The IISEE Closing Ceremony for the 2012-2013 Training Courses on Seismology,
Earthquake Engineering and Disaster-Recovery Management Policy, and on Tsunami
Disaster Mitigation was held at the BRI Hall, from 11:00 to 11:45, on Friday, September 13.
This is the 53rd closing ceremony for the training course which started from 1960.

Please see the Newsletter attached on page 1

On September 3, 2012-2013 training participants paid a courtesy visit to Mr. Akihiro Ohta,
Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Minister Ohta specialized in civil
engineering in Kyoto University. He is learned in earthquake engineering. He introduced
a speech with his research theme in his university days and presented the countermeasures
against earthquake disasters in Japan.

Please see the Newsletter attached on page 2.

With the collaboration of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS),
IISEE participants are awarded the degrees of Master of Disaster Management when they
successfully complete one-year training course.

Please see the Newsletter attached on page 2 & 3.

The Second Annual GRIPS (National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies) Student Conference
took place on Thursday, September 5. The Student Conference is an interdisciplinary and
multidisciplinary conference. This year's conference theme was:
"Learning from the Past, Looking towards the Future."

Please see the Newsletter attached on page 3.

By Ms. Yoriko Iiba, Head of Administration Division, IISEE

It is with great sorrow that we has received the sad news of the sudden and untimely passing of
our former director, Dr. Sadaiku Hattori on the 7th of September, 2013.

Please see the Newsletter attached on page 3.

By Mr. Armando Israel Sifuentes Jimenez from Peru

Dr. SAKAMOTO, Chief Executive of Building research Institute, Dr. YOKOI, Director of IISEE,
Dr. ANDO, Professor of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies and former Director of IISEE,
Ms. UEMURA, Deputy Director General, Tsukuba International Center, JICA, ladies and gentlemen,
good morning.
It is a pleasure and an honor for me to give this speech on behalf of my friends, participants of the
Training Courses on “Seismology, Earthquake Engineering and Disaster Management Policy” and
“Tsunami Disaster Mitigation”.

Please see the Newsletter attached on page 4.