Content from Global Kigyo

Content from Global Kigyo

Building a Better Future at Home and Overseas
The construction industry is being revolutionized by automation and sustainability.

Higher learning, higher living“Education, culture,and peace are the threepillars of the spirit of theuniversity.”
Masashi Suzuki,
President, Soka University
At some institutions, a successful education is about more than justwhat is printed on the diploma. Soka University in Japan has longchampioned a holistic approach to teaching that has helped produce
generation after generation of thought-driven graduates ready tomake their mark on the world.
Having celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, the university
is famous for offering courses such as Peace Studies, and its approaches to sustainability and partner projects in the developing world.
In addition to its liberal arts commitments, the institution is also akeen adopter of new technology, with certain data science classes
compulsory for all students. “When we talk about new culture, theconnection is between the human spirit,” said President Masashi
Suzuki. “We need a fundamental philosophy to pursue peace andmoral education. The underlying principle is ‘Discover
your potential’,” Suzuki said.

competitors, Wakachiku
will never change its policy
on high standards. Wakachiku has never betrayed theexpectations of the clients,
and they do understandour commitment to highstandards,” Karasuda said.
On land, the comOffshore innovation is key for Wakachiku.
pany has an excellent reputation for civil engineering projects suchas bridges, tunnels and roads, as well as important infrastructure
Katsuhiko Karasuda,
President & Representative Director, Wakachiku Construction Co., Ltd. works such as airports and ports. Agility and flexibility are central toA Japanese construction company is proving that neither the sky
Wakachiku’s corporate structure and its 800 employees. With thenor the seas set the limits when it comes to innovation and forward
company’s diverse range of products and technologies, Wakachiku
thinking that can change the world. Famous for its high reputation
can meet customers’ every need in whichever field they require.
for products such as a sea-going dredger, wind turbines and civil
Wakachiku is proud that its engineers can integrate the Sustainableprojects like bridges, harbors and tunnels, Wakachiku Construction
Development Goals (SDGs) with R&D to create more efficient andCo., Ltd. has been a key player in the Japanese construction industry
innovative construction techniques, and can finally fulfill its social
for more than 130 years. The company is now building upon its
responsibilities. Regarding its innovative techniques, Karasuda said:proud history and rich experience by making progress every day“Achieving carbon neutrality is a major concern for the industry.
with new innovations and technologies positively impacting theOur R&D divisions are trying to develop new technologies so that
future of human life on land and at sea. These include seaweed-farm
we can better visualize the sea bed, as well as technologies for autocarbon-capture projects, electric-vehicle (EV) ships and automamating sea works. We are working on a fully electric ship that doestion to help mitigate a looming workforce crisis. Also among them
not require any fossil fuels to operate.”are disaster-prevention systems to help better
In addition to groundbreaking work insurvive natural disasters that have often caused “Our number one sales point is wind turbines, the company is extending work
significant damage in Japan and the Asia-Paci- high quality and safety. This is in solar and biomass generation. While thefic region.
the top priority of Wakachiku.” company’s key commitment to the SGDs isWith extensive public and private
also shown in its Blue-Carbon projects that
contracts at home in Japan, and internatioKatsuhiko Karasuda
encourage carbon-capturing seaweed growth
nal projects in nations such as Sri Lanka andin the ocean. This system of seaweed farming
Indonesia, the company has become one of the go-to suppliers
is under trial in the waters along the coast of Iwate Prefecture. Thisfor major civil and building works across different industries andproject can be rolled out across the nation - and possibly around thecountries. According to company CEO Katsuhiko Karasuda, theworld-in due course. “In Japan, it was more than 20 years ago that
simple principle for success is Wakachiku’s inherent and ever-conthe first wind turbines were introduced, and now it is the time fortinuing commitment to high standards. “Our policy is to maintain
maintenance and replacement,” Karasuda said. “An interesting area
safety and quality, it is the core of our business,” he said. “That is how
we have been recently looking at is renewable energy and we have
we get trust and reliability from customers. We have been upholquite a lot of experience in wind energy, as well as solar, water, andding this motto for the past 130 years and will continue to do so.”biomass energy systems,” he added. “Engaging ourselves with pro“Demonstrating the quality and safety of our products is the only
ducing off-shore windmills is just a step forward. We see these fields
way to persuade our customers that it is worthwhile to pay more.
of renewable energy as areas with high potential for future growth,”
Although it is often difficult to do so when facing low-cost oriented
Karasuda said.

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