President Francisco Esteban Lefler visited Japan. June 2023 | News

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2023/07/06

President Francisco Esteban Lefler visited Japan. June 2023

Meeting with officials of the Japanese Government

On June 14, Mr. Francisco Esteban Lefler met with Japanese government officials and exchanged views on the future direction of PIANC activities and Japan's contribution to the vitalization of PIANC movements in Asia. A way forward to decarbonization of ports was one of the main topics.

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)

Mr. Osamu Horita, Director-General, Ports and Harbours Bureau

Dr. Kimihiko Endo, Deputy Director-General for Engineering Affairs, Ports and Harbours Bureau

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Mr. Ikuya Tanaka, Director-General of Fisheries Infrastructure Department

Guest speech at the Annual General Assembly

On June 14, Mr. Francisco Esteban Lefler made a guest speech at the Annual General Assembly of the Japanese Section. His presentation featuring the present and future of PIANC as well as the cooperation with the Japanese Section was well received by the audience and followed by a welcome reception. Members of the Japanese Section enjoyed the opportunity and Japanese YPs were particularly inspired by talking with PIANC President.

Visit of the Tohoku Region (North Eastern Japan)

Mr. Francisco Esteban Lefler visited tsunami affected areas in the Tohoku Region (North-Eastern Japan) from June 15 to June 16. Pacific coasts of the Tohoku Region) were hit hard by the Great East Japan Earthquake and resulting tsunamis on March 11, 2011. The Japanese Section invited Mr. Esteban to visit infrastructures in the area which were restored and built back better. He was accompanied by PIANC Vice President, Mr. Mitsuhiko Okada, and officials of MLIT (Mr. Kazuya Narukawa, Director General of Port and Airport Department, Tohoku Regional Development Bureau and Mr. Tomohiro Yamane, Ports and Harbours Bureau). The Japanese Section wishes that lessons learned from the tragic event be disseminated among many people including engineers and policy makers and thus help mitigate future disasters in the world. Mr. Esteban is one of the right persons to make that happen.

Site visits:

June 15

Sendai Shiogama Port (restoration of a container terminal in Sendai District and creation of a biomass power plant in Ishinomaki District)
Minami Sanriku Town (major relocation of the residential area to higher grounds and preservation of a tsunami struck building as a memorial facility)
Kesennuma Port (restoration of seawalls with remote-controlled gates)

June 16

Ofunato Fishery Port (flap-gate breakwater)
Kamaishi Port (restoration of the tsunami breakwater more resilient than before)
Seawalls in Tarou district (restoration of seawalls higher than before and preservation of a tsunami struck building as a memorial facility)

President Francisco Esteban Lefler visited Japan. June 2023 | News | PIANC-Japan