Standards for Cement Milk Compressive Strength Tests | Why Three Samples in the Morning and Three in the Afternoon, and Flatness According to JIS A 1108
Hello, everyone. This is Enta. I’m often asked about the rationale behind the “three samples in the morning, three in the afternoon” schedule for compressive strength tests on cement slurry used in rock bolt and ground anchor construction. Younger site supervisors sometimes ask, “Wouldn’t it be safer to take 12 samples a day?”…
In a sense, it’s only natural that things aren’t going according to the manual (from the Dojima River Occupational Safety Consulting Office)
When it comes to on-site safety management, have you ever seen someone struggling with the fact that “workers aren’t following the manuals or procedures as they should”? When problems or accidents occur, managers undoubtedly tend to think, “That’s a violation of the rules” or “We need to enforce the procedures more strictly.” …
What’s the Right Number of Spacers for Slopes? | An Empirical Guide to Estimating Quantities Not Specified in the Specifications
Hello, everyone. This is Enta. Sometimes, the younger guys on the job site ask me, “So, how many spacers should we actually put in?” The more experienced guys tend to rely on instinct, so when they try to explain it in words, they get stuck lol. I thought I’d clear this up once and for all this time…
What’s the Difference Between Apprenticeship and Technical Intern Training? | Enta Explores the True Nature of the “Modern Apprenticeship System” and Its Future Starting in 2027
Hello, everyone. This is Enta. I’d like to share a story from my recent trip to Nepal, where I was talking with the CEO I was traveling with about the future of technical interns and Japan in the past. During our conversation, we got to talking about how technical interns are similar to apprentices, aren’t they? “Apprenticeship (dechibōkō)…”
Weather Resistance of Polyethylene and Carbon Black | What Does the Future Hold for Leveling Mats!?
Hello, everyone. This is Enta. Not many people can really explain the weather resistance of those leveling mats that go under the load-bearing plates in ground anchor construction, right? lol That’s because nobody’s interested, lol (it’s the kind of thing manufacturers just mention in passing). “Well, it’s PE (polyethylene), so…”
Mountain Climbing Is Like Life: A Look from Three Perspectives—Office Workers, Business Executives, and High School Students
Hello, everyone. This is Enta. Lately, I’ve been going hiking. Why do I go hiking? Well… Actually, to be honest, there’s no deep reason behind it, lol. When you search online for “the joys of hiking,” you’ll find all sorts of lofty descriptions—like a sense of accomplishment, breathtaking views, and a feeling of oneness with nature…
Monthly Wage Gap Between Foreign and Japanese Workers in the Construction Industry | Analyzing the Latest Data on Technical Intern Training Programs (Types 1, 2, and 3) and the Specified Skilled Worker Program
Hello, everyone. This is Enta. We’re now in the second half of May, and it feels like things are slowly starting to pick up on site. This year, it feels like we’re barely managing to keep the work coming in. And lately, no matter which company I visit, the conversation always turns to foreign workers (lol). “We’re getting a new hire from Vietnam soon…”
[2026 Edition] Drilling Machines and Drilling Methods for Slope Anchoring | A Guide to Choosing a Drilling Machine, Revised for the First Time in 9.5 Years
Hello, everyone. This is Enta. I’ve had the chance to look back at some of my old posts recently. The article I wrote in 2016, “Drilling Machines and Methods for Slope Anchoring,” was actually published nine and a half years ago. When I reread it, I found myself thinking, “Well, that’s how it was back then, but things are different now…”…
Major General Contractors Post Record Revenue, While Small and Medium-Sized Construction Firms See Bankruptcies Exceed 2,000 for the First Time in 12 Years! Three Paths to Survival for the Slope Stabilization Industry
Hello, everyone. This is Enta. This time, I’d like to talk about the current fiscal year. What’s happening at the “top” and “bottom” of the construction industry? The other day, I came across an article like this. In the financial results for the fiscal year ending March 2026 from 23 major and mid-sized general contractors, 11 companies posted record-high sales, and 10 companies posted record-high operating profits. As for Kajima…