2015.09.04

Joint Field Trip with Development Policy Program

On 20th August, the students of GRIPS Development Policy Program organized a joint field trip – New Advanced Infrastructure Plan for Metropolitan City – for knowledge and cultural exchange among students from the three schools in China and Korea in the Fortnight 2015. With the support of three companies that dispatch students to GRIPS, the Fortnight participants had special tours in infrastructure construction sites guided by professional engineers. 

a. Subway Construction Site of Kotakemukaihara-Senkawa Networks

Mr. Rikiya TSUKAKOSHI from Tokyo Metro conducted the tour to a subway construction site. It was planned to improve subway traffic by reorganizing grade crossings. It was notable that the construction was being operated at only 1-meter away from the residential quarters, which could be made only with a good cooperation by the neighborhood residents. The participants have various activities and operations for the railway network improvement in Japan.

b. Highway Improvement for Komatsukawa Junction

Mr. Shoji YOSHIDA from Metropolitan Expressway Company served as a conductor at the construction site of an expressway junction of Komatsugawa Route and Central Circular Route. This improvement was expected to reduce traffic traveling through the city center with the roundabout circular route. It would take 8 years to complete this improvement so that they could conserve environment and ecology.

c. Tour to Marunouchi Building in Tokyo Station

Ms. Keiko YOSHIYAMA from JR East introduced the history of Tokyo Station, celebrating its 100th year as the front entrance of Tokyo.  After a group photo taken in front of the station building restored in 2012, the tour went through its inner square construction site and received a brief about the improvement progress.

A reception after the field trip was populated among professors and representatives with guest professionals from those infrastructure-related companies and provided a good time to wrap up the one-day long exchange tour. 

CAMPUS Asia and Development Policy Program Joint-Workshop

On the next day of the field trip, the students from Development Policy Program and CAMPUS Asia formed three groups to prepare presentations in the theme of “Urban development of the future in metropolis”, discussing the timely issues for Beijing, Seoul, and Tokyo individually. Each group made a 15-min presentation followed by the Q&A, comprehensive comments and closing remarks from Mr. SUZUKI.