Early autumn in Sendai

Hello everyone! This is Kosame. I'm here again to introduce the annual dam visit event. This time, we traveled northward along the Shinkansen and arrived at Sendai, the largest city in the northeastern region of Japan.

Day 1

After arriving at Sendai Station, we continued by bus to our first stop, Kawauchizawa Dam. This is an ongoing flood control water conservancy project, mainly aimed at solving the problem of flooding in the airport area of Sendai during the rainy season.

What is particularly impressive is that the engineering here has a very high degree of automation. For instance, in the production of cement, from the batching of raw materials to the feeding and finally to the mixing, everything is completed automatically. Meanwhile, the project has also adopted excellent protective measures for winter and summer construction: during the winter, strict protection is provided for the already poured concrete structures, and during the summer, construction is carried out at night as much as possible to ensure that the temperature of the concrete does not get too high.

Day 2

The next day, we visited the Okura Dam, which has been in existence for 69 years. This is a dam with a very unique structure. It is a double-arch dam, which is extremely rare in the world. In Japan, there is only this one.

Why was a double-arch dam chosen? This is because the riverbed is too wide. By building an artificial canyon in the middle of the riverbed and using the structure of a double-arch dam, the amount of concrete used can be significantly reduced while taking full advantage of the high-quality rock layers on both sides of the canyon.

The Okura Dam is also a multi-functional dam, making significant contributions in flood regulation, power generation, water supply, and environmental protection.

Among the local people, this place is also a very popular tourist attraction. Every year on Children's Day in Japan, a grand festival is held here, and the dam will release water to celebrate, which is very spectacular.

Day 3

When it comes to the most famous delicacy in Sendai, one cannot fail to mention beef tongue. The coast of Matsushima in early autumn also has its own unique charm.

There were also surprises on the way to Tokyo.

Anyway, welcome to join us next year!
Kosame

From Expo Halls to Friendly Deer: My Week in Osaka and Nara

 

Hello Again this is Eyad from Kawasaki Group, This time my Adventure is Inside Japan.

Last week, I had my first adventure to Osaka  , The main reason I went was Expo 2025 , where I had the honor of representing my country during our National Day . I also got to speak on behalf of the Ministry of Water Resources , sharing insights as a water researcher and exploring ways Sudan and Japan could collaborate. It felt amazing to mix work with culture—definitely a highlight of my year!

After the Expo, I spent five days exploring Osaka and Nara . Osaka is so different from Tokyo, people are more social, chatting on the trains, and some even cross the street while the light is still red (which gave me a mini heart attack at first!). The city feels older and quieter than Tokyo, but in a cozy, charming way.

Of course, food is a must! I tried the famous takoyaki , and it instantly reminded me of the takoyaki party we had in our lab, thanks to Risako. I also visited Osaka Castle , wandered through lively markets, and got a little lost—which, honestly, is half the fun of exploring a new city.

Next stop was Nara , home to some of the friendliest deer you'll ever meet. They were curious, gentle, and surprisingly bold—one even tried sniffing my bag like it had snacks inside (spoiler: it didn't, sorry little friend!).

On my way back, I made a quick stop at Fuji-san . Seeing the mountain up close was breathtaking, it's even more impressive in person than in pictures.

All in all, this trip was a perfect mix of work, adventure, and a little chaos (mostly thanks to the deer and Osaka crosswalks!). I got to represent my country, explore new cities, try amazing food, and make some unforgettable memories along the way.

Field Trip to Ghana: Exploring Rivers, Communities, and Coastal Challenges

 Field Trip to Ghana: Rivers, Coasts, and Smiles

Hello This is Eyad Rami, m1 Student at Kawasaki Group.

In August, I had the chance to join our lab's research trip to Ghana under the SATREPS project supported by Jica —The main aim of our trip to Ghana was to study riverine and coastal systems, assess disaster risks, and understand the social impacts of flooding and erosion in vulnerable communities.

Ghana a country I had only read about in books until then. The journey started in Accra, the capital. The airport was smaller than Tokyo's, but surprisingly well organized. The weather welcomed us with a twist: cooler than Tokyo and often cloudy, with light rains that made the city feel calm. For the first two nights, we stayed near the airport, waiting for the rest of the team to arrive.

Exploring the Volta River

On August 8th, our adventure truly began. Along with colleagues from the Coastal Engineering Lab, we headed east to the Volta River. Boarding a small boat, we traveled from upstream down to the river mouth, where the Volta empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

It wasn't just sightseeing—we worked too:

Collected sediment samples from the banks.

Used sonar to measure river depth.

Took note of disaster risk reduction (DRR) projects along the way.

Reaching the shoreline, the transition was striking—calm river waters giving way to the restless waves of the Atlantic.

The Keta Region: A Narrow Strip of Struggle

Our next stop was Keta, a long, narrow strip of land squeezed between the sea (south) and the lagoon (north). Beautiful? Yes. Vulnerable? Even more so.

Keta has suffered from severe flooding and tidal waves for years. Many houses and schools have been washed away. Fishing, the main source of livelihood, has been hit hard, and people have lost boats, nets, and income.

We conducted household surveys and spoke with community leaders. Their stories revealed how floods affect not only property but also education, livelihoods, and even mental health. While there are some DRR measures in place.

Cape Coast and the Brown Pra River

From Keta, we continued westward to Cape Coast, making stops at flood-control structures that channel lagoon waters into the sea.

 We also visited the University of Cape Coast and the Africa Center of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR), we exchanged ideas with local researchers.

One of the most striking sites was the Pra River. Its waters were a deep brown, not strongly from chocolate (unfortunately), but from sediment and mining runoff. Seeing how human activity shapes river systems was both fascinating and sobering.

Back to Accra: The Densu River

Our final fieldwork took us to the Densu River, flowing from the Weija Dam into the Densu Delta. Flooding here is a recurring challenge—sometimes from heavy rains, sometimes from dam spillage.

We explored the river by boat, taking sediment samples and noting the presence of mangroves. Together with the Kawasaki Group and students from the University of Cape Coast, we also conducted household surveys in the delta communities. Fishing, fish smoking, and small-scale trading form the backbone of local livelihoods, and many families also raise goats and chickens. But floods disrupt nearly every aspect of life—from housing and income to children's schooling and community health.

in my view the region still needs greater investment, awareness campaigns, and stronger environmental management—especially in waste and sanitation.

Reflections

Beyond the data and samples, what stays with me most is the kindness of the Ghanaian people. Despite the challenges they face, they welcomed us with open smiles, endless patience, and stories that gave our research a very human face.

Ghana is a country of great natural beauty, cultural warmth, and enormous potential. With the right investments in coastal protection, waste management, and sustainable infrastructure, I believe its future is as bright as the smiles of the people we met along the way.