#Japan #Tokyo #Japanese Ministry #River Dike #Resilience Technology

Japan's Initiative for Stronger River Dikes

On April 23, 2025, Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism initiated the second call for entries focused on developing resilient technologies for river dikes. This call for innovation aligns with the government's ongoing commitment to enhancing flood management and disaster risk reduction strategies, particularly in light of the increasing frequency and severity of flooding events due to climate change.

Background

The impetus for this initiative stems from the devastating impacts of Typhoon Hagibis in 2019, which resulted in the failure of 142 river dikes nationwide. It was determined that 122 of these failures were attributed to overflow scenarios—where the water levels exceeded the dikes' capacities. Recognizing the alarming trend of climate change-induced floods, the Ministry is collaborating with various industry stakeholders and private enterprises to foster the development of technologies that significantly enhance the resilience of existing river dikes.

Historically, the ministry initiated the first call for technological proposals (call one) in March 2023, which gained traction and led to a better understanding of the capabilities needed to withstand overflow situations. The outcomes of call one included evaluating four promising technologies that demonstrated credible performance against overflow, which provided vital insights for reference information for stakeholders.

Call for Entries Details

The public call comprises two distinct periods:

1. Entry Registration: This period runs from April 23, 2025, to June 13, 2025. It aims to gather a comprehensive overview of total submissions and their respective summaries.
2. Submission of Applications: This phase lasts from April 23, 2025, to January 30, 2026. It focuses on the formal evaluation of the submitted technologies.

It's noteworthy that participants who submitted documentation in the entry registration can amend their submissions during the application phase if needed.

The Ministry has specific performance criteria in mind for the technologies sought:

• - The proposed solutions must not compromise the effectiveness of existing dike structures.
• - Technologies should demonstrate effectiveness against overflow, managing at least 30cm of overflow for a duration of three hours while maintaining structural integrity.

Information Access and Application Process

Additional details, including the call requirements and application forms, are available on the webpage managed by a third-party organization selected by the Ministry. The Ministry ensures that this process adheres to rigorous standards and efficiency in reviewing the innovative proposals received.

Contact Information

For any inquiries, interested parties can reach out to the Ministry's Water Management and River Conservation Bureau at 03-5253-8111 (internal extensions 35622, 35624) or directly at 03-5253-8455.

Conclusion

Through this progressive approach, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is not only addressing immediate flood risks but is also laying a foundational framework for ongoing innovations that can protect communities from future natural disasters. This initiative encapsulates Japan's response to climate challenges and represents a significant step toward enhancing the resilience of its river dikes against potential overflow events.