Japan's Shimizu Corporation has a history of over 200 years in building safe and reliable infrastructure, protecting these structures against natural disasters, and promoting the concept of environmental sustainability.
The Shimizu Corporation has acquired a global reputation of making the best use of its technology and knowhow, and this can be seen across South East Asia.
Indonesia is one of the countries in this region to benefit from the Shimizu Corporation experience.
Indonesian capital Jakarta has introduced the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Contact Project with the aim of reducing traffic jams. One of the outstanding features of the section in which the Shimizu Corporation is involved as part of a joint venture is the adoption of the Shield Tunnel Boring Method (STBM) to construct tunnels, a first for Indonesia.
Stations will be connected by two tunnels with an inner diameter of 6.05 meters. The implementation of the STBM in Phase 1 of the construction has completed its task by reaching its final destination.
Masanobu Sakamoto, Construction Manager, Shimizu Corporation, who shared the philosophy of the work culture in Japan and of his company, said, "All Japan is the slogan in exporting infrastructure to Asia and abroad, but I think that not only our company, but the presence of Japan can also be shown by carrying out this construction."
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Indonesia's President Joko Widodo considers this project very important. In addition to a few visits to the site during construction, he witnessed the moment when the tunneling machine reached the Setiabudi underground station area.
Japanese technology is not only playing an important role in improving traffic conditions in Jakarta, but the innovative Japanese sanitary ware maker TOTO is creating a brand new exclusive showroom at the Technical Center in Bangkok.
Visitors can feel the touch of TOTO's latest technology and products through well-designed displays and interactive experiences.
This showroom was designed by leading architects and a design firm of Thailand.
Maythin Chantra-ou-Rai, Executive Director, Architects 49 Limited, said, "We found that the core value for TOTO products is innovation and comfort. All the users, developers, designers, that come in the future can visualize the space, the products in their own homes, products or their own developments."
Visitors can understand that TOTO's latest technological innovations, the internal functions and the mechanism of products. One of them is the advanced shower technology.
There are various variations in toilet products with highlights as Neorest and Washlet.
Visitors can also experience a combination of various lavatory and faucets.
Natsiri Pochanakul, Product Advisor, TOTO (THAILAND) CO., LTD, "Adjustable mock-ups with scale allow guests to understand the proper place and position to install the product."
Sanitary products seamlessly combine technology, comfort, and design to make everyday life more pleasant and convenient.
Hiroyuki Suzuki, President, TOTO (Thailand) Co., Ltd., said, "We hope that this can be a space where clients can come visit, touch and experience the products, as well as showing the world of our technology."
In a separate development, APAO 2017 - the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress was held in Singapore.
On display at the event were intraocular lenses made by Japanese company HOYA Surgical Optic that helps restore the visual accuracy of cataract patients.
HOYA Surgical Optic has developed wide range of optics and highly innovative lens materials, singularly focused on advanced intraocular lenses (or IOLs) which can be introduced into the eye through a tiny incision.
Also, with a unique pre-assembled delivery system, surgeons can insert the IOLs into the eyes easily.
HOYA Surgical Optics has become one of the fastest-growing IOL companies in the world.
Dr. D. Ramamurthy, Chairman, The Eye Foundation, India, said, "I believe that Hoya stands at the forefront of this area. I believe that this lens, to cataract surgery, we do not look it as a vision resurrective surgery, but as something which enhances the whole lifestyle of the patient toward the end. We view it as a significant step forward."
Mads Bjerre Andersen, Vice President, Global Sales, HOYA Surgical Optics, said, "We have a very strong product pipeline, which will bring benefits to the surgeons in the way he operates. For the patients, clear vision long-term benefits in our lens technology, that will definitely give us a lot of potential for our growth going forward in the Asian-Pacific region."
Thirty years of research and development and state-of-the-art technology at HOYA Surgical Optics benefits the cataract patients.