On Assuming the Office of the 32nd President of the Japan Concrete Institute
Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world today and supports human life and industrial activity. Throughout its history, the Japan Concrete Institute (JCI) has played a vital role in advancing the science and technology of concrete while promoting research and education in the field. Having been elected as the 32nd President of JCI, succeeding former President Koichi Maekawa, I am deeply mindful of the weight of this responsibility.
Concrete is believed to have originated around 7000 BC. It underwent remarkable development during the Roman era, when numerous structures were built using this material, but its use virtually disappeared during the Middle Ages. Approximately 1,300 years later, the growing need for hydraulic cement led to the invention of Portland cement, followed by the development of reinforced concrete structures and a succession of technological innovations that have shaped the field as we know it today. In Japan, the construction of reinforced concrete structures increased dramatically from the postwar reconstruction period through the era of rapid economic growth, with cement production reaching its peak in 1997 and ready-mixed concrete production peaking in fiscal 1990. Against this backdrop, the Japan Chapter of ACI was established in 1961, followed in 1965 by the founding of the Japan National Council on Concrete (JANACC), the predecessor of JCI. Thereafter, JCI experienced steady growth, and its membership exceeded 8,500 in 2003. Last year, as the first quarter of the 21st century came to a close, JCI celebrated the 60th anniversary of its founding. Today, while cement and concrete production has declined to approximately one-third of its peak level, JCI's membership remains at roughly three-quarters of its peak. This clearly reflects the fact that, as the number of existing structures requiring ongoing care has grown relative to newly constructed ones, both JCI's role and the responsibilities of its members have increasingly shifted toward maintenance.
Meanwhile, in Japan's cement, concrete, and construction industries, overall construction investment has remained at a stable level, supported by urban redevelopment, infrastructure renewal, and disaster prevention initiatives. At the same time, however, challenges have emerged, including labor shortages, reduced construction capacity resulting from work style reforms, and project delays or downsizing caused by rising material costs. To address these challenges, digital transformation (DX) is being promoted throughout the construction industry, including the development of 3D printing technologies and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to design, construction, quality control, and inspection. At the same time, achieving a carbon-neutral, circular economy has become a foremost priority worldwide and across all industries, driving vigorous technological development in areas such as low-carbon concrete, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), and the recycling and reuse of concrete as part of the green transformation (GX). Nevertheless, in Japan, a country prone to earthquakes and surrounded by the sea, the extension of service life and enhancement of the resilience of concrete structures will undoubtedly remain critical priorities.
Globally, the production of cement and concrete is expected to continue increasing, making it essential for JCI to further expand its contributions to the international community. It is therefore important that we further strengthen our exchanges and collaboration with organizations such as ACI, fib, RILEM, ACF, KCI, and TCI, thereby enhancing JCI's international presence.
Although many challenges lie before us, I sincerely hope that, together with all of you, we can find ways to tackle them one by one. As we work together toward these goals, I look forward to your continued support and cooperation.
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Takafumi Noguchi
32nd President, Japan Concrete Institute
(Professor, The University of Tokyo)
