation, it has been decided toapproach FY2016 according to the following four
guidelines, continuing on from FY2015.
1. Enhance and improve project capabilities withthe aim of establishing the KITA brand2. Formulate and implement the KITA MasterPlan
3. Further promote the streamlining of project
management
4. Establish ourselves as a public interest
incorporated foundation, and ensuretransparency, fairness and disclosure
These business guidelines for FY2016 arechallenges that will be of extreme importance ingetting the KITA Master Plan off to a good start. I
humbly ask for your continued support andcooperation.

KITA information
FY2015 Operation Results / FY2016 Operation Plan
Ⅰ. KITA’s Medium and Long Term Policies

1. Accumulation of KITA’s assets
2. Investigation of “what is typical of KITA” and the advantages of being based in Kitakyushu

Promoting the following 4 guidelines in FY2015 and FY2016
Ⅱ. FY2015 & FY2016 Guidelines

1. Enhance and improve project capabilities with theaim of establishing the KITA brand(1) Training brand: Reliable implementation, from thegrasp of local needs to follow-up on outcomes
1 Comprehension of local needs
2 Providing solutions and effective expertise,
information and experience
3 Building a win-win relationship between the
countries participated in a training course andthe companies collaborated in it
4 Reliable follow-up on the outcomes of training
courses
5 Greater utilization of networks with former
participants overseas(2) Technical assistance brand: Global deploymentof small and medium-sized Kitakyushu companies
1 Suppor t for small and medium-sized
Kitakyushu companies starting up activities
overseas
2 Proactive collaboration to launch activities
overseas with related organizations
3 Aggressively boosting our brand awarenessoverseas via activi ties such as overseas

seminars and forums

4 Greater utilization of networks with former

participants overseas
2. Formulate and implement the KITA Master Plan
(1) Final draft of the KITA Master Plan (10-year plan)(2) Start to move forward with the KITA Master Plan
3. Further promote the streamlining of project
management(1) Clarifying the respective roles of organizations
and operat ions, and boos t ing coordinat ion
between organizations(2) Promoting effective use of the IT infrastructure
and improving its functions
4. Establish ourselves as a public interest incorporated
foundation, and ensure transparency, fairness anddisclosure(1) S cr up u l o u s l y p r o t ec t i ng i n f o r ma t i o n an dproviding full disclosure(2) Preparat ion of t he relevan t documen t s for
ex t er nal audi t s b y t he C abine t O f f ice andKitakyushu municipal government
Steady progress was made on challenges in the
FY2015 guidelines.

FY2015 Results

FY2016 Plan

Ⅰ. Business results

Ⅰ. Business plan

Ⅱ. Financial Results

Ⅱ. Financial Results

It was decided to implement new business guidelines
from F Y2015 and we were able to achieve progress
almost exactly as planned in accordance with our
medium and long term policies.
External factors had a big influence on the settlementof accounts, and we did not attain our budget projectionin our income or expenditure balance. However, there
are some items that have been shifted to F Y2016 sohopes still remain for FY2016.

Revenue : 224.8 million yen
Expenditure : 231.5 million yen

We will continue with the business guidelines we
implemented in FY2015. Since progress in the previous
fiscal year was almost exactly as planned, we will
steadily implement our original plan and anticipate that it
will be successfully achieved.
Factors such as items shifted in from FY2015 and thefull-scale launch of our master plan mean that a roughly
10% expansion of our business scale in comparison with
FY2015 is planned.

Revenue : 245.6 million yen
Expenditure : 245.6 million yen

KITA NEWS No.21

3

Greeting of retirement and new appointment■Training Division

Many thanks for your help
Dr. Masakatsu UENO, Vice President
I resigned from the position

In order to provide the countries taking part in the trainingsof director of the Training

with solutions, it is necessary to give a clear answer to theDivision on March 31 thisquestion of “What are the true issues?” We have establishedyear. I am most grateful to alla style where “discovery of the true issues” is practiced byof you engaged in the training

using the newly devised IAS, and solutions of the issues arefor going forward together

derived from those discoveries. Going forward, we need towith me for these past fivecontinue to manifest originality, ingenuity, innovation andyears in the ef for t s to

improvement as part of our efforts to make such discoveries.

renovate KITA and improve

3. Establishment of a system as a public interest incorporated

the quality of the training.

foundation

Looking back, the following three points leave a particularly

KITA was registered as a public interest incorporated

strong impression.

foundation in April 2012. Fairness and transparency are

1. Establishment of the brand of the Training Division of KITA

important in this type of foundation. We made efforts toThis task was triggered by the president asking “What are

throw away traditional practices and experiences that do not

KITA’s assets?” This question was understood to be posed

fit the “purpose of the contract” and to establish new rules.

also about the existence value of KITA. We put “presentation

Accordingly, there still remain a lot of issues af ter myof solutions” at the core of the brand, clarified the issues that

resignation. I conclude my words of resignation with the wish

the developing countries have and made every effort tothat you will make concerted efforts under the new director

provide information that can exactly respond to the issues.

of the Training Division and continue to challenge difficult

2. Good use of the Issue Analysis Sheet (IAS)

issues.

Inaugural address from the new director
Yuichi TERADA, Director of the Training Division
I have succeeded V ice
President Ueno to theculture of this country across the world and I came to feel theimportance of our training project in my bones.

position of director of the

Although I know I am far inferior to former director Dr. Ueno

Training Division. It has been

in terms of capability, wisdom and enthusiasm in carrying out

three years since I started

the training projects, our route is securely laid out as a public

working here in KITA withinterest incorporated foundation, so I wish to begin by furtheryou, during which time I haveconsolidating this infrastructure.

been engaged in two tasks

Our immediate goal is to put the master plan on track, which

concurrently: course leader

requires in particular the creation of a scheme to accumulate

operat ions and full-t ime

KITA’s training related assets, which we then put to practicaloperations engaged principally in preparation of the masteruse to ensure a steady increase in the number of training

plan. Against the backdrop of Japan’s financial situation etc, I

projects we are entrusted with and realization of paid-for

felt that the future of ODA related projects would nottraining. Paid-for training, when realized, means that “KITA’s

accommodate an optimistic outlook.

training courses are worth paying for” and will result in a highOn the other hand, from the viewpoint of “sustainableappraisal of KITA’s training. I am determined to try sincerely

development of every corner of the world”, I came up with theand to the best of my abilities and am looking forward tostrong belief that it is a must that we spread the technology andworking on this with you.

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KITA NEWS No.21

Highlights of KITA training courses
JICA training courses in FY2015№

Title of training course

Training term

CourseLeaderParticipants

ⅠEnvironment Management
1

Industrial Pollution Control Management

Jan.27,2016 - Apr.23,2016

Junji Kawasaki

5

2

Air Pollution Source Management

May 10,2016 - Jun.27,2015

A. Kido

10

3

Advancement of Solid Waste Management Technologies (Advance, Technique) (A)Jun. 7,2015 - Aug. 8,2015

Sashiwa6

4

Advancement of Solid Waste Management Technologies (Advance, Technique) (B)

Oct.18,2015 - Dec.19,2015

Haraguchi

75Management of Composting Project (A)Aug.23,2015 - Sep.19,2015

Sashiwa

7

6

Management of Composting Project (B)Oct.25,2015 - Nov.26,2015

K. Kido

107

Capacity Development in Industrial Pollution Management for Iraq

Nov. 3,2015 - Nov.21,2015

Junji Kawasaki

128Environmental Education

May 12,2015 - Jun.24,2015

Haraguchi

12

ⅡWater Resources & Water Treatment
1

Operation and Maintenance of Sewerage System (B)Jan.11,2016 - Mar. 5,2016

Sueta

9

2

Water Environment Administration

May 17,2015 - Jul. 8,2015

Ueyama10

3

Capacity Development in Wastewater Treatment Sector

Aug.13,2015 - Sep. 4,2015

Sueta

8

4

Training for Sewerage Administration 1 Vietnam

Oct. 5,2015 - Oct.21,2015

Yazu

10

Ⅲ｠Production Technology & Local Industry Activation
1

Developed Market Oriented Export Promotion Strategy / Marketing Strategy for African Countries (B)Jun.28,2015 - Aug. 1,2015

Nakashima

102

Developed Market Oriented Export Promotion Strategy / Marketing Strategy for Latin America (C)Jan.17,2016 - Feb.20,2016

Io

9

3

Enhancement of Training Management in Vocational Training Institutes (C)Oct. 4,2015 - Nov. 7,2015

Miyamoto

7

4

Small and Medium Enterprises / Local Industry Activation for Latin America (A)Jul.28,2015 - Aug.28,2015

Miki

10

5

Practical Human Resource Development in Electrical and Electronic Engineering for Africa

Sep. 6,2015 - Nov.11,2015

Tomita9

6

Capacity Development for Entrepreneurs and MSMEs Activation in African Countries (A)May 17,2015 - Jun.20,2015

Kosugi10

7Capacity Development for Entrepreneurs and MSMEs Activation in African Countries (B)Nov. 1,2015 - Dec. 9,2015

Nakashima

8

8Strengthening Marketing Capacity for SMEs in Iran

Feb.17,2016 - Mar.15,2016

Miyamoto

12

Ⅳ｠Saving Energy & Renewable Energy
1Energy Conservation Techniques for India 1

Sep.23,2015 - Nov. 6,2015

Yamato11

2

Energy Eﬃciency and Renewable Energy for IranMay 24,2015 - Jun.13,2015

Terada9

3

Policy Planning for Energy Eﬃciency and Conservation (C)Jul. 5,2015 - Aug. 7,2015

Kawaguchi

94

Photovoltaic Power Generation Technology

Feb.14,2016 - Apr.15,2016

Ueyama8

5Energy Eﬃciency and Conservation in Commercial and Residential Sector (A)Oct. 4,2015 - Nov.21,2015

Kawaguchi

86Energy Eﬃciency and Conservation in Commercial and Residential Sector (B)Jan.24,2016 - Mar.12,2016

Kawaguchi

87Promotion of High Eﬃcient & Clean Thermal Power (A)Oct. 4,2015 - Oct.24,2015

Terada7

8

Promotion of High Eﬃcient & Clean Thermal Power (B)Jan.31,2016 - Feb.20,2016

Terada109Knowledge Co-Creation Program (Young Leaders) for Jordan / Renewable Energy

Oct.18,2015 - Nov. 4,2015

Fujii

8

10

Knowledge Co-Creation Program (Young Leaders) for African Countries (French) / Renewable Energy

Aug.16,2015 - Sep. 2,2015

Fujii

14

11

Promotion of Energy Conservation in the Industrial Sector for Kazakhstan

Aug. 9,2015 - Sep.19,2015

Ueyama12

Ⅴ｠Health Care, Urban Development & Others
1

Food Safety Administration

Oct. 4,2015 - Oct.31,2015

Nakahara

122Urban Management for Sustainable Urban Development (A)Sep. 6,2015 - Sep.19,2015

Io

10

4

Urban Management for Sustainable Urban Development (B)Feb.14,2016 - Feb.27,2016

Takasaki

7

3

Urban Management for Sustainable Urban Development (C)Nov. 8,2015 - Nov.21,2015

Junichi Kawasaki

10

Number of countries / participants by area
Central Asia

Oceania(15 participants from 4 countries)(9 participants from 5 countries)

Europe(16 participants from 5 countries)

AfricaSouthwest Asia

(84 participants from 31 countries)（30(30 participants from 6 countries)

East Asia（51(51 participants from 10 countries)

FY 2015324 participantsfrom
90 countries

In FY2015, 324 participants from90 countries joined the JICA training
courses. Africa area sent the most,
84 participants (25.9%).
Central & South America(66 participants from 23 countries）

Middle East

(53 participants from 6 countries)

KITA NEWS No.21

5

Highlights of KITA Training Courses
Indian management style「Energy Conservation Techniques for India 1」
CourseShunsuke YAMATO, Course Leader
This course is targeted at Indian electricity. In the past,
the decision on the number and names of the participants
was often delayed until just before the course. However, asituation occurred this time that could never be anticipated.
The situation was that, although this course was designed
for electricity, only two among the 14 participants were fromelectric power companies, wi th the res t being fromconsultant firms. As the major part of the curriculum was forelectric power companies, we were worried that there might
be complaints from the par ticipants. As the training
advanced, this worry subsided thanks to the participants’diligent attitude toward the training. It was at the stage ofpreparation of the action plans that I was made aware of thebreadth of perspective they have concerning energy
conservation and the extent of the field of their activities
after returning home. These are different characteristics
from those of the previous participants from electric powercompanies.
To quote their words: “ The dif ference in qualit y ofindustries in India and Japan is the dif ference in theattitudes of the people who work in them”. This impressedme a lot. I think they could grasp things this way because
they are from consulting companies. Although this was acourse of a dif ferent nature at tended by par ticipants
selected by Indian style management, we learned a lot on
our side as well.
Commemorative photographof the lecturer and the participantsParticipants visiting an enterprise

Training beginners and experts to become top-class photovoltaic power generation technical experts capable of solving the issues「Photovoltaic Power Generation Technology」Course
Dr. Takatsugu UEYAMA, Course Leader
This course is a two-month course targeting technocrats
who play a leadership role in countries aiming at massive
introduction of photovoltaic (PV) power generation. In
training courses joined by participants from a variety ofcountries, there tend to be large differences in the levels of
experience and technical capability, which makes it difficult
to satisfy all the participants.
An attempt was made to overcome such difficulties bypoint-by-point explanations and by exercises, drills andvisits to promote a better understanding. Actually, I could
get a real sense that even the par ticipants who werebeginners in this field could improve their understanding andupgrade the points of concern as the course advanced.
Meanwhile, experts such as persons in charge of themaintenance of PV systems or persons in charge of theconstruction of mega solar systems could be seen to beconsolidating and deepening their knowledge, and I could
sense that they were satisfied with what they could
understand about the actuality of Japan.
One of the participants who has experience of a number ofsimilar courses says, “I have a feeling that the training
cour ses I had recei ved so f ar aimed a t presen t ing
technolog y, w hereas t his cour se has advanced my

6

KITA NEWS No.21

understanding of the essence dramatically and I have comeup with a way forward to resolve the issues I am in chargeof.”From FY2016 onward, the duration of the course will beconsiderably shortened and two courses will be held a year.
Our task is to respond to new needs whilst maintaining thegood points of this course.
Exercises were introduced inplenty where the participants
were made to think by themselves to pursue true
understanding

Gaining an understanding of theactuality of the construction sitethrough a PV system installation
drill at Kyoto Eco-Energy AcademyImpressions of my first experience as a course leader「Practical Human Resource Development in Electrical and Electronic Engineering for Africa」Course
Masaaki TOMITA, Course Leader
I have been engaged in human resource development foryounger persons as a teaching staf fer of a universit y,during which time I have been involved in human resource
development for foreign countries as part of the technicalcooperation promoted via ODA, which makes me thinkab ou t l e ver agi ng m y e x per ience f or i n t er na t i o nal
cooperation.
After performing the work of a course leader, I feel that I
could make use of my experience obtained frominvolvement in projects. I think I could make the most of myexperience at the stage of designing the training course.
However, while I implemented the subjects of the course
myself, I found it unexpectedly difficult to select external
lecturers.
M y impres sion o f t he cour se o f P rac t ical Human
Resource Developmen t in Elect rical and Elect ronic
E n g i n e e r i n g f o r A f r i ca i s t h a t t h e a t t i t u d e o f t h eparticipants toward the training was so positive that I feelrewarded as the course leader. I also feel that the practiceof making use of what they have learned about assembly
for their teaching was a precious experience for them andwas received well.
I was forced to keep on my toes as it is not rare that

unexpected situations occur during the training. However, I
recognized that such things will help me prepare training
courses from now on. I feel that direct conversations withthe par ticipant s abou t the training were a precious
experience that is usually hard to get.
Going forward, my aim is to seek the optimum method of
implementing the designed course. Preparations will bemade to make use of it for the design of other courses. My
immediate target may be to leverage this experience in thecourse for Central and South America.

Participants practicing on electronic circuits

Wishing that the achievements from their training contribute to the participants’ home countries「Urban Management for Sustainable Urban Development (B)」Course
Yoshinori TAKASAKI, Course Leader
I was assigned as the course leader of this course for
A f r ican coun t r ies w hich s t ar ted in F Y 2 0 15 . We
welcomed seven participants from the six countries of
the Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal andZambia for a period of two weeks from 14 February to 27
February 2016. This was my first time as a course leader
and I star ted the course with feelings of anxiet y andexpectation.
Although there was a wide age range from 35 to 52,
t he par t icipan t s were all high -rank ing gover nmen t
officials already engaged in important functions, one oft hem being a mayor. A t t he beginning , t he t ension
showed on t heir faces, however act ive discussions
developed and ques tions gradually began to beexchanged, making the course very meaningful.
Despi te t he di f ferences in t he condi t ions of t heircountries, all the par ticipants had a sense of mission
and passion to improve their respective countries andtheir circumstances. This impressed me so strongly that
I felt I had to do my best to respond to their sincere andearnest expectations. Two weeks elapsed like a flash
and I dearly wish that the participants make the most of
their achievements in their training and the net works
t hey have buil t to con t ribu te to t heir coun t ries andregions.
After a job report presentation

Visit to Murasaki RiverKITA NEWS No.21

7

Introduction of Lively Activity of a Former Participant■ Papua New Guinea
Former Participant

Kiyoshi HARAGUCHI, Course Leader

Mr. AUKLEYA Walter Greamah

Training Course

Waste Management Technique (A)Course Period

Jul. 07, 2013 to Sep. 07, 2013

Walter-san came to Japan in July 2013 to at tend thet wo-month course about waste management
technology. He was one of the ten participants from the
Pacific Island Countries and is working in the capital
city of Port Moresby as a waste management official. In
this regard, the training he received in Japan taught him
a lot about more advanced technologies and policies,
which seems to be very helpful in his present job.
T he aerobic landf ill (F ukuoka met hod) has t headvantage that, despite its simplicit y and lower cost, Completed and fenced leachate pond
stabilization in the landfill takes a shorter time. Methods
were in troduced to cons truct t he gas ven t s anddrainage pipes essential for the landfill using waste items such as waste drum cans and old tires, or bamboo or
the like, which was well received by the participants, making them think that they can apply these methods
themselves.
Receiving a report about the lively activities of a former participant making the most of what was learned in
the course in Japan, I have a deep feeling that the efforts of the lecturers and the persons engaged in the visitswere rewarded.

■ Malaysia
Former Participant

Kenji KAWAGUCHI, Course Leader

Mr. Woon Wei Kian

Training Course

Policy Planning for Energy Efficiency and Conservation (C)Course Period

Jul. 05, 2015 to Aug. 07, 2015

Woon-san, a well-built and learned man with a maturepresence, seemed to be puzzled in some way about thes i g n i f icance an d t h e e f f ec t i v e n e s s o f t h e “ P o w er
consumption optimization via behavioral improvement
on t he power consuming side” pr ojec t t ha t he wasengaged in.
It can be seen from the progress in theimplemen t a t ion o f his ac t ion plan over t he pas t si x
months that a lot of the information he acquired during
the course, such as about the activities of the cit y of
At the campaign launch in SJKC Tun Tan Cheng Lock
Kitakyushu, has provided good hints for him to expand
and develop the project back home. Although his proposition to develop a campaign mascot like Kitakyushu’s“TEITAN” does not seem to have been accepted by his superior yet, I hope his proposition will be realized asa campaign symbol that will be widely accepted by a range of people from kids to adults.

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KITA NEWS No.21

Recent Activities for Overseas Development Cooperation～ Business interactions of Kitakyushu-based enterprises in Vietnam getting more and more active! ～Supporting the business interaction projects between the city of Kitakyushu and the northern region of Vietnam
Toshikatsu Miyata, Executive Technical Advisor
Triggered by the conclusion of the “Friendship andcooperation agreement” in 2 0 0 9 bet ween the cit y of
Kitakyushu and the city of Hai Phong, Vietnam, bilateralbusiness interactions started using the JICA and JETRO
support schemes, since when they have rapidly expanded anddeepened.
In March this year, KITA offered support for businessinteraction in the field of distribution channels for industries
such as metal processing, machine manufacturing and baby
food processing in the northern region of Vietnam (Hanoi and
Hai Phong). Through action such as visits to the Vietnam
Chamber of Commerce and the factories of ten local
enterprises, the enterprises that joined the visits have foundtheir respective partner enterprises. Full-scale businessinteractions are expected from now on.
Right now, Vietnam is facing major changes. In December
last year, the ASE AN Economic Communit y was born,
attracting attention to this country as one of the biggest hubs

among the Mekong countries. Meanwhile, the lifestyle of its
people is changing owing to the construction of subways andhighways, and large-scale urban developments that havechanged the landscape. A change of perspective from a mere
pr oduc t ion hub t o a region f or t he consump t ion o fcommodities and services would seem to be important.
KITA is committed to offering support for overseas businessdevelopment to more enterprises in a wider range of fields.

Active business talks held about procurement of the parts
made with a new casting method～ Together with a big training mission ～Training in Japan about air pollution improvement by the city of Tianjin, China
Satoshi IDOGAKI, Course Leader
The city of Kitakyushu has been implementing full-scaletraining in Japan about air pollution improvement as part ofthe intercity cooperative project with five Chinese cities(including Shanghai and Tianjin) from F Y 2014 onward. In
February 2016, the city of Tianjin sent a big training mission of
15 participants to Japan, and there were worries about issues
that might arise due to the size of the mission from the stageof planning the training curriculum.
(Case 1) One day in February, the flight from Beijing toFukuoka via Tsingtao that was due to arrive in Fukuoka at
13:40 temporarily returned to Beijing due to heavy snow atTsingtao Airport and appeared at Fukuoka Airport at around
22:00. It was a delay of about eight hours, an omen of troubles
ahead.
(Case 2) The Tianjin mission took a three-day trip to Osakaand Kyoto to visit air analyzer manufacturers. On the last dayof this trip, one of the members went off on his own to see an
old friend. He ended up being able to get back by theappointed time, but he was in such a hurry that he jumped into
the earlier Kodama shinkansen. One of his colleagues rapidly
sent him a photograph of the electric bulletin board of theNozomi shinkansen that they were supposed to take andinstructed him to change to that one at Shin-Osaka. We wereable to avoid further problems.
(Case 3) After a visit to an automobile inspection andmaintenance shop during the last stage of the training, we all
moved to a family restaurant to take an early lunch, however
abou t hal f o f t he gr oup disappear ed in t o a near b y
supermarket. The head of the group called them and told themto come back but six of them were absorbed in their shoppingand skipped lunch. They were flustered about not havingbought enough souvenirs of the Kansai trip. They could makeit back by the appointed departure time and we could proceedwithout any problems.
I firmly believe that owing to the achievements of thistraining, all the members of this mission will become
intermediaries for friendly interaction and play a role in
improving and preserving the air environment of our precious
planet.

Eagerly visiting an enterprise

KITA NEWS No.21

9

Recent Activities for Overseas Development Cooperation～ Aiming at business development from Vietnam to the ASEAN region ～YAMAMOTO INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Shinji NAKAMURA, General Manager, Engineering Department
YAMAMOTO INDUSTRIES, LTD. is a company engaged in the
manufacture and sale of drum cans (our core product) alongwith dust collectors, tubular conveyors, super elbows and so on.
Our company started an overseas procurement project in 2010and has promoted the commissioned manufacture of large-sized
dust collectors and so on in Vietnam. At the beginning, we madeuse of JETRO’s Regional Industry Tie-up (RIT) project, andparticipated in site visits and business talks with the support ofthe city of Kitakyushu and KITA. Thanks to the above efforts, wehave achieved the commissioned manufacture of fourlarge-sized dust collectors and two conveyor frames. Quality
has improved each time the manufacturing has been repeated,
and is gaining approval from the customers.
Last November, we took part in the “Kitakyushu and Hai
Phong technical exchange assembly” held as part of JICA’s
grassroots technical assistance project. 13 Vietnamese
enterprises visited our display booth and we could have very
meaningful exchanges including presentation of our company’s
products and finding enterprises that are candidates forcommissioned manufacturing.
As an actual case of our further overseas development, we
opened a representative office in Hanoi in May last year to look

into the possibility of the sale of our products in the ASEAN
region. We are now surveying the trends in demand for our
products with the assistance of trading companies andmanufacturers that we work with.
Moving forward, we will make further efforts to satisfy ourcustomers by adding the perspective of “expanded areas” tothat of “higher quality at a lower price”.
Presentation of our products

Our display booth

The KITA International Goodwill Bowling Tournament
Tatsuhiko TAKAI, Director, General Affairs Section
We held international goodwill bowling tournaments forthe first two courses to start at the beginning of the year.
This is a program mainly held in the winter since it issomething that participants can easily join in with, even in aseason when weather conditions are not so good.
We began by taking eight participants in the Operationand Maintenance of Sewerage System (B) course for the
first round on January 30. Five of the eight had never been
bowling before, but even the first-timers took it ver yseriously. There were even some participants who stood,
ball at the ready, behind the person who was preparing tobowl. The participants cheering them on never sat down,
and I think that ours was the liveliest lane in the bowlingalley.
Then on Februar y 6 we held a tournament for nine
participants in the Developed Market Oriented Export
Promotion Strategy / Marketing Strategy (C) course. This
time there were three participants who had never been
bowling before, and three who had only been once before.
Unfortunately they apparently did not get the scores theywanted, but the participants also enjoyed dressing up in abowling pin costume and playing on the claw crane game in

10

KITA NEWS No.21

the amusement corner. I think that ever yone enjoyedspending a cheerful day away from their training.

Developed Market Oriented Export Promotion Strategy / Marketing Strategy (C)Operation and Maintenance of Sewerage (B)News & Topics
Introduction of the activities of the Kitakyushu Maintenance Engineering Society
Takumi AOI, Manager of KME
As par t of the operations of the K itak yushu
International Techno-cooperative Association (KITA), theK i tak yushu Maintenance Engineering Societ y(hereinaf ter referred to as “K ME”) takes action to
main t ain and impr ove main t enance t echnologies
possessed by our member enterprises. Our activities also
include survey and research to support the activities ofengineer s invol ved in in ter nat ional technologicalcooperation in the field of maintenance, and promoting
their mutual training and interaction. We contribute to theactivation of this region via such activities.
Our society, inaugurated in 1981, is a unique society fortechnical study in that it is a plat form for hands-on
educat ion t hat inv i tes as gues t lect urer s per sonsex perienced in globall y ou t s t anding main tenancetechnology or well-informed persons like universit y
professors.
1. Story of the inauguration of KME
In 1981, planning and examination was conducted by
JICA about launching a course concerning “plantm a i n t e n a n c e ”. W i t h i t s a d v a n c e d e x p e r t i s e ,Kitakyushu was recognized as the leading candidate
and, with the cooperation of local enterprises, JICA’s
maintenance technology course was launched. In 1982,
the “Maintenance Group” was organized in the KITA
Produc t i v i t y C ooperat ion Cen ter, and K ME wasestablished by the 27 participating enterprises. Fromthen on, efforts have been made to expand the range ofcoverage of KME seminars and to further upgrade thetechnology by repeatedly holding academic-industrial
brainstorming sessions joined by KITA and the Kyushu
Institute of Technology.
2. Major activities
1) Predictive maintenance study sessions
The study sessions are at tended by “one-yearmembers” recruited from among the working-level
employees of the member companies.
Bi-directional studies are carried out in the study
sessions which include lectures by local full-time
instructors who are pioneers in equipment diagnosis
technology and presentations by the participants ofcase studies from their own experience. The sessions
are designed to boost the skills of the participants.
(Held six times a year)

2) KME technical seminars
The seminars present a platform of study of theexper t ise required to per form maintenance
operations. Participants include persons from outside
the Kitakyushu region or even outside the prefecture.
L ec t ures by academic ex per t s combined w i t he x p e r i e nce s o f w o r k i n g - l e v e l e m p l o y ee s ar epresented with the aim of upgrading the maintenancetechnology. The subjects include; ⑴ equipment
diagn o s i s t ech n o l o g y, ⑵ f a t igue s t r eng t h , ⑶corrosion prevention, ⑷ tribology and ⑸ control
technology. With their lectures by experienced
lecturers, these are essential and valuable technicalseminars for working-level employees. (Held on eightsubjects a year, at tended by about 160 persons in
total)
3) Lecture meetings
L ecture meet ings are held w i t h main tenancebusines s s t r a t egies and cul t i va t ion o f humanresources as their core subjects.
Recently, in response to the increasing need formaintenance technology, the lectures include an
introduction to the overseas cooperation frameworkof maintenance technology worked out in cooperation
with the city of Kitakyushu and JICA. (Held once a
year, attended by about 70 persons)Equipment diagnosis technology seminar: Mechanical course

Hydraulic technology seminar

KITA NEWS No.21

11

Topics
The “enzyme treatment system” developed in Kitakyushu preserves the rivers of Vietnam!
JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) adopts the system as part of its“Support for Japanese Small and Medium Enterprise Overseas Business Development”!
Tomoharu ASAHARA, Managing Director, Technical Cooperation Division
Toshikatsu MIYATA, Executive Technical Advisors one of the mains tays of the mas ter plan, theA Technical Cooperation Division has started operations
toward the consulting business, one of which has been
adopted now as a “JICA Support for Japanese Small andMedium Enterprise Overseas Business Development ~Feasibility Survey”
This operation was to support the overseas businessdevelopment of a revolutionary wastewater treatments ys tem u t ilizing enz y mes developed by JF IL S L t d.
(Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, Representative director Mr.
Kazumi TA NI) and was adop ted under t he name of“Feasibility Survey for the Advanced Wastewater Treatment
System Suited for High BOD Wastewater of Hai Phong,Vietnam” in collaboration with the International Business
Promotion Division, Industry and Economics Bureau, City of
Kitakyushu.
Against a backdrop of rapid economic growth, Vietnam is
faced with the issues of the concentration of population in
major cities and changes in the industrial structure ofprovincial cities, causing various types of environmental
pollution to surface. Among others, water pollution in rivers
and canals is particularly serious due to the insufficiency of
sewage treatment systems. To cope with this situation, in
addition to developing public sewage treatment systems, anurgent need has emerged to take individual wastewater
treatment measures to the generating sources such as
factories and other facilities.
The main characteristic of the enhanced-performance
wastewater treatment system proposed by JFILS LTD. is thatit does not generate as much sludge as conventional
treatment systems do owing to the enzyme activation
system that the company has developed on their own. Thissystem is not only friendly to the environment but also
contributes to a significant reduction in the cost of sludge
treatment. Due to its high capability of treatment comparedto the conventional types, construction and operating costs
can be cheaper, which is the point attracting a high level ofattention recently in Japan also.

A river in Hai Phong

Enzyme treatment performing
outstandingly at an enterprise in Kitakyushu

This time, taking Hai Phong, Vietnam, the sister city of
Kitakyushu as the target city, a survey will be conducted
regarding the introduction of this system in a marine
products wholesale market, one of the sources of riverpollution. In this survey, experimental equipment will be
installed and real wastewater will be treated to verify theeffectiveness of the system in the actual environment ofVietnam and at the same time, the wastewater treatment
system that best suits the site will be drafted.
Subsequent to the end of the survey, an application will bemade for “JICA Support for Japanese Small and Medium
Enterprise Overseas Business Development ~ Verification
Survey”, aiming at realization of the drafted wastewater
treatment system under the ODA budget.

Nam Hai marine products wholesale market,
target of this feasibility survey

All correspondence should be addressed to Secretariat of KITA:
International Village Center, 1-1-1 Hirano, Yahatahigashi-ku, Kitakyushu City, JAPAN, 805-0062

NEWS

No.21 October, 2016
K itakyushu
I nternational
T echno-cooperative
Association

TEL: +81-93-662-7171 FAX: +81-93-662-7177
E-mail: info@kita.or.jp Web site: http://www.kita.or.jp/english● Web site in English includes KITA’s outline, recent activities and journals published previously.

TEL & FAX of Other Divisions of KITA are as follows:
Training Division

TEL: +81-93-662-7173 FAX: +81-93-662-7177
Technical Cooperation Division

TEL: +81-93-662-7174 FAX: +81-93-662-7177

E-mail: info@kita.or.jp
E-mail: info@kita.or.jp