May 7, 2018

Learning to process metal

In today's Engineering Design, we learned how to use some of the tools for prototyping. Making a prototype is an important process in the problem-solving process. The class was divided into two groups. One group learned how to use the 3D printer, while the other group learned how to process metal in the Maker Studio. Students used the handsaw, drill, and many other tools to make the final product in picture three. Then, we connected all the metal tablets into a chain. The chain would not work if any of the tablets were manufactured incorrectly. However, as you can see in picture four, they were a perfect match! It's nice to have an end result that you can see and feel good about after all that hard work. I hope to show you more of the 3D printer group in the future. Stay tune.

Jonathan　April 26, 2018

May 1st, 2018

　After I finished my first engineering context class, I was relentlessly busy with work of the research project manager just before the Golden Week. This mission is to plan and conduct extracurricular project activities through industry-academia collaboration and regional collaboration. However, since this year is the first year, we mainly focus on the inventory of planning ideas and the possibility of implementing them. Today I would like to introduce two topics being realized from several candidates.
　The first one is to introduce research activities of energy management system being implemented at the Institute for Regional Revitalization and Innovation of KIT to which I also belong to college students. Experiments on energy independence by renewable energy and storage batteries are currently being conducted in the cottage (staff dwelling) in the Hakusanroku campus. This activity is promoted by industry-academia collaboration with Seiko Electric, Mitsubishi Electric, NEC, 4R Energy etc. I thought that it would be an opportunity for students to be interested in the smart energy field expected to grow in the future by looking at the equipment used in this experiment. The picture is the actual tour scene. Everyone was very enthusiastic, so I became happy too. In the future, as research at Kanazawa Institute of Technology progresses, I will get involved again in college students. 

　初めてのエンジニアリング・コンテキストの授業を終えて、ホッとする間も無く研究プロジェクト主事の仕事で連休直前まで忙しく飛び回っていました。このミッションは、産学連携や地域連携による課外プロジェクト活動の企画推進です。しかし今年は初年度なので企画構想の棚卸と、実施可能性の見極めが中心です。今日は幾つもの構想の中から、具現化しつつある２つのテーマについてご紹介したいと思います。

　一つ目は、小職が兼務している地方創生研究所で実施中のエネルギーマネージメントの研究活動を高専生に紹介するものです。白山麓キャンパス内のコテージ（職員宿舎）では現在再生可能エネルギーと蓄電池によるエネルギー自立化の実験が行われています。この活動は、成宏電機、三菱電機、NEC、４Rエナジーなどとの産学連携で推進されています。この実験で使われている機材を学生たちに触れてもらうことで、今後成長が期待されるスマートエネルギー領域に興味を持っていただく契機になればと企画しました。写真は実際の見学風景です。皆さん非常に熱心に見学をしてくれたので、私も嬉しくなりました。今後、金沢工業大学での研究が進んで来た段階で、改めて高専生に関与していただく機会を設けようと思います。

　 The second project is a collaboration with preservation society of Bunya-Ningyo(Puppet)-Joruri literature which is an important intangible folk cultural property. There is a village called Higashi-futakuchi immediately after passing the Sena tunnel adjacent to Hakusanroku campus. In this village, Bunya puppet joruri is inherited for 350 years. However, with the rapid depopulation and aging population, the culture is facing a crisis of survival, and Kanazawa Institute of Technology has provided support for puppet performances and video archive productions so far. At International College of Technology, we hope to contribute by promoting puppet joruri globally, with the cooperation of English teachers. Recently, I visited Higashi-futakuchi Historical Folk Museum with Mr. James, an English teacher, and met with Mr. Michishita, president of Ningyo Joruri Preservation Association, to discuss about cooperation. The picture  is like Mr. Michishita explaining the old script of Joruri Tayu. After finishing the meeting, I realized the significance and difficulty of inheriting the tradition, and I thought that we, who became inhabitants of this area, should also contribute to this activity even if we are not powerful. First of all, I plan to organize a tour for the students by the summer and start to exchange with local people.

　二つ目の企画は、重要無形民俗文化財である文弥人形浄瑠璃の保存会とのコラボです。白山麓キャンパスに隣接する瀬女トンネルを抜けて直ぐのところに東二口という村落があります。この村落で、３５０年にわたり文弥人形浄瑠璃が継承されています。しかしながら、急速に進行する過疎と高齢化で、その文化は存続の危機に直面しており、これまで金沢工業大学がでくまわしや映像アーカイブなどで支援をして来ました。国際高専では外国人の先生と人形浄瑠璃をグローバルに発信する貢献ができないかと模索をしています。先日、英語科のジェームス先生とともに東二口歴史民俗資料館を訪問し、人形浄瑠璃保存会の道下会長と面会、連携について打ち合わせを行いました。写真は道下会長が浄瑠璃太夫の古い台本を説明をしている様子です。打ち合わせを終えて、伝統継承の意義と難しさを実感するとともに、この地に根を下ろした我々として微力ながらも貢献していかねばならないと思いました。まずは夏までに学生向け見学会を企画し、地元との交流を始めていく予定です。

International College of Technology
Professor of Science and Technology
Dean of Research and Project

Shuntaro Yamazaki

国際高専　
国際理工学科教授　
研究プロジェクト主事　

山崎俊太郎　

April 19th, 2018

Today we learned how to use the laser cutter in “Engineering Design IA”.

Today’s mission was to design our own original keychain. First, we designed the keychain using an illustration software in the Compute Lab. Then, we moved to the Maker Studio where the laser cutter cutout the shape we designed. Students can use the Maker Studio to make whatever we want under teacher’s supervision. I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone makes in the future. See you next time.

今日は「エンジニアリングデザインIA」でレーザー加工機の使い方を学びました。最終目標はオリジナルのキーホルダーを作ることです。最初はパソコンを使ってデザインを作り、その後メーカースタジオに移動してレーザー加工機を使ってそのデザインを切り取りました。先生の指導の下、学生たちはこのメーカースタジオの機械を使って作りたいものを何でも作ることができます！どんなものを作るのか非常に楽しみです！次回お会いしましょう。

ジョナサン

April 9, 2018

Today was an exciting day because we had a TV crew in the classroom! Ishikawa Television, the local TV station was very interested in our school and asked if they could film a news report. This picture was taken during Physics class. They also joined us in Computer Skills and did an interview with Momi Kinoshita about what it’s like to live at ICT away from home. I was very surprised how calm the students were even though they were on camera. Maybe everything is so new that they have just gotten used to unordinary things. The news report will air on April 11th at 6:14 pm on Ishikawa TV. I hope to post a video of the news clip for those who missed it in the next entry. See you next time.

本日はテレビクルーが教室に来て、非常にエキサイティングな日でした！石川テレビが国際高専の取材を申し込んだのです。物理とコンピュータースキルズの授業にカメラが入りました。木下もみ君に家から離れて暮らすことについての取材だったのですが、皆さんカメラマンが教室にいるので、とても落ち着いていたので驚きました。新しいことばかりなので、簡単には驚かなくなったのかもしれませんね。この番組は４月１１日の１８：１４からのニュースで放送されますが、この記事が上がる頃には終わってるかもしれません。見れなかった人のためにそのビデオをお見せできれば良いと思っています。次回お会いしましょう。

ジョナサン

April 6, 2018

入学式、始業式などを終え、新入生の前学期がスタートしました。キャンパス周辺の散策やパン作り、ゲームなどさまざまなアクティビティで、新しい仲間と打ち解けてきたようです。

The entrance ceremony and the opening ceremony were finished. Classes started for the new students. They are enjoying interacting with other students through various activities such as taking a walk around the Hakuksanroku Campus, making breads, and playing games.