On 4 October 2026, 20 YCAPS particiapnts visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel, one of Japan’s most remarkable infrastructure projects. The enormous underground facility diverts excess water from surrounding rivers during periods of heavy rainfall, helping protect communities in the greater Tokyo metropolitan area from flooding. This is a key piece of critical infrastructure and essential to Tokyo's disaster resilience.
The YCAPS group was particularly impressed by the engineers responsible for designing, constructing, and operating this extraordinary system. Seeing the massive underground spaces firsthand provided a striking appreciation of the technical expertise and careful planning behind Japan’s approach to disaster resilience. The group also enjoyed visiting the on-site museum, which provided an excellent introduction to the facility’s history, construction, and role in protecting the region. It was a fascinating and memorable visit—and a great opportunity for YCAPS members to learn more about another impressive dimension of Japan’s technological capabilities.
