IISEE Newsletter
Jun 28, 2024
NumberInternational Institute of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering

222

1 Tachihara Tsukuba Japan 305-0802

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In This Issue• Report on Tohoku Study Trip
• Turkmenistan: Implementation of Training program in Japan for JICA TechnicalCooperation Projects• Introducing Our New Brochure• IISEE exhibition booth and alumni meeting (July 3) at WCEE2024• (Short Report) Start of Individual Study for Annual Training Program and Holding aSend-Off Party

Report on Tohoku Study Trip
By Mr. SAMAPTA Brilian Tatag (Indonesia, S-course)
Looking back on our incredible study trip through the Tohoku region, I can't help but feel a rush ofexcitement and gratitude for the unforgettable experiences we shared. From the fascinating lectures at
Tohoku University, where we delved into the intricacies of seismic events, to the moving visits to memorial
museums and evacuation sites, each moment was filled with awe and inspiration. Hearing the stories ofsurvivors at the Tsunami Disaster Memorial Museum was both humbling and eye-opening, reminding us of
the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. And witnessing firsthand the efforts towards
recovery and revitalization left me feeling hopeful and energized for the future. As we bid farewell toTohoku, I'm filled with a sense of admiration for the strength and determination of its communities, and I'meager to continue supporting their journey towards renewal. I can't help but wish for more study trips like
this, where we can not only enhance our knowledge about disasters and Japanese culture but also deepen
our understanding of recovery from adversity. Here's to hoping for more opportunities to learn and growtogether in the future!

Lectures at Tohoku University

The Site of Sendai Castle
1IISEE Newsletter＃222 June 28, 2024

By Mr. Ricardo Ulloa (El Salvador, E-course)
The trip through the Tohoku region was a mixture of contradictory sensations. On the one hand, Japan's
beauty, reflected in its cities, towns, parks, and temples, will remain etched in my memory as a joyful
reminder. On the other hand, being present at sites where the tsunami ravaged communities, claiming
hundreds of lives, evoked a profound sense of sorrow. I'll never forget the feeling at the “Miyagi 3.11
Tsunami Disaster Memorial Museum” as they explained the tsunami's height at that point of 6.9 meters
above my head or standing on the roof of “Arahama Elementary School”, gazing in all directions andimagining how hundreds of people once went about their daily lives there, now vanished. However, it'sadmirable how Japan never forgets but perseveres and learns from each event despite being prone tonatural disasters to build a better and more resilient future. Undoubtedly, this trip was an unforgettableexperience.

Iwaki 3.11 Memorial and Revitalization Museum

Hiyoriyama Park

By Mr. Fajar Tri Haryanto (Indonesia, T-course)
From April 23rd to April 26th, 2024, we, Tsunami course participants took part in a study trip to Tohoku
region. We visited several cities affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami:
Matsushima, Ishinomaki, Onagawa, Minamisanriku, Kesennuma, Rikuzentakata, Ofunato, Kamaishi, andMiyako.
It is fascinating to know that some of these cities have already been prepared for tsunami disasters since
the Showa era. For instance, in Taro, Miyako, they started building a sea wall near the coast in 1934, just
one year after the Showa Sanriku tsunami (1933) and finished it in 1958. They also built two additional seawalls afterward. This proves that Japan has been aware of and has tried to mitigate tsunami disasters sincelong ago; they also write documentaries about the tsunami on a big stone (center of group photo) that wascarried by the tsunami.

2IISEE Newsletter＃222 June 28, 2024

During this trip, I learned the importance of not only
the hardware (sea walls, shelters, and elevated land)
but also the software (tsunami disaster evacuation
education and drills) approaches. For example, atArahama Elementary School, before the 2010
Chilean tsunami, the evacuation site was in thegymnasium. However, after the 2010 Chilean
tsunami, they decided to change the evacuation site
to another place. This action significantly increased
the number of people who survived from the 2011

Tsunami Stone of Yoshihama

Tohoku earthquake tsunami. On the other hand,Okawa Elementary School chose the Kitakami Bridge as an evacuation site, but unfortunately, the tsunami
reached that bridge, and only several tens of students survived because they were evacuated to the hill
instead.
Most cities affected by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami have almost recovered within a decade
after the event. They have built higher sea walls, excavated mountains, made elevated roads, moved
residential areas, created new regulations, and designed city plans that are more resistant to earthquakes
and tsunamis. This shows the will and perseverance of those living in earthquake- and tsunami-prone areas.
In conclusion, this study trip helped us to learn more about past tsunamis, which can be useful to mitigate
future tsunami disasters.

Turkmenistan: Implementation of Training program inJapan for JICA Technical Cooperation Projects•

By IISEE
As part of the JICA technical cooperation project "The Project for Improvement of the Earthquake
Monitoring System in and around the Ashgabat City", which is being implemented based on the requestfrom Turkmenistan, a training program was held from June 11 to 20, with the aim of acquiring Japanese
earthquake monitoring and analysis techniques, improving seismic observation capabilities, and learning
how to use them for earthquake disaster prevention. The lectures were given by Dr. Kashima, Dr. Inoue, Dr.
Hara, and Dr. Hayashida on the processing of seismic and strong-motion observation data and its use forearthquake disaster prevention, geophysical techniques and their use for seismic hazard assessment, andthe methods for organizing, storing, and releasing seismic and strong-motion observation data. Five staff
members from institutions related to seismic observation and earthquake disaster prevention inTurkmenistan attended the lecture.

3IISEE Newsletter＃222 June 28, 2024

Introducing Our New Brochure•By IISEEIISEE Brochure (English version) has been updated. Please use it to promote the IISEE to other organizations
interested in the IISEE Training Program.
https://iisee.kenken.go.jp/en/assets/pdf/brochure_en_20240607.pdf

IISEE exhibition booth and alumni meeting (July 3) at
WCEE2024
By IISEE
The World Conference on Earthquake
Engineering (WCEE2024) is held from June 30to July 5 in Milan, Italy. Eight researchers will
be attending WCEE from IISEE.
We are excited to announce that IISEE will be
exhibiting at the conference. We warmly invite
you to visit us at our booth, # B44.
We are also planning the IISEE alumni meeting(dinner party) on July 3.

IISEE alumni meeting at 16WCEE in Santiago, Chile

If you want to attend the alumni meeting,(January, 2017)

please let us know by e-mail or at our booth.
We look forward to seeing you in Milan!
4IISEE Newsletter＃222 June 28, 2024

(Short Report) Start of Individual Study for Annual
Training Program and Holding a Send-Off Party
By IISEEGroup training for the IISEE regular course for the academic year 2023-24 was completed on May 17, andthe individual study began on May 20. We held a send-off party since 6 participants stay far from Tsukuba
to receive individual study supervision.

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