Interview for Mr. Jimenez
For finishing the short-term training at Tohoku University, we had an interview to Mr. Jimenez.
Jimenez-san. You are from Peru. So please briefly introduce Peru for us.
The Peruvian country is located in South-America. The capital is Lima, this city has a very good weather with temperatures between 15°C (in winter time) to 28°C (in summer time). The most ancient university in America is located here: University of San Marcos, founded in 1551 by the Spaniards. In the southern Peru is located the city of Cusco, with many archeological ruins, such Machu Pichu, one of the modern wonders. The Peruvian food is one of the most delicious, for example: the “cebiche”, that consists of small pieces of fresh fish with lemon, onion and condiments.
What kind of job did you do in Peru?
I was and will be working in the Peruvian Tsunami Warning Center from the Peruvian navy. This is an important service to the society, because the Peruvian region is within the Pacific’s Ring of Fire, and we have many earthquakes and tsunamis, such as the Pisco 2007, Camana 2001, Chimbote 1996 and in Callao the historical earthquake and tsunami of 1746. Also, I will be working as a part time assistant professor in the Faculty of Physics of the University of San Marcos, my lectures will be on geophysics and digital signal processing.
What are you studying at Tohoku University during this training?
In this training in the Tsunami Laboratory of Tohoku University, my research is about tsunami numerical simulation and seismic source from tsunami waveform inversion. Also I am working in the 1746 historical tsunami of Callao and how it would affect today the cities of Callao and Lima. The future research will be the development of a catalogue of unit sources simulated for all the Peruvian coasts, this will be useful in a tsunami warning system.
Can you briefly describe your experience for Tohoku Earthquake?
One week before the big earthquake happened in northern Japan, I traveled to Tokyo for an international conference on “earthquakes and tsunamis”, at Tokyo University and Chiba University. The Friday March 11th, we were (with all the Peruvian and Japanese delegation) in Kamakura. I just felt the long period seismic waves as a rocking motion, I imagined that was far away from Tokyo, minutes later the news gave the epicenter location near Sendai. That night, one Peruvian friend and me, just slept in the floor of a hotel’s lobby, together with 30 Tokyo citizens. All the transport system was collapsed. The next day we gather together with other Peruvian friend and went (with the help of Japanese and Mexicans friends) to Tsukuba, where we stayed 10 days, then we travelled to Sendai. I will never forget those days, they were very difficult for everyone in Japan.
After back to your country, what do you like to do?
When I go back to my country, I will incorporate to my family: I will tell my wife that I love her a lot, I will receive my little daughter who will be born for my arrival and I will spend some time for playing with my 5 years old son. I will incorporate to my work, and will apply the things learned during my training in Japan. And I will finish my master degree thesis (about tsunamis) in the University of San Marcos.
Do you have something favorite in Sendai?
I like the Japanese food, such as sushi, katsu-carry and ramen. Some nice place to know is Matsushima, near Sendai. The ruins of Sendai Castle, are located close to downtown on Aobayama, where there is a modern equestrian statue of Masamune, the first lord of Sendai.
Do you have something you want to tell to Peruvian people about Japan except the research you did here?
I want to tell my countrymen that the Japanese society is orderly and disciplined society. The Japanese people is the most honest people that I have known, the crime rates are very low. It is a nice place to sightseeing.
Photos:
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| Photo1. At Tohoku University Kawauchi Campus | Photo2. Field Investigation Near Sendai Airport |
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| Photo3. Field Investigation at Minimi Sanriku Cho | Photo4. Field Investigation at Onagawa Cho |
