IISEE NewsletterFeb 1, 2022
Number 201

In This Issue

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

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Dear All IISEE Readers• Dear All IISEEReaders

By Dr. Tatsuya Azuhata, Director of IISEE• Message ofCondolence
Following theEruption of theVolcanic Island ofHunga Tonga Hunga
Ha'apai

We would like to take thisopportunity to wish you,your family andcolleagues all the best in
the New Year 2022.

• 2020・2021 IISEEGlobal SeismologicalObservation CourseHas Started• “The Best
Presentation Award”
Winner• IISEE Seminar byProf. Satake• Online IISEE
Seminar by Dr. Seki
• Online IISEE
Seminar by Dr.
Hayashida(Feb.4)• A paper by SeniorResearch Scientist
Dr. Saeko Kita,
published in Naturecommunications on
21 December 2021

Two years has quickly
passed since the World
Health Organization(WHO) declared on March
11, 2020 COVID-19 as aDr. Tatsuya Azuhata,
pandemic. During thisDirector of IISEE
period, COVID greatly
affected the IISEE training courses. However, thanks to theenthusiasm of many young researchers and engineers for theIISEE training courses, we were able to carry on without
disruption the regular course for 2020-2021. As of today, wehave accepted 19 participants from 12 countries in the one for2021-2022.
In addition, we currently conduct two other short-term training
courses; the Latin American Course and the Global SeismologicalObservation Course. While we had to defer them in 2020, online
training made it possible to continue to conduct in 2021.
For the Latin American Course, it is impossible to give a real-time
lecture because of the time difference. Therefore, we
implemented a new method combined with viewing the ondemand video materials and the Q&A session in the earlymorning, Japan time. This was how the 12 participants from 7countries completed the course last December.
The Global Seismological Observation Course for 2021 has started
on a real-time basis on January 11, this year, with 10 participantsfrom 8 countries. For those countries that are affected by the timedifference, we adjusted the class schedule that starts from 15:00
in the afternoon, Japan time.

IISEE Net andTraining
IISEENETIISEE-UNESCO LectureNoteIISEE E-learning
Synopsis Database
Bulletin Database

As mentioned above, even under the extremely severe ongoing
COVID-19 situation, we have been able to continue the training
course in order to respond to the enthusiasm of the participants,
thanks to the support and understanding of many people, which I
strongly feel from bottom my heart. We would like to thank you
once again.
In the meantime, it has been informed that the target regions orcountries of the regular course participants for the next year willbe Algeria, Bhutan, Comoros, Egypt, Fiji, India, Indonesia,Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu.
JICA and government agencies in each country are expected todistribute General Information (GI) in their respective countries
during January. If you have a chance to obtain GI, pleaseencourage young researchers and engineers around you to apply
for this training course.
We would appreciate your continued support in the same way aslast year. For questions and requests, please feel free to email
iisee@kenken.go.jp.

Message of Condolence Following the Eruption of
the Volcanic Island of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai
By Dr. Tatsuya Azuhata, Director of IISEEThe eruption of the volcanic island of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai
and the resulting earthquake and tsunami have caused great
The 2011 off the Pacificdamage in the Kingdom of Tonga.
coast of Tohoku
We are deeply saddened by the news of this damage. We would
Earthquake
like to express our heartfelt sympathy to the people of Tonga who
Reports of Recent
have been affected by this disaster.
Earthquakes
It has also been reported that tsunami generated by atmospheric
Utsu Catalogwave related to the volcanic eruption caused the damage toEarthquake Catalog
distant areas such as Peru.
We would like to express our deepest sympathy to those whohave been affected by the fury of nature.
Fortunately, we were able to confirm that the two remoteparticipants in the current annual course and an ex-participant of
the previous course in Tonga are safe.
We would like to express our deepest sympathy to those who are
suffering from the disaster.
We hope that the country and the affected areas will recover assoon as possible.

Earthquakes2020・2021 IISEE Global SeismologicalObservation Course Has Started
By Mr. Takahiro Yamada, Head of Administration Division, IISEE

Call for Papers
IISEE Bulletin is now
accepting submissionsof papers for the seismolog y , ea rth qu ake
engineering, andtsunami. Developing
countries are targeted,but are n ot li mited.
Your original papers will
be reviewed by theeditorial members andsome experts.
NO submission fee isneeded.
Try to challenge!!

IISEE Global Seismological Observation Course (2020 ・ 2021)
started from January 11, 2022, by fully online access as part ofmeasures against the ongoing COVID-19 situation. This year, 10participants from 8 countries (Bhutan, Egypt, India, Iran, Kenya,Nepal, Philippines, and Uganda) have joined the course.
In the orientation, Dr. Azuhata of IISEE Director made an awelcome speech and provided them with an overview of the IISEE
training courses. This course is carried out with the support andthe cooperation of Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive
Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), Ministry ofForeign Affairs (MOFA), Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA), Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), and otherorganizations in the aim of developing human resources having
obtained the skills necessary for detecting nuclear tests applying
seismological knowledge.
The number of graduates has grown to 270 from 78 countries since1995. The participants are working actively to learn the knowledge
about the international seismological observation and acquire
advanced earthquake analysis technique, where they are also
expected to work out effective earthquake disaster prevention
measures in their home countries.
While this course is short-term ending on March 4, we hope all of
the participants will acquire the knowledge so that they take best
advantages of what they have learned for their future career.

“The Best Presentation Award” Winner
By Mr. Takahiro Yamada, Head of Administration Division, IISEEAs mentioned under thetopic, “Lecture on
Disaster Management
Policies at GRIPS,” in thelast IISEE NewsletterNo.200 of 2021-12-22,
the students and thelecturers voted to selectthe three Best
Presentation Award
Winners on December
27, 2021. Among them

Mr. SIMBORIO Tom Carlo Enriquez(center) of Earthquake course, Dr.
Azuhata (left) and Dr. Hara (right)was Mr. SIMBORIO Tom Carlo Enriquez of the IISEE Earthquake
Course participant from the Republic of the Philippines, whoreceived such a prestigious award.
We hope he will continue his ardent research, and look forward tohis excellent papers.
Congratulations, Tom!

IISEE Seminar by Prof. Satake
By Dr. Bunichiro Shibazaki, Senior Researcher, IISEE
A remote IISEE seminar by Prof. Satake was held on Monday,
December 20, 2021.
In this seminar, Prof. Satake introduced the research results
revealed over the past 10 years regarding the tsunami caused bythe 2011 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake.
Date/Time: Monday, December 20, 10:00-11:00 (Japan time)
Title: Ten Years from Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami (Zoom)
Lecturer: Prof. Kenji Satake (Director at Earthquake ResearchInstitute, University of Tokyo)
About 60 people (26 exparticipants and 12 current
participants) participated in the seminar in real time. There
were participants from the following foreign countries: Algeria,
Azerbaijan, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
EL Salvador, Guatemala, Indonesia, Mexico City, Mexico City,Mexico City, Mexico City, Mexico City, Mexico City, Mexico City
EL Salvador, Guatemala, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Mexico,Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Peru
Myanmar, Nepal, Peru, Philippines, Solomon_Islands, Thai, Tonga
Even though it was a
Sunday evening, exparticipants from Latin
America actively
participated and had
lively discussions.
For those who wereunable to attend in realtime, the seminar wasgiven on demand.
About 45 participants
viewed the recorded
lectures on demand.

Participants attended the Seminar fromBRI

Online IISEE Seminar by Dr. Seki
By Dr. Tatsuya Azuhata, Director of IISEEOpening Remarks by Dr. Azuhata

Enjoy, Now

We held the last event ofthe year, the online IISEE
seminar on December 28,
2021, inviting Dr.
Matsutaro Seki, a visiting
research fellow at theBuilding ResearchInstitute, as a lecturer.
Dr. Seki gave a lecture
entitled "The new seismic
evaluation method ofexisting RC buildings
combining Japanese andU.S evaluation standards".
Japan's seismic diagnostic standards calculate an index called theIS value for existing buildings and evaluate their seismic capacity.
IS stands for Seismic Index of Structure and the IS value can bevery useful information to proceed with seismic retrofitting
measures because it determines the priority order for seismic
retrofitting. His lecture was to review the meaning of this IS value
in light of the US seismic standards and the standards for seismic
diagnosis of existing buildings.
We think that you understand that the evaluation method using
the concept of IS value applies to not only Japan but also anycountry. After the lecture, we had an opportunity for Q&A session
to discuss freely online, using Spatial Chat.
Online seminars have been held since last year. This time, 17
graduates from 12 countries participated. IISEE would like tocontinue to hold such online seminars and look forward to yourparticipation.

Online IISEE Seminar by Dr. Hayashida(Feb.4)
By Dr. Takumi Hayashida, Senior Research Scientist, IISEEWe are going to hold an online IISEE seminar on February 4.
Dr. Hayashida, a senior research scientist of IISEE, will talk about
the newly developed method for Vs30 (average S-wave velocity
for the upper 30 m) estimation using microtremor array data.
We have sent an invitation email to former participants of theSeismology and Earthquake Engineering training courses onJanuary 4. Please follow the instructions in the email and register
if you wish to participate in the seminar.

In case you cannot attend in real time, you can watch therecorded video later.
We would appreciate it if you could share the information withyour colleagues and young researchers at your institute.

Contact Us
The IISEE Newsletter isintended to act as a gobetween for IISEE andex-participants.
We encourage you tocontribute a report andan article to this newsletter. Please let usknow your current
activities in yourcountries.
We also welcome yourco-workers and friends
to register our mailinglist.
iiseenews@kenken.go.jp

We look forward to seeing you at the seminar.
Date and Time: February 4 (Fri.) 16:45-18:30 (Japan StandardTime)
Contents:
16:45-17:00 Introduction of recent IISEE activity (Zoom)
17:00-18:00 “A new Vs30 estimation method with microtremor
array data” (Dr. Hayashida) (Zoom)
18:00-18:30 Discussion (SpatialChat)
Speaker: Dr. Takumi Hayashida (Senior Research Scientist, IISEE)
Host: IISEE, BRI

A paper by Senior Research Scientist Dr. SaekoKita, published in Nature communications on 21December 2021
By Dr. Saeko Kita, Senior Research Scientist, IISEEBack Numbers
http://iisee.kenken.go.jp/nldb/

Senior Research Scientist Dr. Saeko Kita published a paper on
examination of relationship of earthquakes of the Philippine Sea
plate (in-slab earthquake) with slow slips beneath southwesternJapan in Nature communications. By compiling seismic data for 17
years by the nationwide dense seismic network beneath Japanarchipelago (MOWLAS by NIED), the results of studies implies thatthe fluid migration or fluid pressure propagation from thePhilippine Sea plate into the fault plane of slow slips, following
occurrence of slow slips next to the locked zone of the Nankai
Megathrust earthquake. Please get the paper from here
(https://rdcu.be/cDCAD) if you are interested in this work.
Kita, S., Houston, H., Yabe, S. et al. Effects of episodic slow slip
on seismicity and stress near a subduction-zone megathrust.
Nature Communications 12, 7253 (2021).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-27453-8