Dr. Kenji SAKATA

Administrative Director of Okayama Concrete Technology
Emeritus Professor of Okayama University

Dr. Kenji Sakata proposed predictive formulas for creep and drying shrinkage based on a vast range of test results obtained through his research on concrete creep, shrinkage, fatigue and durability. These formulas were adopted as part of the JSCE Standard Specification and have been used internationally for the design of concrete structures. This work contributed significantly to the enhancement of concrete engineering.

As the 98th president of JSCE, he took great leadership in some difficult tasks such as changing the society’s judicial person status and reforming its finances. He was also JSCE president at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake. He led the initial response to this enormous disaster and, immediately afterward, organized JSCE’s special committee on the disaster. It was his role to issue emergency statements and dispatch the first comprehensive investigation team. He demonstrated to the Japanese public the integrated capabilities of industry, government and academia working together through JSCE.