The year 2024 has begun under the shadow of sorrowful events in Japan. A massive earthquakes struck Noto peninsula facing sea of Japan on New years’ day and a severe collision between two airplanes occurred on the runway at Haneda Airport. I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives in these tragic accidents and offer my deepest sympathies to the survivors and their families. I also extend my deepest respect to the emergency responders working tirelessly in areas where vital infrastructure has been affected.

In the year 2023 the Concrete Committee of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE) successfully published revisions of all volumes of the JSCE Standard Specifications for Concrete Structures (the Standard Specifications). The “General Principals”, “Design”, and “Maintenance” volumes were published in March, and subsequently, “Materials and Construction”, “Dam Concrete”, and “Methods and Specifications” followed in September as a periodic revision.

In response to the shift toward digital publication in recent years, the committee launched both conventional print and electronic editions on the market simultaneously. The committee sincerely hopes that this new Standard Specifications will be helpful in the construction of high-quality concrete structures and thereby contribute positively to societal development.

In addition to work on the Standard Specifications, the concrete committee has also continued its other multifaceted work, such as developing recommendations and guidelines, holding seminars and lectures both domestically and internationally, and establishing subcommittees related to various specific issues. Additional guidelines published or being published in Japanese in the year 2023 and 2024 are listed as follows,

* Concrete Library 161: Recommendations for Mix Design and Construction of Mechanically-compacting Flowable Concrete, 2023. 2
* Concrete Library 163: Recommendations for Design and Construction of Concrete Structures Using Coal Gasification Slag as Fine Aggregate, 2023. 6
* Concrete Library 165: Implementing New Technology for Achieving Carbon Neutrality in Concrete Field, 2023. 10
* Recommendations for Design and Construction of Very high strength Fiber reinforced Cementitious composite (VFC)

The committee recognizes that it is also important to make the Standard Specifications available internationally. To this end, a summarized English version is published soon for the first time in 15 years following 2007 version. Please note, however, that it is not a translation of the 2022-2023 version but previous 2017 one. It will be available at no charge in electronic form. As an English version of guidelines, Guidelines for Electrochemical Corrosion Control Methods (Concrete Library 157) once published in Japanese in 2020 will be published soon in the year 2024.

Nearly a year has passed since I became the chairman of the concrete committee in April 2023. As I endeavor for the further development of the Concrete Committee, I would highly appreciate your support and cooperation in the coming future.

KISHI Toshiharu
Chairman of JSCE Concrete Committee
Professor, Institute of Industrial Science
The University of Tokyo