I am very much honored to be elected the 11th President of the Japan Commission on Large Dams (JCOLD) 18th May 2010. JCOLD has a long history. We joined ICOLD in 1931 three years after ICOLD was established and we have gained a reputation for contributions to dam engineering in Japan. I am aware of my responsibility as the JCOLD President, as we are hosting the 80th Annual Meeting and the 24th Congress of ICOLD in 2012 in Kyoto and we are now facing many hurdles regarding Japanese dam projects.

In Japan, potential development sites for new dams are less than ever and the issues faced in dam projects are increasing. On the other hand, if we view the 21st century world, “the Century of Water”, dams are recognized as an important measure used to cope with global issues caused by the ever-increasing world population and global climate change.

We must deal with a shortage of water resources for food, hygiene and industrial development and the demand of the hydropower development as a carbon-free energy. We also need to protect people from natural disasters like floods or droughts which are predicted to happen more frequently and violently. Therefore the roles of dams to cope with these problems are being looked at from a new perspective and the expectation of a greater role for ICOLD is increasing.

Japanese dam technologies were based on the ICOLD standards before and after World War 2. In recent years we have developed new technologies such as Roller Compacted Dam Concrete or Sand Bypass System for the prevention of sedimentation problems. Now we are one of the world’s leading countries in Dam Technologies including construction, management and environmental conservation.

It is our pleasure and honor to host the ICOLD 2012 in Kyoto, where the Annual Meeting and the Congress to discuss more specific themes will be held, and provide the opportunity to discuss and share the most updated knowledge. This will also be a good opportunity for Japan to contribute internationally to the development of dam technology and take a leading role in tackling world water resource problems.

Our proposals for the basic plan of ICOLD 2012 were accepted at the 78th Annual Meeting of ICOLD in Hanoi. We have established the Organizing Committee of ICOLD 2012 in Kyoto, which is chaired by Dr. Hiroshi YOSHIKOSHI, Ex-President of JCOLD, and the Steering Committee has been making preparation. The chairman has decided to make “Compact and Fruitful ICOLD 2012 with Warm Hospitality” the basic concept for ICOLD 2012.

In my role as the chairman of the Steering Committee, I am resolved to create a successful ICOLD 2012 and would like to ask all parties concerned including government offices, academic organizations and business enterprises to kindly cooperate. We are all facing the same economic hardships, therefore we would appreciate your experience and assistance voluntarily. I am sure your efforts will be appreciated as “Warm Hospitality” both domestically and internationally. I would like to ask again for all associates and colleagues concerned to cooperate and support ICOLD 2012.

The issue being faced by JCOLD is new policy initiatives implemented by Democratic Party of Japan in 2009 which resulted in the cessation of Yamba Dam and Kawabegawa Dam construction projects. The policies introduced by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism encourage river management to be less dependent on dams as far much possible.

The belief is the effectiveness of dams have been proved historically and a substantial number of flood control plans or water resource development plans, both in Japan or worldwide, must have indispensable dam projects. Therefore we are continuing public relation activities to provide people with data and materials about the effectiveness and efficiency of dams as much as possible.

JCOLD is obliged to change into a new organization based on the newly enacted public corporation laws by November 2013. We have already decided to make a committee in order to establish a basic policy and clarify the necessary preparations intensively.

I have adopted the fundamental policies of my predecessor, and will try my best with these concerns in consultation and coordination with JCOLD executive members and officers.

I would like to ask all associates of JCOLD and parties concerned to extend cooperation and support for a better JCOLD.