IISEE Newsletter
June 30 2016
Number 134

In This Issue
 Colloquium, GeneralMeeting & FriendshipParty Latin AmericanEarthquake
Engineering Course
Reports on Kansai
Study Trip

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

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

Colloquium, General Meeting & Friendship Party
By Mr. Takashi Yamashita, Head of IISEE Administration Division
The third colloquium, which is a seminar consists of presentations by thetraining participants, took place in IISEE for two days on Thursday, May 27 andon Friday, May 31. On the first day the participants of the Earthquake
Engineering Course presented the outline of their individual study reports, andon the next day the participants of Seismology Course and Tsunami Disaster
Mitigation Course followed suit.

 Year Book 2016

From June 1, the participants started their individual studies to write theirmaster’s theses. On Friday, May 31 after the colloquium, we had the general
meeting. In the general meeting, they expressed their impressions and remarkson the lectures, everyday lives, etc.

IISEE Net andTraining

Following the meeting, we held the Friendship Party, which was organized byIISEE for the participants to get over the tough individual studies.
Dr.
Hayashida acted as a master of ceremonies and Dr. Yokoi, IISEE director, gave
words of cheer to the participants. This year, one third of the participants
study outside of BRI under their supervisors in Hokkaido, Sendai, Tokyo, Chiba,
Toyohashi and Kyoto. With a good meal and a comfortable atmosphere theparty was closed with “Ippon-Jime” (Japanese style closing of the ceremony
with one-time clap altogether).

IISEENETIISEE-UNESCO Lecture
NoteIISEE E-learningSynopsis Database
Bulletin Database

Latin American Earthquake Engineering Course Reports on Kansai Study Trip
(1) Mr.ALVAREZ REYES Ronald Stephan (Chile)

Earthquakes
The 2011 off the Pacificcoast of Tohoku
Earthquake
Reports of Recent
Earthquakes
Utsu Catalog
Earthquake Catalog

This has been an unforgettable experience from its
beginning. Visiting and being part of this city with along history of more than 1000 years, fills me withgood energy and desire to continue to grow as aprofessional and a person.
The recent study trip to Japan showed me theevidences, through videos, museums, photographs
and an endless number of reported experiences, thesevere way nature has treated you. That is why, it isadmirable and of great recognition, their ability toovercome such disasters. I could not help but feel
affected by such records, but seeing its resurrection
feel increasingly better and more eager to learn

about their culture.
It is visible the quality of professionals and people who make theseinnumerable teachings, materialized in structural design, analysis and seismic

retrofit. Because of this, I feel fortunate to acquire such knowledge andexperience which leads us to a better future.
Even with everything I lived, I feel that it is a short time to process the amountof information and it is for this reason that I hope we meet again, to strengthen
our bond further.

(2) Ms.RODRIGUEZ RODRIGUEZ Lizeth (El Salvador)
We have visited four cities, Nagoya, Kobe, Kyoto and Tokyo for seven days. Our
trip was filled with many emotions and adrenaline, especially when we were on
the upper surface of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge inKobe. We also enjoyed the conference of anemphasis on the importance of retrofittingbuildings in the Research Center for Disaster
Mitigation in Nagoya. On the other hand, Visiting
Kyoto was retrospect of history and Japaneseculture. We visited to the World Heritage temples
called Ninnaji and Kinkakuji.

Call for Papers
IISEE Bulletin is now
accepting submissionsof papers for the seismology, earthqu ake
engineering, andtsunami. Developing
countries are targeted,but are not limited.
Your original papers
will be reviewed by theeditorial members andsome experts.
NO submission fee isneed.
Try to challenge!!

We have seen the construction technique and theinstalled capacity for research and constantimprovement in the construction sector by visiting
Obayashi and Taisei corporations.
The trip was very organized and we have made our activities very synchrony
and punctuality.
The places selected for the visit were strategic places because we have seen
resources, results, and dissemination to the entire population of research,equipment for laboratory tests on scale models, and methods of reinforcement.
The most exciting experience was to visit the seismic isolated building which isinducted seismic acceleration.
The trip was a great experience.

(3) Mr.RUGAMA IDIAQUEZ Maycol Christopher (Nicaragua)Firstly, I would like to thank Japanese brothers especially the staff of Building
Research Institute BRI for giving the great
opportunity to us.
The study tour started from May 30, 2016. We visited
beautiful historical temples. We also visited different
cities of great important as Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyotoand Kobe. The great earthquake devastated Kobe in
1995. In Kobe we shared not only the experience ofthe earthquake victims during the earthquake, butalso the reconstruction and the recovering the city
after the earthquake.
We experienced the citystreets realistically reproduced like an earthquake’s
aftermath. In addition, we had an opportunity to feelthe magnitude of Kobe earthquake through a shakingtable.
Out of all the places we visited, what struck me most was the great Akashi
Kaikyo Bridge that is best known as the world’s largest suspension bridge andNational Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience that has
3D full-scale earthquake test facility called E-Defense. In my country,
Nicaragua, the great poet Ruben Dario said ”if the country is small, have a bigdream.” In the case of Japan they don’t sleep until their dream come ture. It isgreat.
The majestic civil structure bridge connect two islands of Japan, we had anopportunity to climb to the top of its main towers. Observation from the highestplace was wonderful.
This experience in Japan is unparalleled and I thank the brotherly Japanesepeople with my sincere appreciations.

(4) Ms.CORNIEL ZARRAMERA Yoxela Del Valle (Velezuela)

Enjoy, Now

Contact Us
The IISEE Newsletter isintended to act as ago-between for IISEEand ex-participants.
We encourage you tocontribute a report andan article to this newsletter. Please let us
know your current
activities in yourcountries.

When I was called by JICA's office in my country
Venezuela. I thought that it was unreal, even on thefirst week of my stay in Japan, I could not believe
it. After the study trip, I could see closely thetechnology that this country have, the culture andeven more, its gastronomy, and I understood thatmy dream has come true, I was here, living thiswonderful experience of study and beautiful things.
The way which teachers and people express
themselves showed a great love for theirland, culture and education, it was admirable. The
determination, dedication and planning haveresurrected the cities at a record time what have been devastated byearthquakes, as I could see in Kobe. Each place and city has a different history,
but also links to the other by nature, which is usually so kind but it rages
sometime.
If I could correspond with the future fellows, I would tell them a word:
HUMILITY. Because it is not worth having so much knowledge if not usecorrectly at the suitable time. Each person (in this course) has been chosenbecause everyone possess something special that deserves to be improvement
and power through new knowledge as those obtained in this course.
The study trip taught me that dedication and commitment can do great thing,well beyond the limits of intelligence. Simply grateful to life.

We also welcome yourco-workers and friends
to register our mailinglist.
iiseenews@kenken.go.jp
http://iisee.kenken.go.jp

In front of Kinkakuji

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

Year Book 2016
Back Numbers
http://iisee.kenken.go.jp/
nldb/

As you know, the IISEE publishes "YEAR BOOK" every two years. Now we areproceeding with a new YEAR BOOK. We will send you Response sheet in July.
Please send back us the Response sheet. (To: iisee@kenken.go.jp)
It will be highly appreciated if we receive your feedbacks by August 31, 2016.
Thank you very much for your kind cooperation.