IISEE Newsletter
Apr 30, 2024
Number221

International Institute of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering
1 Tachihara Tsukuba Japan 305-0802

BRI Japan

tel+81-29-879-0678 facsim+81-29-864-6777

In This Issue• Greetings from the New Director of IISEE• The 28th Global Seismological Observation Course has closed• Closing Ceremony Speech on behalf of the Global Seismological Observation Course

Participants• Reports on Study Trip -Global Seismological Observation Course• Greetings• Introducing Papers• (Short Report) Group Photo with Cherry Blossoms• (Short Report) Interviewed by a Specialized NewspaperGreetings from the New Director of IISEEBy Dr. Yushiro Fujii, Director of IISEE
I have been appointed Director of the International Institute ofSeismology and Earthquake Engineering (IISEE) on April 1, 2024. Thisyear is the 20th anniversary of the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake(Indian Ocean tsunami). I am deeply impressed to be appointed as thedirector in this milestone year of the earthquake and tsunami thattriggered my tsunami research. It is very encouraging for me that Dr.
Shibasaki, the former Director, and Dr. Azuhata, the former-formerDirector, have joined the IISEE as Senior Fellows. Since I joined theIISEE, BRI in 2005, I have been involved in the IIISEE training programs.
I have been mainly in charge of the Tsunami Disaster Mitigation
Course, and have been involved in the Seismology Course and the Global Earthquake Observation Course. I
have mainly supported participants who are learning about tsunami disaster prevention, but I have also had
contact with participants from all over the world who are studying seismology and earthquake engineering.
We are very proud that many of the participants who have returned to their home countries are now
working in leadership positions in their countries.
Earthquake and tsunami disasters are still occurring not only in Japan but also in other regions of the world.
This year alone, the Noto Peninsula earthquake occurred in January and the Taiwan earthquake occurred in
1

IISEE Newsletter＃221 Apr 30, 2024

April. Under these circumstances, it is increasingly important to foster researchers and engineers who
understand seismology, earthquake engineering, and tsunami disaster prevention and contribute to themitigation of earthquake and tsunami disasters through the IISEE training programs. As the Director of theIISEE, I will strive to contribute to the continuation and development of the IISEE training programs. Thankyou very much for your continued support.

The 28th Global Seismological Observation Course hasclosed•

By IISEE
The 2023 Global Seismology Observation course which started
on January 9th, 2024, was closed on Friday, March 1st, 2024.
At the graduation ceremony held by JICA Tsukuba, all the 9participants from Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt,Kazakhstan, Nepal, Thailand, Timor-Leste, received thecertificates from Mr. Takahashi, Director general of Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Tsukuba and Dr.
Sawachi, Director of Building Research Institute (BRI).
Ms. Assem from Kazakhstan representing the participants
expressed gratitude to them with his speech.

Mr. Makoto TAKAHASHI, DirectorGeneral, Tsukuba Center, JICA

The training participants are working actively to learn theknowledge about the international seismic observation andacquire advanced earthquake analysis technique. We believe the knowledge they learned during thiscourse are also useful in analyzing natural earthquakes.

They also had the opportunity to experience the reality of the atomic bombing by visiting Hiroshima, wherethey visited the Atomic Bomb Dome and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and listened to a lecture on
the A-bomb experience.
We hope that the participants will share with many people in their home countries, what they’ve learned inJapan. We wish them the best of success in the future.

Dr. Takao SAWACHI,
President of BRI

Mr. Yuji KUBO,
Secretary of MOFA2IISEE Newsletter＃221 Apr 30, 2024

Receiving the Certificate

Receiving the Certificate

Closing Ceremony Speech on behalf of the Global
Seismological Observation Course Participants•By Ms. ISSAGALI Assem (Kazakhstan)
Yuji Kubo, Arms Control and Disarmament Division,Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science
Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Mr. Makoto Takahashi, Director General, Tsukuba
Center, Japan International Cooperation Agency
Takao Sawachi, President of Building Research InstituteDear Sensei, assistants, teachers, mentors, and fellow
participants, Good morning.
As we come to the end of this training course, I have the honor of addressing this distinguished audienceand thanking them for giving us a chance to participate in such a formative educational experience. It has
been a privilege for us to learn from you all.
I am privileged to address this audience on behalf of the 2023 Global Seismological Observation CourseParticipants. It was a two-month program full of remarkable skills that have been provided to us.
Honorable guests, allow me first to express our sincere gratitude to the MOFA - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Government of Japan, JICA - Japan International Cooperation Agency, Building Research Institute - BRI, and3IISEE Newsletter＃221 Apr 30, 2024

International Institute of Seismology & Earthquake Engineering (IISEE) for their high-profile organization,
making the 2023 Global Course.
The program has been a great opportunity not only to deepen our understanding and knowledge ofseismology but has also been a fundamental prospect to sharpen our ability to apply the outcomes of ourcourse experience to our respective institutions and countries.
Study trips made through the program gave us a very wide picture of this country from its rich culture aswell as how strong resilience is maintained to rapidly bounce back after a devastating World War II as wellas after gigantic natural earthquakes and tsunamis that have left behind many thousands of casualties andconsiderable damages.
Over the past two months, we have been able to enhance our understanding of seismology and gain new
insights which have allowed us to discriminate nuclear tests from earthquakes. We have been able toparticipate in discussions and activities that have played a fundamental role in broadening our perspective.
We believe this strong tie that has been created through this program will be maintained to feed ourrespective projects.
As I reiterate our appreciation to our Sensei and the rest of the BRI staff, I'd like to thank Sakuma-san andHayashida sensei who have always been present and showing strong support in both indoor and outdoor
activities; thank you so much, we will never forget.
Ladies and gentlemen, in closing, I feel justified in saying that the JICA Tsukuba Center / BRI and IISEE havebeen far more to us than an institute of learning. It has been, for these past two months, a home where asense of family and friendship was nurtured into the strong ties of today … ties that would never have beencreated without this program. I speak for both myself and my fellow participants when I say that we will
miss this family and the beauty of this exquisite country, Japan.
Thank you very much again for making this Global Course a complete success.

Reports on Study Trip -Global SeismologicalObservation CourseBy Mr. Kambale Muyisa Matina (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
As part of our training in global seismic observation, aimed at acquiring the techniques needed todistinguish between natural earthquakes and those caused by nuclear testing, we had the opportunity tovisit the atomic bomb dome (Hiroshima Peace Memorial), the Nojima fault, the Hansin-Awaji Great
Earthquake Memorial, the Institution for Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation, and some of thefamous landmarks of the cities we visited. This report briefly describes the trip (visit sites).
Indeed, during the Second World War, on August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb in human history wasdropped on Hiroshima. The bomb caused many deaths from burns and the effects of the radiation itemitted. Thanks to the exhibits and the voices of the storytellers at the Hiroshima Peace Museum, wehave gained the terrible experience of the atomic bomb. In her lecture, Teruko Yahata shared with us her
terrible experience when the atomic bomb fell on Hiroshima. Thanks to this conference, we haveunderstood that it is preferable to improve the monitoring of nuclear tests and to avoid the use of nuclearbombs. One way of doing this is to share this experience gained worldwide.
The Nojima Fault Preservation Museum was built to remember the damage caused by the 1995 Kobe
earthquake on January 17. During our visit to this location, we gained an insight into the damage caused
4IISEE Newsletter＃221 Apr 30, 2024

by this earthquake through exhibits and observation of the surface ruptures of the Nojima fault and thedamage caused to the house built along the rupture line. As we often say, knowledge of our past is agreat opportunity to calibrate our models and prepare for our future; at the Great Hanshin-Awaji
Earthquake memorial museum, we understood past earthquakes and tsunamis through exhibitions andsimulations of these disasters. This good approach reminds us that, as disaster researchers, we need toimprove our knowledge by developing early warning systems to reduce the damage that can occur. On
the other hand, the exhibits explained the behavior we need to adopt when one of these events occurs.
To conclude, we have had to understand thatthe usage of nuclear weapons (bombs) is
prohibited to humanity cos of the damage
that can be caused during the explosion andafter the explosion. That is why themonitoring of nuclear tests around the worldmust rise, and the usage of nuclear weapons
must be avoided. Additionally, monitoringdisasters and developing early warning
systems are also important to reduce thedamages that can occur after a disaster andto take action during the disaster to save ourlives.

By Ms. Bhattarai Shila (Nepal)
As a part of the “Global Seismological Course”, we had a study trip to Hiroshima, Kobe, and Kyoto. Each
place we visited embodied a peculiar specialty within them and taught us many lessons.
With the lecture of Sensei T. Sakamoto about the regime of CTBTO and Japan Weather Association(JWA)’s efforts in detecting nuclear activities, our journey to learn about peace started. We visited the“Atomic Bomb Dome” in Hiroshima, where we could still see the remaining parts of the destroyed
structures. We got a chance to meet a survivor of the 6 August 1945 atomic bombing. She shared with us
how deeply their lives were affected by the bombing and how her world turned into ashes. I was having
goosebumps listening to her story. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which was near the A-bomb
site, has preserved the heartbreaking memories of the A-Bomb day in the form of photographs, videos,panels, and memoirs. Anyone who visits this place can feel the agony they felt. This place serves to spreadawareness to people about the consequences of nuclear bombing and promotes world peace.
Kobe area and Awaji Island hugely suffered from the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake (M7.2) on 17
January 1995. We visited the Nojima Fault Prevention Museum and the Disaster Reduction and Human
Renovation Institution (DRI). We walked through the fault plane's surface exposure, observing themechanism that had happened during the earthquake. Those fault structures are properly preserved.
Some replicas of the destruction caused by the earthquake are recreated inside the museum. This is agood way to spread awareness among the new generation about natural disasters and prepare them forunfavorable situations. The willpower and technical capabilities of the people are amazing; they
restructured all the damaged structures during this time. To bounce back from such difficult situations
might be very hard for them. People know they are in a place prone to many natural disasters, but still,the place holds a positive vibe. So, this place can be pictured as an example of technical and socialresilience.
After Kobe, we explored Kyoto, the old capital of Japan, which has many old temples and shrines. First, wevisited Kinkaku-ji temple, a town paved with gold. We also went to other shrines and observed those5IISEE Newsletter＃221 Apr 30, 2024

places' ancient Japanese architectural and religious aspects. This place fascinated me with all the culturalrichness.
I learned a lot during this field trip and experienced many new things. I have read about nuclear bomb
explosions in books during childhood; however, going to the place myself and seeing those pains was awhole new feeling. This place taught me to advocate for world peace. The implementation of CTBT
worldwide seems to be necessary for abetter world without violence.
Having experienced the 2015 Gorkha
Earthquake (M 7.6) myself, I could relate
to many of those things displayed in theMuseum of Kobe. Natural disasters arecyclical, it is better to teach the newgeneration to prepare for the worst. InNepal, we do not have platforms likenatural disaster museums or memoirs ofpast disasters. We must also follow suchmethods to be prepared, as Nepal is in aseismically active zone.

Greetings•By Dr. Hidekazu Watanabe, Senior Research Engineer, IISEEMy name is Hidekazu Watanabe. I moved to IISEE from the Department ofStructural Engineering this April. My research interests include RC Structures,Prestressed concrete structures, and Pile foundations. I am very honored tohave this opportunity to work here. I would like to do my best in my research
field and new work in IISEE.

By Dr. Eri Ito, Research Engineer, IISEE
I’m Eri Ito, and I have been appointed as a researcher at IISEE as of April 1,2024. Previously, I worked at Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI),
Kyoto University for 6 years. My research interests include strong groundmotion evaluation, building damage prediction, and their integration andimprovement, with the goal of mitigating casualties by earthquakes.
I am grateful for the opportunity to engage in research and training at IISEE,
where I have daily communications with trainees from other countries. I willlearn from them and devote myself to my work.

6IISEE Newsletter＃221 Apr 30, 2024

By Mr. Kazuya Nanto, Administrative Office, IISEEMy name is Kazuya Nanto, and I have been assigned to the Administrative
Office of the IISEE as of April 1, 2024. After changing jobs from my previous
position as a police officer at the Saitama Prefectural Police Department tothe National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management (NILIM), I have
had experience in budget, contract, and personnel administration at theNILIM, the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, and the Public Works
Research Institute. I’m still new to this position and may cause you someinconvenience, but I will do my best.

Introducing Papers••By Dr. Yushiro Fujii, Director of IISEE●Slip Distribution of the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake (MJMA 7.6) Estimated from Tsunami Waveforms
and GNSS Data
Earth, Planets and Space (EPS), Express Letter
Yushiro Fujii (IISEE, BRI) and Kenji Satake (ERI, Univ. of Tokyo)
We reperformed a joint inversion of tsunami waveform and GNSS data of the tsunami generated by the2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake to reveal the slip distribution in active fault models. The results show thatslips more than 3 m occurred on the active faults in the northern part of the Noto Peninsula, but not on thenortheastern and southwestern active faults in the aftershock area.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-024-01991-z------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●Modeling the 2022 Tonga Eruption Tsunami Recorded on Ocean Bottom Pressure and Tide Gauges
Around the PacificPure and Applied Geophysics (pageoph), Topical Collection Tonga Volcanic Explosion 2022
Yushiro Fujii (IISEE, BRI) and Kenji Satake (ERI, Univ. of Tokyo)
We developed a model of the tsunami caused by the 2022 Tonga volcano eruption. Our model added thepropagating concentric water levels due the atmospheric Lamb and Pekeris waves. We estimated thepropagation speed, the origin time, and the initial amplitude of the Lamb wave for the first time.
Furthermore, we demonstrated that the tsunami modeling adding the Pekeris wave can explain the distant
DART and tide gauge records including the later phases, estimating the initial amplitude of the Pekeris
wave.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-024-03477-1

7IISEE Newsletter＃221 Apr 30, 2024

(Short Report) Group Photo with Cherry Blossoms••

By IISEEOn April 5, the cherry blossoms in front of the IISEE were almost in full bloom, so all the participants took agroup photo with the BRI President and IISEE staffs.

(Short Report) Interviewed by a Specialized Newspaper•By IISEE•On March 14, participants in the Earthquake Engineering course were interviewed by a newspaper onbridges during a lecture on bridge engineering. They responded to the interviews as best they could.

8IISEE Newsletter＃221 Apr 30, 2024┏┓┗■ Contact Us
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