RISINGSUN.JP

Vision for Revitalization in Fukushima Prefecture

RISINGSUN.JP — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:36:08 +0000

Following the nuclear accident triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, the whole of the Fukushima area became linked to the specter of radioactive contamination. Dispelling this negative image has become a key factor in local government efforts to develop a revitalization plan and it will be necessary to convince the world of Fukushima’s overall safety if the area is to survive current hardships.

The project team for the formulation of the Vision for Revitalization in Fukushima Prefecture was in fact established on April 11, just one month after the disaster. There was some discussion that it was too early to begin reconstruction, however, as well as serving as a blueprint for rebuilding, the project has become a rallying point for local people, helping to boost morale. As of January 5, around 61,000 people have been evacuated or moved outside the prefecture, with many eager to return.

To formulate the vision for revitalization, a review committee of 12 outside experts was first established and has so far held six meetings. Unlike in other devastated areas, the nuclear situation has been a key point and creating a policy to deal with this has largely occupied the committee. However, rather than simply focusing on "revitalization," the panel is determined to learn from events and develop a plan that will actually make the prefecture better than before.

Obviously this is no simple task. The nuclear industry was a major Fukushima employer, with around 10,000 people either directly or indirectly on its payroll. Including family members, some 30,000 people previously depended on the industry for their livelihood. However, after adopting a long-term perspective, the committee reached the conclusion that any redevelopment must be independent of the nuclear industry.

After determining this basic stance, the prefecture staged hearings to solicit opinions from the prefecture’s 21 municipalities and then also called for public input. In total, 1,538 submissions from 731 parties were received. These opinions overwhelmingly focused on the three areas of safety and security, environmental recovery and industrial revitalization. After duly considering all information, the prefecture moved to formulate its vision for revitalization.

Framework of The Vision for Revitalization

The vision announced by the prefecture is based on three basic concepts:

1. Building a safe, secure and sustainable society free from nuclear power
2. Revitalization that brings together everyone who loves and cares about Fukushima
3. A homeland we can all be proud of once again

Obviously regarding point one, it is vital to create alternatives to the nuclear industry. Perhaps surprisingly the prefecture has embraced a high-tech approach and is encouraging cutting-edge IT and R&D projects, particularly those targeting alternative energy and medical welfare. The overall concept is to develop a society that is economically vibrant yet also symbiotic with the environment. The prefecture is also naturally pushing forward with radiation monitoring and decontamination.

In terms of point two, while many coastal areas are still struggling, particularly inland locations are showing signs of recovery. To facilitate rebuilding, the prefecture is encouraging groups to coordinate and work together. This will also help to create a sense of hope, which will be a key factor in sustaining work that will clearly take several years. The importance of this point can be seen from the way in which local people have been inspired by the warm support received from both within Japan and around the world. Many of these same ideas also apply to point three, especially as evacuees start to return.

radioactive decontamination by vacuum suction

Identification of Short-Term Tasks

Now that the vision for revitalization has been established, and the revitalization plan based on it was formulated in December2011.

Foremost among these is of course the establishment of radiation monitoring and decontamination procedures. The number of monitoring posts is gradually being increased and municipalities are working with the national government to create approaches that are appropriate for areas such as residential zones, farm land, forests, schools and so on. This is a vital step for building confidence and encouraging evacuees to return.

The prefecture is suffering from the effects of radiation and to turn this problem into an asset, it is aiming to make the area a rallying point for cutting-edge technologies related to R&D and medical treatment of radiation. The prefecture will also promote a therapeutics and engineering-based policy that combines their accumulated knowhow in the fields of medical equipment production and drug discovery. Fukushima will develop these industries with the goal of establishing the prefecture as a place known for its safety.

The prefecture has also already started to promote itself as a location for high-tech ventures. However, in doing this, it is seeking to project an image of sustainability. The goal remains to use cutting-edge technology to work with, rather than against, the area’s rich environment. Willingly or not, Fukushima has been thrust into the international spotlight and it aims to become a model for a new integrated society that can be copied around the globe.

Vision for revitalization in Fukushima Prefecture

Delegation Visits Belarus and Ukraine to Overcome Nuclear Disaster

RISINGSUN.JP — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:52:03 +0000

As it works to overcome the challenges of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, a delegation from Fukushima Prefecture has visited Belarus and Ukraine. The area was dramatically affected by the Chernobyl catastrophe in 1986, and the group’s purpose was to study practical methods for dealing with health and reconstruction issues as well as day to day living under such conditions.

The 30-person team visited the region from October 30 to November 7 under the leadership of Mr. Shuji Shimizu, vice-president of Fukushima University, who also suggested the original idea. The team represented a cross-section of the groups working to rebuild Fukushima, including university and prefectural government staff, personnel from Minami-soma City and Namie Town, the mayor of Kawauchi village and people from local agricultural and forestry associations, NPOs, etc.

Mr. Shuji Shimizu, vice-president of Fukushima University

Mr. Shimizu had actually visited Chernobyl 20 years ago to investigate the situation in the area first-hand. However, this recent visit was rather different, with Fukushima residents now the victims of a nuclear accident. This time the focus was on learning what people experienced and how to apply these lessons at home. For this reason, Mr. Shimizu’s proposal called for the participation of a wide range of people including prefectural and local government officials.

Happily, the governments of both Belarus and Ukraine warmly welcomed the group and were well prepared to assist them. With their guides, the Japanese visited the Chernobyl plant itself as well as schools, hospitals and research centers in the affected area. They were also given the opportunity to exchange opinions with local people, including those who were evacuated following the disaster.

According to Mr. Shimizu, he was most struck by the differences in social policy. When Chernobyl occurred, Belarus and Ukraine were still members of the Soviet Union and as all land was state-owned, there were no barriers to relocating people. This evacuation was made easier by the fact the countries still had large areas of unsettled land. In addition, the national governments took responsibility for providing housing and employment in the new locations.

Local approaches to dealing with radiation were very informative. For example, in the village of Kamaryn in Belarus, close to Chernobyl, a school functions as an information center for health management and measurement of radiation in food. This school is equipped with measuring devices and anyone can bring in food to test it. Likewise, the village hospital has measuring devices available so residents can check their own bodies for radiation.

Mr. Shimizu supports adopting a similar approach in Fukushima and has already presented a proposal to the prefectural government. This will allow residents to check their own levels and protect themselves against internal exposure in daily life. Establishing an accurate measurement system will also be a key part of developing an effective agricultural policy during reconstruction.

Both Belarus and Ukraine have complied detailed grid maps of the contamination. As the radiation varies in its level and also type, an accurate assessment is helpful for deciding which land can be safely farmed. This was highly instructional for group members, who realized the most realistic approach is to compartmentalize the area and deal with sections on an individual basis.

The group actually heard that, in some areas, radiation in milk and crops had fallen below the standard level within just four years and farmers were able to resume production. Mr. Shimizu intends to create a similar map for Fukushima. Compared to the situation 25 years ago when Chernobyl occurred, it will be possible to develop a far more accurate and detailed map using GPS and other IT technology.

With the tour proving so valuable, Mr. Shimizu is also working on a plan to arrange a reciprocal visit for Belarus and Ukraine officials. This will help to build a deeper relationship, facilitating continuing exchange. Medical personnel are in fact already in communication and Mr. Shimizu hopes to learn more about health management programs. An initiative to support cooperation between Fukushima University and Belarusian State University is also underway.

While the information received will be of immediate benefit in Fukushima, Mr. Shimizu is also looking to the future. He strongly believes in the importance of consolidating the knowledge related to dealing with nuclear accidents (health management, agricultural regeneration, industrial recovery, government risk management, etc.) gained in Belarus, Ukraine and now Japan and making it available to the rest of the world.

Radiation measuring device available at a school

Educational materials related to radiation

Solar Power Technology Takes a Major Leap Forward

RISINGSUN.JP — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:04:21 +0000

One of the effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent nuclear accident has been to focus attention on renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic generation. The prospects for this highly promising technology have improved significantly thanks to recent innovations including the ultra-fast DNI sensor developed by EKO Instruments.

While major progress has been made in the development of photovoltaic generation (PV) technology, it is still largely dependent on changing weather patterns and requires various evaluation devices to improve the performance of solar energy conversion. These devices include DNI (direct normal incidence) sensors, also known as pyrheliometers, which enable the measurement of direct solar radiation.

The theme or challenge for the development of DNI is response time, a critical factor in measurement accuracy, and EKO Instruments has been working to improve this parameter. These efforts have now paid off with the release of EKO’s MS-56, a new sensor incorporating a range of innovations that give it the world’s fastest response time for direct solar irradiance measurement.

MS-56

The fast and accurate measurement provided by the MS-56 will support the operation of photovoltaic cells and condenser lenses and can provide better cost and performance than conventional PV units when implemented in very sunny places such as deserts. They also offer other advantages thanks to their lower number of semiconductors, smaller overall system size and decreased shipping and installation costs.

However, CPV systems are strongly affected by environmental conditions, especially the amount of direct solar radiation. To ensure accurate direct solar irradiance measurement, DNI sensors that can adjust rapidly in response to cloud movements, etc. need to be developed.

EKO has leaped ahead of industry norms with the release of the MS-56, slashing the five-second response times of current competitor products to just one second or less. This hugely improved processing time will make it possible to evaluate transient PV characteristics, something that was previously difficult to achieve due to the slow reaction of conventional systems.

As expected, the MS-56 received a warm reception when launched by EKO at the Solar Power Exhibition in the US held on October in this year. In addition to its fast operation, the sensor features a stylish and light-weight design with impressive stability under various environmental and temperature conditions. The occurrence of dew or condensation on the outside of the entrance optics is also significantly reduced by a built-in low-power heater on the inside of the sensor. The MS-56′s unique features make it an ideal evaluation device for both CPV and CSP (concentrated solar power) systems.

EKO is in fact only one of three companies in the world able to produce pyranometers to high ISO standards and its products are already used in surface weather observation networks in Korea and Taiwan, as well as, of course, Japan. The company is already at work on new cutting-edge ideas that are certain to promote the further expansion of PV technology.

Fukushima Company Emerges from Disaster Stronger than Ever

RISINGSUN.JP — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:51:47 +0000

The aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident has produced many stories of bravery and perseverance from individuals and groups alike. This includes the remarkable story of Kikuchi Seisakusho, a local company that has not only survived the disaster but come back stronger than ever.

Since its establishment in 1970, Kikuchi Seisakusho has become a leader in providing integrated support for “monozukuri,” a term describing the uniquely Japanese approach to manufacturing. The company is active in a wide range of areas from die making and metal injection molding for parts of mobile phones, vehicles and cutting-edge medical devices to press working, processing of magnesium and plastics and sheet metal stamping.

In essence, Kikuchi provides its customers with a package solution system encompassing every stage from development through to mass production. It is a “hands-on” approach based around Kikuchi’s concept of using the latest technology to support people in the very traditional work of creating high-quality products.

Kikuchi has in fact been so successful, receiving high commendations from companies manufacturing products from mobile phones to medical devices, that its management had decided to take the company public in July 2011. However, before they could do this, the Great East Japan Earthquake struck on March 11, devastating the Tohoku region.

Although Kikuchi’s main factory is located in Itate-mura, one of the areas affected by the nuclear accident, it managed to escape with minimal disruption. Unfortunately, Itate-mura was then designated as a planned evacuation zone in April, requiring most residents to leave. Under an exemption issued by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, however, Kikuchi and eight other companies whose work takes place indoors were allowed to continue operations.

This required Kikuchi to make a decision. According to Naotaka Otogaza, section chief of the corporate planning department, “When Itate-mura was designated as a planned evacuation zone, we assumed employees would leave due to the radiation. But many actually showed their desire to stay and keep working, and the village also asked us to stay in business. It was because of this we made a decision to remain. Our driving force truly was our employees’ deep attachment to Kikuchi and Itate-mura.”

The decision by Kikuchi management was underscored by the fact the company had already returned to normal operation by the time the evacuation order was issued. As would be expected though from a company with Kikuchi’s humanistic approach to business, protecting employees from radiation and ensuring thorough decontamination was a top priority. Thus, even though the government had concluded operations could continue without danger, on its own initiative, Kikuchi undertook several measures to further increase safety.

These efforts included various structural modifications such as reinforcing the factory roof and walls and floating roads inside the facility to prevent radiation particles gathering in the rough surface. In addition, Kikuchi set up an air shower at the factory entrance, prepared indoor shoes and required employees to wear face masks and wash their hands. It also brought in radiation experts to hold seminars for personnel.

However, Kikuchi also went a step further and tracked down all 240 of its employees affected by the accident and measured them for estimated accumulated radiation. The plan was to evacuate anyone who exceeded the allowable dose from the village, but fortunately all personnel were within acceptable levels. Nevertheless, Kikuchi also prepared individual dosimeters so staff could continue to monitor their own levels.

Naturally, although these efforts represented the full extent of what Kikuchi could do under such exceptional circumstances, concerns remained about both radiation and the very real threat of further earthquakes. To address these points and demonstrate its commitment to job security, the company took the step of renting a factory site in Nihonmatsu City, far from the accident site, and moved part of its operations, including 40 personnel, to the new location. This had the triple effect of decentralizing manufacturing capabilities, maintaining operational stability and ensuring employee safety.

In the present day, with the unprecedented focus on profit, it is rare to find a company that shows such obvious dedication to both its core mission and staff. Happily, Kikuchi has been rewarded for its commitment to these values and is currently operating at perhaps even greater strength than before the disaster. This success is also demonstrated by the fact Kikuchi has ultimately been successful in its bid to go public, launching its first share offering on October 28.

Signal of Hope Project Works to Rebuild Vital Tohoku Fishing Industry

RISINGSUN.JP — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:00:38 +0000

When the enormous tsunami struck the coastline on March 11 following the Great East Japan Earthquake, many of its first victims were those involved in the fishing industry. In addition to the widespread loss of life, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries estimates the 263 fishing ports in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures suffered damage in excess of 105 billion yen, devastating a key industry that contributes some 95 billion yen to the local economy each year.

While a large number of boats have now been salvaged, land facilities are still badly affected, with many lacking the necessary refrigeration systems. Recovery has also been hampered by the difficulties of coordinating rebuilding efforts with the central government as well as the basic reluctance of even many veteran crews to return to the ocean following the tragedy. This situation is quickly reaching a make or break point with the arrival of Fall, the main fishing season for the region.

Fortunately, many individuals and organizations are stepping forward to meet the current challenges and in this case, former Foreign Ministry official Yukio Okamoto and his Kibo no Noroshi (Signal of Hope) project could provide the catalyst the fishing industry requires. Signal of Hope is essentially a non-profit, public-private sector initiative that works as an interface to identify areas of urgent need and secure resources from its 20 supporter companies, including major names such as Mitsubishi, Canon, Asahi Group Holdings, Sumitomo Corporation, Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and Toshiba.

So far, these corporations have pledged some 600 million yen and Signal of Hope has coordinated with local governments to supply affected ports with items ranging from office supplies and computers to prefab buildings, forklifts and even light trucks. It has already scored a major success in Onagawa town and Ishinomaki City in Miyagi, where it basically jump-started local operations with the delivery of nineteen 40-foot refrigerated containers. This has allowed catches to be stored for the first time since the tsunami.

To date, the Signal of Hope Project has delivered 107 containers, 102 forklifts, 20 trucks and office equipment to more than ten local governments being supported by the project. Preparations are underway to deliver more equipment to disaster affected ports over the coming weeks. Okamoto reports he is extremely encouraged by the improving situation at the ports. The last time he visited, Otsuchi was a virtual ghost town but crews are now quietly cleaning their nets and working on their boats. He was recently asked for a mobile ice crusher by the Otsuchi town department chief, who had to take over after the mayor passed away. The ice crusher is a specialized unit and the request shows the port is returning to full operation. Time is, however, of the essence. Financially, missing the Fall season would be the end for many boat owners.

Unfortunately, the central government can only respond slowly and, at present, flexible and focused bridging organizations like Signal of Hope are needed. Okamoto emphasizes a lot of credit must go to the project’s sponsors for their generosity and decisiveness. For example, a leading Japan shipping company responded immediately to his request for help by offering to donate 100 refrigerated containers. Some containers also required a quick freezing system and sponsors Daikin and Toyo Engineering Works converted refrigerated containers into more powerful freezer containers.

Ironically, while the tsunami carried huge volumes of black sludge ashore damaging farm land, much of the wreckage that washed out to sea is gone, leaving the water clear. Now is basically the ideal time to fish. While there has been a great deal of discussion about fishing rights and how to rebuild, Okamoto is clear that, right now, leadership and rapid, realistic action are most important. This role seems to have fallen to organizations like Signal of Hope and thus far, it has proven itself more than ready for the challenge.

Web site: http://kibou-noroshi.jp

INCJ, Hitachi, Sony and Toshiba Agree to New Venture in Rapidly Growing Small / Medium Display Market

RISINGSUN.JP — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 05:42:27 +0000

Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), Hitachi, Ltd., Sony Corporation and Toshiba Corporation announced on August 31 that they have signed a memorandum of understanding to integrate their small- and medium-sized display businesses into a new company named Japan Display K.K., to be operated by INCJ. Legally binding agreements are expected this Fall, with business integration to be completed in the Spring of 2012, subject to any required government approvals.

Basic Shareholder Interests in Japan Display

Hitachi, Sony and Toshiba’s operations are currently managed by their subsidiaries Hitachi Displays, Ltd., Sony Mobile Display Corporation and Toshiba Mobile Display Co., Ltd. respectively. All issued shares and other assets of these subsidiaries are to be transferred to Japan Display. INCJ, as a public-private partnership that provides financial, technological and management support for next-generation businesses, also plans to invest a total of 200 billion yen in exchange for shares. INCJ eventually expects to hold 70% of voting shares, with Hitachi, Sony and Toshiba each holding 10%.

The global market for small- and medium-sized displays is expected to grow rapidly due to strong demand for high-resolution, high value-added products, particularly smartphones and tablet computers. Superior high-resolution display technologies will be the key to competitiveness and long-term success, and Japanese companies are world leaders in this area. Other small- and medium-sized display manufacturers have already announced significant investment plans as part of strategies to capture share in this market.

Japan Display is expected to implement the world-leading high value-added technologies possessed by the three subsidiary companies and, by making efficient use of existing production capabilities, improve its cost competitiveness. It will also establish new production lines utilizing the capital provided by INCJ. It is believed this approach will help to solidify its position as a top global company and enable it to meet the demand for high value-added products in the international market.

To maintain its competitive edge, Japan Display is also expected to invest in the world’s most advanced research and development. This investment will focus on the creation of high-potential next-generation technologies, including higher resolution and thinner organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, in an effort to drive forward the market as a whole.

While Japan Display is to absorb many of the technologies and assets of the three subsidiaries, its management will be newly hired, with INCJ leading the selection process. INCJ will, however, work with Hitachi, Sony and Toshiba to appoint Japan Display’s outside directors and also to provide technical support. Through this approach, the four parties intend to establish a strong governance framework and business infrastructure for the company.

“This is a landmark project for INCJ in our mission to make impactful, long-term and hands-on investments to grow next-generation businesses worldwide in the spirit of open innovation,” said Kimikazu Noumi, President and CEO of INCJ. “The new company will become a leading small- and medium-sized display manufacturer, and by pooling compelling technological know-how, will be positioned to win in a competitive and lucrative global growth market that has a real impact on the quality of people’s everyday lives.”

These sentiments were echoed by CEOs Howard Stringer of Sony Corporation, Norio Sasaki of Toshiba Corporation and Hiroaki Nakanishi of Hitachi, Ltd., who each pledged the full support of their respective organizations to ensure the success of the new venture. As well as helping to expand the display market, the new enterprise will provide a highly welcome boost to the Japanese electronics industry at a critical time.

Basic Business Strategy of Japan Display

Rebuilding Tohoku through IT Innovation

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 02:29:58 +0000

Efforts to rebuild the Tohoku region following the devastating earthquake have taken many forms, including a highly promising project in a field not normally associated with Tohoku… cutting-edge IT.

“IT de Nihon o genki ni!”
(Revive Japan with IT)

The founder of this “IT de Nihon o genki ni!” (Revive Japan with IT) project is Kenichi Sasaki, charismatic CEO of TripodWorks. Sasaki established TripodWorks in Sendai City, Miyagi prefecture in 2005 to resolve various “gap” issues related to the IT market and create new business opportunities. It is Sasaki’s belief that despite its rapid progress, IT does not necessarily guarantee a more prosperous or comfortable lifestyle and he has set out to find solutions to the communication, skill and regional gaps linked to this ubiquitous technology.

This mission took a dramatic turn when the Great East Japan Earthquake struck on March 11. However, while acknowledging the incredible tragedy, Sasaki has chosen to use his skills to help rebuild Minami-sanriku, one of the worst affected areas, more strongly than before the disaster. Even before the quake, the district was experiencing a gradual loss of young people due to poor employment prospects, while an undeveloped communications infrastructure also significantly limited opportunities for future growth.

Kenichi Sasaki

Thus far, Sasaki and TripodWorks have been focusing on immediate measures to speed up recovery. This has included joining with partner companies and relief organizations to, for example, equip evacuation shelters with computers and other hardware, and advise people on using mobile phones and other IT devices to source information via Web applications such as Twitter and Facebook. Sasaki is, however, also looking to the long term and recently staged a key seminar designed to bring together the area’s leading IT professionals.

Landmark IT Seminar

The IT de Nihon o genki ni! seminar, held in Sendai City, Miyagi on September 12, brought together some 130 people representing the main regional IT players as well as other interested parties. The event kicked off with presentations from 11 companies, which shared practical details of their current projects and how they are working to overcome challenges and achieve a successful outcome. This was followed by a talk by Akira Kitamura, entrepreneur and chairperson of NPO Japan Venture Research.

Kitamura spoke on several topics that are at the heart of the IT de Nihon o genki ni! concept, including efforts to make the Tohoku region a global IT innovation platform, build a creative ecosystem for local innovation, activate startup funds and generate new innovation, and also develop a new market with a clear vision. The event was then rounded off with a panel discussion featuring the editors in chief of several major IT-related magazines such as BCN, Shoeisha and ADNet Japan.

The discussion covered a range of issues affecting both the IT industry in general and Tohoku region in particular. On the industry front, the panel addressed topics such as providing cloud computing services through to attracting skilled Android developers. Looking closer to home, they also attempted to define Tohoku’s essential strengths and put forward new IT models, including how to incorporate smart technologies. They also emphasized the need to release information in English while the world is focused on the area.

New IT Paradigm

Sasaki has said he is more than happy with the outcome of the seminar, which he believes was required even before the earthquake. Due in part to its relatively undeveloped IT infrastructure, Tohoku has a low profile even within Japan. However, the disaster has created a distinct paradigm shift and people are now thinking about how to create original products and services utilizing IT. According to Sasaki, the earthquake could in fact be a watershed moment for IT in Tohoku, providing people with the motivation to rebuild on a much higher level.

His optimism is borne out by local people who see the need to create a communications hub connecting them both regionally and worldwide to support the rebuilding. Developing advanced IT will also help to attract younger people who can sustain the recovery. For example, planning is already underway for new-energy research, which will require sophisticated IT. As Sasaki implements his vision, the area is set to become what he calls “cutting-edge countryside,” an urban/rural community seamlessly connected to the world through advanced communications technology.

Tohoku University playing a leading role in reconstruction efforts

RISINGSUN.JP — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 09:27:22 +0000

Since its establishment in 1907, Tohoku University has been a hub of knowledge for the Tohoku region, promoting the advancement of society, contributing to the welfare of humanity and providing educational resources over the past century. Recently, the university has undertaken various initiatives to overcome the travails caused by the unprecedented devastation wrought upon the Tohoku region by the Great East Japan Earthquake, and to create hope for the future of Japan. Here, President Akihisa Inoue talks about how Tohoku University can serve as a center for academic research and revitalization in the region.

University Profile and Highlights

Akihisa Inoue
President, Tohoku University

Interview with the President

Tohoku University, situation in a region that has been devastated by multiple large-scale disasters, aims to be a global center for accumulating and disseminating knowledge about disasters and disaster prevention, the environment and energy, and regional medicine.

How was Tohoku University damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake?

Sadly, two students and one incoming student lost their lives in the disaster. Many students, faculty and staff also lost members of their families and their homes. The earthquake struck during spring break, so there were no injuries on our campuses. Physical damage to the Aobayama and other campuses of our educational and
research facilities amounted to JPY 80 billion.

How has Tohoku University participated in rescue and reconstruction after the earthquake?

At the university hospital, for about one month after the earthquake, we focused our resources on helping survivors rescued from disaster-stricken areas, and in this process we stopped admitting on a general outpatient basis, except people with serious ailments. We formed teams with medical personnel that came here to help from across Japan, and dispatched these medical support teams to hospitals and evacuation shelters in Miyagi Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture and other areas affected by the natural disaster. We also served as an intermediary base station for transporting medical supplies and equipment to medical institutions in stricken areas.

What other activities did Tohoku University undertake?

Educators and researchers from our science and engineering departments performed radiation monitoring and soil surveys for salt damage in the stricken regions. Since the end of June, a robot jointly developed with the Chiba Institute of Technology has been deployed at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant to help stabilize the situation there. In this way, our cumulative knowledge and technologies in the science and engineering fields have played a major role in the nation’s recovery from this disaster. Faculty and staff in our humanities and arts departments also surveyed damage to historically and culturally important locations. Across the university, personnel with specialized knowledge have worked to help in the recovery.

Please tell us about volunteer activities undertaken by students.

Students began volunteering to help immediately after the natural disaster. More than 1,000 student and staff volunteers have signed up for the Reconstruction Team of Tohoku University “Haru” and this organization has provided continuous support to stricken regions in collaboration with local governments and other entities. The university has given its approval of this voluntary organization, and supports it.

Many international students have returned home. What is the situation now?

Soon after the earthquake struck, we ascertained the safety of all our students, including our international students. We have continued to disseminate the latest information in Japanese, English and Chinese on our emergency information website for international faculty and students that have temporarily returned to their native countries. Students that left Japan without first obtaining a re-entry permit would have had to go through the student visa application process again under the old system, but a special exception was set up at the end of March, simplifying the procedure. Accordingly, almost all of these students have returned to Tohoku University.

Thanks to such cooperation between national and local governments, as well as the physical and emotional support from everyone in Japan and around the world, we have made steady progress on rebuilding the educational environment, and we were able to inaugurate a new school year on May 6, about one month later than originally planned.

What role will Tohoku University play in reconstruction and revitalizing affected regions?

The Great East Japan Earthquake set off an unprecedented combination of major disasters comprising earthquakes, tsunami, nuclear power accidents and energy shortages. As a university base helping to resuscitate the stricken Tohoku region while pursuing academic research, I believe our foremost mission is to learn from our heartrending experiences in ways that help with reconstruction and disaster prevention in the future, and to disseminate this accumulated knowledge and information to the world.

What specific actions are to be taken?

As the first step, we created the Tohoku University Institute for Disaster Reconstruction and Regeneration Research in April. This center aims to advance our understanding of disasters and disaster prevention and help with the reconstruction of damage and revitalization of regions. It promotes research across academic fields, such as engineering, medicine and the humanities, and provides the results of this research to the national and local governments. Our educators and researchers have proposed multiple research themes, and we plan to launch projects that address issues in disaster and disaster prevention research, the environment and energy, and rebuilding regional medical care.

Will Tohoku University collaborate with the national and local governments?

We plan to pursue these projects while coordinating with local governments, universities and public research institutions in the Tohoku region and throughout Japan. The center will also have a disaster science international research laboratory that will advance research alongside other universities and research institutions in Japan and abroad. It will publish the results of its research to the world.

Do you have any final comments to say?

Japan faces other potential calamities in the future, including earthquakes in the Tokai and Tonankai regions as well as inland earthquakes near major cities. Broadening our perspective to a world scale, we collectively face many issues involving climate change, healthcare, energy security, food scarcity and poverty. The world faces serious problems that could threaten the survival of humanity itself. At Tohoku University, we have committed all of our efforts to changing the tragedy of the Great East Japan Earthquake into hope for the future. We will deepen our understanding and knowledge in order to solve these problems facing humanity, with the ultimate aim to contributing to the sustained development of the global community.

Profile

Establishment: June 1907
Location: Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
Faculties: Arts and Letters, Education, Law, Economics, Science, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering, Agriculture
Number of students: 18,264 (as of May 1, 2011)
Number of international students: 1,498 (as of May 1, 2011, from 84 countries and regions)

University Highlights

In 1907, Tohoku Imperial University was founded as the third imperial university, following Tokyo Imperial University and Kyoto Imperial University. Since then, it has carried on its “Research First” tradition, “Open Door” philosophy, and “Practice-Oriented Research and Education” mindset.

In 1913, Tohoku Imperial University became the first public university in Japan to admit three female students, underscoring its commitment to its “Open Door” philosophy.

The Katahira campus is well known for one of its former students, the great literary figure Mr. Lu Xun, who is considered by many as the father of modern Chinese literature. The campus still has classrooms that remain preserved since the Sendai Medical School existed, which later became Tohoku University, and they have been visited on many occasions by people from China, including the previous president Mr. Jiang Zemin.

Tohoku University has consistently ranked at high international levels in the fields of materials science, physics and chemistry, as demonstrated by Essential Science Indicators™, a global ranking of research institutions based on citations in dissertations as compiled by Thomson Scientific. Centered on these fields, Tohoku University has produced world-leading advanced research in a broad range of academic disciplines.

In addition to producing the Nobel Prize winner Koichi Tanaka, Tohoku University has also accepted previous recipients Heinrich Rohrer, Ahmed Zewail and Peter Gruenberg as doctor honoris causa.

The University has been adopted by the Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology implemented by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and other funds including the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), the Global COE Program and the Grant-in-Aid for Science Research. The University is accordingly actively engaged in wide-ranging research.

Innovative “goo” services help quake survivors stay in touch

RISINGSUN.JP — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 06:31:55 +0000

Rapid and reliable communication services are important not only in the rescue phase of a disaster but after as survivors search for vital information and loved ones try to make contact. This presents a number of challenges for information providers and also frequently leads to innovative solutions. Three examples of this ingenuity are provided by communication projects led by personnel at NTT Resonant’s goo, one of Japan’s largest Web portals.

“When a disaster strikes, naturally everybody wants to know what is going on and what they should do next. Luckily we were able to use goo to answer these questions. Even before the aftershocks stopped, I knew we needed to set up a fast-response disaster information site.”

Motohisa Suzuki, goo Top/News Editing Manager, Media Division

As a survivor of 1995’s Great Hansin Earthquake, Motohisa Suzuki knew first-hand the information needs of Tohoku quake victims. Some were searching for loved ones, some needed details on evacuating, and still others required immediate assistance. Based on his experience, he decided the most effective approach would be to provide as much constantly updated information as possible. Suzuki also selected two criteria for deciding what information to release.

The first was complete accuracy. Various news outlets were already publishing “scoops” that later proved to be unreliable and Suzuki was determined goo would not add to the confusion. The information also needed “context” so people could decide what action to take. This led Suzuki’s team to upload guidance articles on evacuating safely and other vital topics, along with a vast number of links. The two point was to maintain flexibility to reflect changing visitor needs. For example, initially most were searching for damage reports, then soon after, survival information and more recently, reports related to the Fukushima nuclear plant.

goo disaster information site on the launch

Providing this service obviously required a massive time investment and Suzuki and his team worked around the clock in four rotating shifts. However, as he comments, motivation was not a problem: “I told them while we weren’t able to go to the quake area, only we could keep goo updated. This was our way to make a difference.” The approach clearly worked, with even government agencies praising goo as the best-directed disaster information site.

“Following a disaster, telephone systems often become overloaded. I know this first-hand from the Great Hanshin Earthquake but I also know being able to connect with loved ones at such times is a source of great power. When I saw a similar problem occurring in Tohoku, it became my goal to solve it.”

Tsutomu Maenishi, Media Division

Tsutomu Maenishi was initially contacted by a PR rep at NTT’s local Iwate branch with an idea to use goo to set up an Internet message board system. According to the rep, the office was receiving numerous requests from quake survivors asking NTT to help them let relatives and friends know they were alive. Unfortunately, while work was continuing to repair communications and set up emergency lines, it was still proving difficult to contact people.

Maenishi’s approach was an innovative mix of digital and “analog” technology. His team immediately set up a special message board as part of goo’s news service and developed a system to upload messages received from Iwate to the world. However, with lines highly limited, even using a fax to deliver the messages to Tokyo was out of the question. To solve this, Maenishi sent staff from Tokyo to physically scan the messages for uploading. By the end of April, the team had released 2,300 messages from NTT and 8,000 from Japan Post.

Internet message board for the quake victims

According to Maenishi, “The number of messages is rather small when you consider the overall disaster but connecting people like this means so much to them. This project also brought home to me the great potential NTT and goo have to support people in emergencies. We are now considering how to expand our partnership to provide better, faster services.”

“After the Tohoku earthquake, I wanted to do my part but wasn’t really sure how to help. Soon after, the situation at Fukushima became a major concern and goo asked for staff to launch a radiation update service. With my background in environmental development, this felt like something I could do and I volunteered immediately.”

Yusuke Kanda, Business Platform Division

This project originated with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, which initially planned to upload data to its own Website. However, due to anticipated visitor numbers, the ministry revised the plan and spread the information across multiple server networks including goo’s to avoid a crash. There was also feedback that the site was difficult to navigate, with too many links and text blocks, and the goo team was faced with the problem of making the complicated interface more “user-friendly.”

Fortunately, Yusuke Kanda, a recent addition to the company, came up with an inventive graphic format that overlaid color-coded readings on a map of Japan. The approach involved various challenges, including which colors to use for the radiation levels. While the presentation had to be clear, choosing the wrong colors ran the risk of unnecessarily alarming people. Finally, after several simulations, the new beta site went online, becoming the first to utilize a graphic format.

Nationwide radiation update website

Since the launch, the goo team has added various refinements, including automatic updates and other navigation features, allowing the Website to be used long term. By mid-May, the site was being accessed over 40,000 times a day, demonstrating the great demand for the information. As Kanda says, “Of course nobody wants this situation, but with everyone working together, we have helped to make things better for people. Teamwork is surprisingly powerful.”

Ensuring Japanese Exports Are Free from Harmful Radiation

RISINGSUN.JP — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 02:02:32 +0000

As details of the crisis at the Fukushima nuclear plant continue to emerge, it has become obvious radiation poses a very real threat. Unfortunately, protecting against this invisible danger has been made all the more difficult by a lack of information, causing significant anxiety both in Japan and abroad. With government facilities already stretched to the limit, organizations such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Technology Research Institute (TIRI) have answered the call for assistance.

According to senior research fellow Dr. Masao Usui, providing support services for nuclear disasters is not exactly standard practice for TIRI. But these are hardly ordinary times. While Dr. Usui’s Biotechnology Group does have experience with projects including isotope research and measuring the radiation levels of beneficial minerals found in hot springs, on any given day, the institute is more likely to be providing technical support for small and medium businesses on nano-technology, energy conservation, IT, and environmental and public welfare issues.

This all changed dramatically on March 11, following the Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent events at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Immediately after the disaster, TIRI began to measure radiation levels in airborne dust. At the same time, it was flooded with requests to investigate radiation levels in agricultural products and water. Although this is well within the group’s skill set, it lacked sufficient trained personnel and TIRI quickly made the decision to divert resources from other areas in an effort to handle as many requests as possible.

Dealing with a widening crisis

“To offset damaging rumors, we have to provide reliable information that demonstrates the safety of Japanese products,” states Dr. Usui. “There are many small companies with high levels of skill but little money and we want to protect and support these businesses. It will be a long-term effort but we are fully committed to this project.”

In the first two months, TIRI performed investigations for around 80 companies from a wide variety of industries. Products tested ranged from clothes, cosmetics and baby items to plastic products and machinery, as well as wood, glass, paper and metal products. The tests are conducted in two phases: an initial screening with a handheld device to prevent cross-contamination of products brought to TIRI, followed by an in-depth main examination. In total, the tests take about 30 minutes to one hour, with the certification issued three to five working days later.

Almost all products tested to date have been found to satisfy the regulations of the countries receiving the exports. TIRI actually had the verification system in place before the Fukushima disaster and its certification has been accepted without problem in each case. An English version of the document is also provided following each examination. It bears the signature of the verification department manager and this signature is also registered with the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (See images below.)

Laying the groundwork for recovery

After dealing with the initial rush of tests, TIRI has now turned its attention to training and community support activities. This has included a lecture at a public examination research institute, while TIRI research fellows have also performed individual observations and trainings several times for governmental organizations. The institute has also dispatched specialist personnel to assist a group in Fukushima that set up its own measurement program.

On the surface, life appears to have regained some sense of normality as reconstruction work moves forward. However, this really is just the beginning and access to reliable information on radiation levels will play a key role in the rebuilding effort. This is true both in Japan and overseas, where all parties require accurate and timely information about efforts to deal with the Fukushima crisis and make Japan safe again.

On the business front, according to Dr. Usui, “We are facing a tremendous challenge, but we have also found Japan is “blessed” in that other countries believe TIRI’s certification can be trusted. This belief comes from the image of reliability built up by Japan’s long history of creating high-quality products. Foreign companies believe our exports undergo strict quality controls and we should be very grateful for this. It is our responsibility to follow in the footsteps of our forerunners and maintain this strong reputation.”