Bridge R & E Team in YNU

In the 2025 academic year, one doctoral student, six master's students, and twelve undergraduate students successfully passed their final examinations.
The research was tough, but we all raised a toast together at the end—it was the best beer ever.

 

Twelve fourth-year undergraduate students—Mr. Ito, Mr. Kado, Mr. Kensias, Mr. Kikuchi, Mr. Kitagawa, Mr. Kumazaki, Ms. Sugihara, Mr. Zhang, Mr. Nagae, Ms. Hideshima, Mr. Matsuzaki, and Mr. Lee—presented the results of their one-year research projects at the Bachelor’s Thesis Presentation Session held on February 19 and 20, 2026.
All of them delivered excellent presentations. Ms. Sugihara and Ms. Hideshima received the Outstanding Researcher Award. Congratulations to them, and thank you all for your hard work.

 

 

 

 

 

Six second-year master’s students—Mr. Ise, Mr. Okuda, Mr. Dobashi, Mr. Honda, Mr. Miyazaki, and Mr. Yamanishi—presented the results of their research in the Master’s Program at the Master’s Thesis Presentation Session held on February 9, 2026.
All of them delivered excellent presentations. Congratulations and thank you for your hard work.

 

 

 

 

Starting October 1st, two new D1 students have become members of the Structural Lab! They are May-san from Myanmar and Aryal-san from Nepal. We look forward to working with you.

A celebration for Khin-san and a farewell party for Aleena-san were held on September 22nd!
Khin-san has completed her doctoral program and will continue her research as a postdoctoral fellow at the Structural Lab. Aleena-san has resigned from her position as visiting assistant professor. Thank you for your hard work.

 

 

At the 80th Annual Academic Conference held in Kumamoto from September 10-12, Tamura-sensei, Hirao-sensei, Yokoyama-kun (B4 at the time of research), and Fujita-kun (B4 at the time of research) from the Structural Lab gave presentations!

 

 

 

The Asia Bridge Competition was held in Mongolia! We participated as the Yokohama National University team. We performed exceptionally well, placing 2nd in the Aesthetics category and 5th in the Presentation category.

 

 

 

 

 

Associate Professor Hiroshi Tamura of our Laboratory received the Best Presentation Award at the 80th Annual Conference of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers (FY2025), held from September 8 to 12, 2025.
Congratulations on this achievement!

Fujita-kun from the Structural Lab has won the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award!
Congratulations!

 

Five members of our laboratory (Hirao-sensei, Khin-san (D3), Solomon-kun (D1), Kashima-kun (2024 graduate), and Fujita-kun (M1)) gave presentations at the International Conference (IABSE 2025) held from 18 to 21 May.

 

 

 

 

 

Wang-sensei has been promoted as a lecturer since April 1.

On Monday, May 12th, a party was held to celebrate Wang-sensei's promotion to lecturer.

 

 

We held a welcome party for new B4 and M1 students.
Twelve new B4 students and two new M1 students joined the our Laboratory.

A total of 81 people, including alumni and alumnae, attended the party, which was very lively. Yamada-sensei gave a speech about his past episodes, and everyone had a great time. Congratulations again to Yamada-sensei on his 70th birthday.

 

 

 

 

 

B4 student Hikaru Fujita won the 1st prize in the “3rd Annual Steel Structure Talks: Steel Structure Quiz” and received an award. Congratulations!

 

 

At the 79th Annual Conference of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE) held at Tohoku University on September 11 and 12, 2024, Assistant Professor Kensho Hirao from Institute of Urban Innovation received the Best Presentation Award. The title of his presentation was "Trial for improving the accuracy of spatial superimposition in bridge inspection support system using marker-type Augmented Reality Display".

 

We held a welcome party for international students enrolled from this fall semester. The newly enrolled international students are one master's course student and one doctoral course student.

 

 

The Asian Bridge Competition 2024 was held at Can Tho University in Vietnam for three days from August 27. A total of 21 teams from Japan (Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama National University, Gifu University, and University of Fukui), Thailand, Taiwan, Mongolia, Vietnam, and Indonesia participated. The teams competed in the erection, loading, presentation, and aesthetics competitions, and we, the Yokohama National University team, won the 4th place in the Presentation Award. Next year, we will aim to win the overall championship with an even more improved team!

 

 

 

 

Assistant Professor Kensho Hirao presented her research at the Symposium on Structural Engineering held at Tokyo Institute of Technology on April 13 and 14, 2024 (hosted by JSCE), and received the Best Presentation Award. The research topic was "Evaluation for slip resistance of bolted joints including different contact surfaces with disk-type friction shims inserted".

On May 17, 2024, Prof. Sriram Narasimhan from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) visited our school and held a seminar for the students of the Structural Laboratory. It was a good stimulus for the students to be exposed to magnificent research themes from overseas.

On April 15, 2024, we held a welcome party for new members in the Structures Laboratory. With the addition of nine new fourth-year undergraduate students and three first-year master's students, the laboratory is expected to become even livelier.

 

 

On March 25, 2024, graduation and completion ceremonies were held. Eight graduates and four completers from the Institute for Structural Engineering have started their new paths. We would like to congratulate them on their graduation and completion! The evening was filled with excitement at the Thanksgiving party.

 

The Asia Bridge Competition 2023 was held at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University in Thailand for three days from August 22. A total of 14 teams from Japan (Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama National University, Gifu University, University of Fukui), Thailand, Taiwan, Mongolia, Vietnam, and Indonesia participated in the competition.
They competed in the construction, loading, presentation, and aesthetics competitions, and our Yokohama National University team won the second place in the Prediction of Deflection Award and the fifth place in the Construction Cost Award.
Next year, we will aim to win the overall championship with an even more improved team!

We held a welcome party for international students who entered this fall semester.
The new international students are two doctoral students.

Aleena-san，Tam-san，Azizbek-san，Kuang-san have graduated. We wish them all the best in their new fields.

 

Professor Hiroshi Katsuchi’s 60th Birthday Party was held at Prince Hotel Shinagawa on June 3rd, 2023. We greatly appreciate your participation and cooperation. We are grateful for Professor Hiroshi Katsuchi’s contributions to our lab until now.

 

 

 

 

 

For more information, please visit YNU website.

8 new B4 members have joined our lab, and 3 new M1 members have joined our lab, bringing the total number of M1 members to 5. We will continue to work energetically in 2023!

B4 and Master's and Doctoral students have graduated. We wish them all the best in their new fields.

 

 

 

For more information, please visit YNU website.

The research field seminar on bridges, which are the key to connecting within and between cities, was held again this year in the International Infrastructure Engineering Practicum, and six third-year students walked around bridges in the city!

Three M1s, one D1 and one research student joined our lab. In addition, Assist. Hirao Kensho arrived at his new post.

We went to Kanazawa as laboratoty trip visited construction site of canal and bridge at first day.We enjoyed sightseeing in Kanazawa at last day. We could study history and had a nice time with lab member.

4 new international students (master and PhD programs and resarch student) joined our laboratory in this autumn. Welcome to the Structural Laboratory. We are looking forward to do research with you. Enjoy your stay in Japan.

We celebrated Assoc. Tamura's ceremony of arrival in YNU held on October 5.
Thank you everyone from structure field for the participation.

7 graduate students (master and doctor programs) from structure lab graduated in summer 2019. We pray for their future success.

We had a welcome party for 10 new Japanese students (B4) and 2 international students (China and Bhutan) and New Associate professor Tamura.
Welcome to our structure family. We hope to do our best in this semester!

 

6 Japanese students (B4) graduated from YNU.
6 Japanese students (M2) got their master's degree from YNU.
Associate Professor Nishio was transferred to University of Tsukuba from April 2019.
We hope they will be successful in their next stage!!

 

We went to Shikoku Island, south-west side of Japan, with our laboratory trip on October 21-22, 2018. We visited the Iya Kazura Bridge and Onaruto Bridge, well-known as the Naruto whirlpools. Next day, the graduates of the structural lab showed us the interior view of the main tower of Seto Long-span Bridge. Seto Bridge is the longest bridge for railway traffic in Japan. This trip was very memorable and full of practical knowledge of bridges. We shared the joy and spent a good time there. Looking forward to more trips!

Seven new international students (master and PhD programs) joined our laboratory in this autumn. Welcome to the Structural Laboratory. We are looking forward to do research with you. Enjoy your stay in Japan.

Two graduate students (master and doctor programs) from structure lab graduated in summer 2018. We pray for their future success.

We celebrated Mr. Miyata's ceremony of achieving the prestigious medal "The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon" held on August 25, 2018. Plethora of fecilitations to Mr. Miyata for such a big achievement. Thank you everyone from structure field for the participation.

The civil engineering alumni association was held this year. Congratulations Mr. Miyata, The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon. Also congratulations Mr. Miura who received the master's thesis best research award.

Structure lab organized a BBQ party for all members at Prof. Yamada's home. Everybody joined with zeal and zest and enjoyed their full. The weather was very cool and pleasant which made BBQ party more enjoyable. Thanks everyone for joining.

We welcome to a new researcher. He will be working as a Postdoctoral researcher.

We organzied the first seminar of structure Lab of this year and We had a welcome party for 6 new Japanese students (B4) and 2 international students (China and Indonesia).Welcome to our structure family. We hope to do our best in this semester!

In September, two people graduated from university. We hope to their success in new life.

We went to Hokkaido as laboratoty trip visited Hakucho-bridge and Otaru canal and so on. We could study history and had a nice time with lab member.

Almuni party of our lab was held on July 1st. Conguratulation for winning the JSCE Tanaka Award, Miyata-sensei!

Also, congratulation for winning the Best Presentation Award for his bachelor's degree thesis, Muto-kun!

We had a welcome pizza party for our new resercher.

Welcome to our laboratory!