
Prof. Syamsidik handed over souvenirs to the Japanese Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Mr. Masaki Yasushi
Banda Aceh – The Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia, Masaki Yasushi, visited the Tsunami Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC) at Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) in Aceh on Friday, December 27th. The ambassador’s visit from the Land of the Rising Sun further strengthened the cooperation between USK and Japan.
The day before, Ambassador Masaki attended the 20th-anniversary commemoration of the tsunami disaster held at the front yard of the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh. Representing the Japanese government, he received an award recognizing Japan as a donor nation in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Aceh following the December 26, 2004 tsunami.
Ambassador Masaki’s visit to the TDMRC was aimed at observing the headquarters of the research institute, which USK established on October 30, 2006. The institute’s work on tsunami mitigation research has gained international recognition, with many experts and researchers worldwide collaborating with TDMRC.
During his time at the TDMRC building, Ambassador Masaki was accompanied by the Rector of USK, Prof. Marwan, and several of his colleagues. He was welcomed by Prof. Syamsidik, the Director of TDMRC, along with the research team. Ambassador Masaki toured disaster-related facilities, including the Tsunami Wave Flume, the Multi-Axial Shaking Table, and the Real-Time Earthquake Observatory. “There have been many collaborative research projects carried out by TDMRC with Japan,” said Prof. Syamsidik.

Prof. Syamsidik explaining the Multi-Axial Shaking Table Testing facility managed by USK TDMRC

Japanese Ambassador and Rector of USK visiting the Tsunami Wave Flume at TDMRC USK

Visiting Realtime Earthquake Observatory
In addition to his visit, Ambassador Masaki delivered a public lecture on Japan-Indonesia cooperation at the AAC Dayan Dawood building, attended by students and faculty of the university, which is a vital part of the Aceh community. He emphasized the close relationship between Japan and Indonesia, particularly with Aceh, mentioning that the tsunami disaster has a long history for both Japan and Aceh, which unites them emotionally.
“I have been in Aceh since yesterday to attend the 20-year tsunami commemoration,” said Ambassador Masaki.
He added that there has been a longstanding contribution between the two sides, such as sharing knowledge on disaster mitigation. For instance, USK’s TDMRC serves as a platform for discussions on tsunamis. “We share the same feelings; Japan also experienced an earthquake and tsunami ten years ago. I hope that many people in Aceh, especially the youth, continue to receive education on disaster mitigation,” he stated.