Japanese Doctor of Science Who Works in Mines in Vietnam Receives Salary of One Japanese Yen

By To Phuong Thuy

Having been a leading expert in safety in and the world, but Dr. Isei Takehiro submitted an application form for being a volunteer to work in Vietnam with the wish to contribute to reducing frequent accidents for mine workers. "We often jokingly call elderly brother Isei as a Japanese expert that receives an annual salary of one Japanese Yen", Mr. Pham Xuan Thanh, Deputy Director of Vietnam Mine Gas Safety Management Center in Quang Ninh, says.

“Or has he fallen for someone in Vietnam?” Dr. Isei is one of the very first senior volunteers in the field of mining safety dispatched to Vietnam by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This program was implemented by JICA as since 1991 and up to now there have been more than 140 senior experts having been sent to the country. According to an evaluation made by JICA, he is one of most experienced experts in mining safety in Japan and he has taken part in a series of research topics and given lectures on mining accident causes in more than 20 counties out of over 45 countries that he has been to.

In the most recent letter received from him on Feb. 11, Dr. Isei wrote that he had spent the whole previous week working with an investigating team from Vietnam National - Mineral Corporation in Uong Bi in an attempt to find out causes and solutions for the accident that occurred in Dong Vong mine prior to the Lunar New Year. This accident claimed the lives of 6 people. In the end of the previous week, he and staffs of the Mining Safety Center in Uong Bi visited the Buddha land of Yen Tu, praying for safety for Vietnamese miners.

* A very old question: What brought you to Vietnam, Dr.? - In 2001, the Japanese Government requested me to take the post of Chief Advisor for Project on Setting Up Vietnam Mining Gas Safety Management Center in Quang Ninh and assist construction, installation of operation of the Mining Safety Research Center. I was working at this place for 5 years (2001-2006) and participating in laying the first bricks for construction of the center. Upon completion of the JICA funded project and his return to Japan in 2006, I frequently gave consulting opinions via telephone and email to my friends and colleagues in Vietnam whenever there were technical problems or accidents. Throughout subsequent years, I often paid for air tickets to Vietnam twice or three times a year to give mining safety consulting and observe evolution of the center. It even went to an extent that my wife once wondered, “Has he fallen for someone in Vietnam already”?. It's right I am in love, falling for Vietnam but not any young woman at all! In knowing that JICA began a senior volunteers program in Vietnam, I asked for being a participant in the program. It was really lucky that at that very time, the Vietnam Mining Gas Safety Management Center in Quang Ninh had also sent JICA a written note asking for volunteers to help the center enhance its capability. And once again, JICA served as a connecting bridge for me to come back to Vietnam.

* Occupation has brought you to more than 40 different countries, why did you chose Vietnam to have been attached to it in such a close manner? - It is because I've felt totally convenient being in Vietnam. In fact, among the 45 countries that I have been to, there are three most impressive and preferred places. The first one is Canada the first foreign territory that I set foot in. The second one is Hungary, where I spent a time conducting researches and giving lectures on for 5 years. And the third one is Vietnam, where I have spent up to 10 years of my life.

It could be said that before the establishment of the Mining Safety Center, Vietnam's total coal output was only 10 million tons per year prior to 2001. At present, this figure has gone up to 40 million tons per year while number of mining accidents has been considerably reduced. However, mining accidents still pose a big challenge. Australia's coal productivity is 5 times bigger than that of Vietnam, but there was not a single mining accident in that country in 2012. Meanwhile, 28 people were killed by mining accidents in Vietnam in that year. In comparing the proportion of people working in the mining sector to the number of deaths, this rate is not lower than the rate of people killed in traffic accidents on total number of traffic participants in Vietnam. This is also one of the reasons that made me come to Vietnam to help improve mining safety. According to Mr. Pham Xuan Tien, Dr. Isei was the first Japanese that signed the mining explosion assessment decision in 1966 and also the one that inked this decision in Vietnam in 2001, when he worked as Project Chief Advisor. "We often joke that being most outstanding in mining safety in Japan, but the professor applied for working in Vietnam with a salary of one Japanese Yen per annum", Mr. Thanh says.

The Japanese say something and note it down while the Vietnamese say something… and then forget it * What are your main activities at the Center now, Dr.? I often work with colleagues at the Mining Safety Center, helping them install and operate mining fire and explosion research lab. In addition, I have participated in consolidating natural fire and explosion, which is also termed as self-burning coal, early-discovering and control techniques for staffs of the Mining Safety Center in Uong Bi. Other activities which are also very important are giving consulting on site safe managerial and technical methods in order to prevent natural fire and explosion and other types of accidents that take place in mining activities. * What you think should be most important in mining safety control? - Mining safety control is of utmost importance and it may help prevent accidents. According to our research, mine accidents often take place in the morning of Monday every week. It is because after the weekend holiday, a number of managers do not strictly comply with safety control check in a number of places, easily leading to faults. The accident in Dong Mong mine occurred after a holiday that lasted for 10 days while the accident in Mao Khe mine also took place at 8 am in a Monday morning after a weekend holiday. What should be taken into account is that each accident has a clear cause. What should be done is to clearly note down all traces and analyze them so as to be able to prevent its repetition. This assessment of Dr. Isei gets total support from Mr. Pham Xuan Thanh. As observed by Mr. Pham Xuan Thanh, the Japanese, with Dr. Isei as an example, work in a very disciplined, elaborate and cautious manner. Prior to doing anything, he often maps out a very scientific and purposeful manner with specific objectives, timing and then activities to be conducted basing on such a plan. "The Dr. always keeps a notebook. Whatever he does is noted down with necessary information and data for eventual gathering and comparison. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese often pay little attention to keeping data and then miss their very own information sources", it is remarked by Mr. Thanh. As evaluated by Mr. Thanh, only by working with foreign experts, we are able to realize that our knowledge is still low and limited, which makes our activities, situation analysis and assessment incorrect, easily resulting in accidents. Having climbed Yen Tu Mount 14 times “There is up to 80% of Vietnamese characteristics in Isei", Mr. Thanh says in a happy mood looking at the 70-year-old Japanese doctor of science. According to him, Dr. Isei has almost totally integrated himself in the life in Vietnam. He likes every local dish and enjoys their deliciousness, from half- hatched duck eggs to blood pudding, shrimp sauce and dog meat.

Not only giving an example in working discipline, Dr. Isei has also gained admiration from the entire Mining Safety Center for his sportive and individual discipline spirits. At 5 am sharp, he wakes up and starts jogging on the ground of the center along with a blood pressure and step monitor. His morning exercise only stops when the step counting device gives a beep sound for 10,000 steps. The collective ground of the mining gas safety center has never missed the sound of Dr. Isei's feet warming-up when a new day breaks, no matter whether it is a sunny or rainy day. With a gesture of admiration, Center Deputy Director Pham Xuan Thanh says, “I am totally conquered by the professor's sports and individual discipline spirits. Even many youths fail to catch up with him".

Mr. Thanh adds that he was born in the Buddha land of Yen Tu, but perhaps he has climbed up to the mount peak where Truc Lam Zen Monastery is located not more than twice for his whole life. But on occasion of every Lunar New Year, Dr. Isei always climbs up to the peak of Yen Tu Mount. So far, Dr. Isei has climbed up the Yen Tu Mount peak a total of 14 times. "Once the professor climbed up the peak of Yen Tu Mount up to 4 times per year because he is able to find peace of mind there. It is an exemplary act of a teacher".

* Do your family members complain about your being attached to Vietnam in such a way? - I have a 94-year-old mother and my wife living on Kyushu Island. My son and my daughter live in Tokyo. They know very well how much I love Vietnam. Frankly speaking, I may not be able to totally contribute my dedication and knowledge to Vietnam without support from my wife. She also loves Vietnam very much and she has been here for 10 times. My mom has also come to Vietnam 3 times. Both my son and my daughter also love Vietnam very much. * What do you like most in Vietnam? The Vietnamese society is rapidly developing, but many fine traditions are still kept, particularly respect to the elderly. In Japan, the current young generation no longer maintains such concessions and respects for the elderly. Whenever I get on a public bus in Vietnam, a younger one always stands up and gives the seat to me. There is one thing that I am not pleased with is my Vietnamese vocabulary in spite of my having been in Vietnam for nearly a decade. Perhaps it is because I learn Vietnamese when I am old and the Vietnamese pronunciation is too difficult. Therefore, my current Vietnamese vocabulary is only adequate for shopping and bargaining. At the end of the conversation, Dr. Isei laughs happily: "I have been to many places and discovered many habits from the North to the South of Vietnam. Perhaps, I have traveled to more places than many other Vietnamese".

In frame: Dr. Isei worked in the Natural Resources and Environment Technical Division, Japan Ministry of Industry and Trade. - He represented Japan to have participated in international Mining Safety Research Conferences held in more than 40 countries, including Ukraine, Poland, etc. - He is highly experienced in participating in research themes to find out mining accident causes in Japan. - From 2001 to 2005: He worked as Chief Advisor for Project on Setting Up Vietnam Mining Gas Safety Management Center. He assisted construction, installation of operation of the Mining Safety Research Lab at Mining Safety Research Center in Uong Bi. - After termination of the project, Dr. Isei continued his assistance in terms of knowledge and experiences for Vietnam Institute for Mining Science and Technology on his own with a voluntary spirit and his own expenses.