Hello, everyone.

This is Enta.

I've been running all over the place lately, and there's quite a bit of construction going on.

It looks like we're going to race right through to the end of the year like this.

But first, we'll have a scorching summer, lol

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But that's beside the point.

Lately, I’ve been getting emails and phone calls from a general contractor with whom I have absolutely no connection.

I'd like a construction estimate for this project in ○○ Prefecture, or I'd like your help with the cost estimate (and if we win the bid, you'll handle the construction).

We receive requests such as these, among others.

I think this is really scary!

I can't help but wonder, "Are even the big companies too busy to handle that anymore?"

Until a few years ago, business opportunities generally went to major companies first, and from there, they were passed on to construction firms.

But right now, even the major companies seem to be at a loss because of a shortage of construction firms.

Even though major construction companies don't have enough construction management staff, the government is tightening its regulations.

 

It’s likely that—or rather, as is already the case—construction projects that aren’t financially viable won’t be awarded.

There’s a limited number of construction supervisors, after all. It will take time to fill this particular position through the Foreign Technical Intern Training Program.

If you don’t find a contractor before winning the bid, you’ll end up in a situation where you can’t even begin construction.

 

This is the situation we find ourselves in now, following the Koizumi administration’s drastic cut (of approximately 7 trillion yen) to public works spending in 2001.

The negative effects of young craftsmen leaving the industry and the sharp decline in the number of contractors have come to a head in just under 20 years.

 

I’ve heard that a lot this year from construction sites that they can’t proceed with work because contractors aren’t available at the end of the fiscal year.

It seems this is becoming a nationwide trend.

Furthermore, due in part to the impact of the Kumamoto earthquake, many construction companies have been moving from Honshu to Kyushu.

And lately, haven't there been quite a few small earthquakes in the Tokai region? (Could this be a precursor to the Tonankai earthquake?)

 

If another major earthquake were to hit here, it would be pretty tough.

The infrastructure will come to a complete standstill. That’s because there really aren’t any skilled workers.

There really aren't any more site supervisors, are there!?

Isn't it about time we started allowing site supervisors at general contractors to handle two sites at once, provided the total budget is around 30 million?

I'd love to say that (lol)

There are some areas where special provisions allow travel within a short distance (within 5 km).

5 km isn't enough, right? We've gotta make it at least an hour and a half each way, lol.

If the government agency keeps its budget the same but gives the supervisor a big raise, that’ll really motivate them! (Probably...)

And then, it’s all down to the craftsmen.

For now, the situation for skilled workers has improved quite a bit thanks to the expansion of the Foreign Technical Intern Training Program.

So, it’s expected that we’ll have a decent lineup by the time the Olympics roll around. (Although there are a lot of amateurs.)

However, the problem is that many businesses assume foreigners will use their services at a lower price.

This is a huge problem, but Japan isn't very popular right now, is it?

Apparently, places like China and Taiwan are popular right now, and there are quite a few foreigners who don't want to go to Japan...

Don't worry about keeping costs down,We ask foreigners to do it because Japanese people can't.You need to have that kind of mindset.

Even on a global scale, there’s such a thing as “Japanese quality,” but that’s a thing of the past now.

It would be better to train foreign craftsmen to adopt a Japanese work ethic.

If foreigners turn their backs on Japan in the future, won’t that spell the end of Japan’s infrastructure?

 

After all, it’s entirely possible for artisans who came to Japan through the Technical Intern Training Program to start their own businesses here and eventually become general contractors.

That's just the way things are these days.

Things will probably be quite different from how they are now in about 10 years.

I’d like to enjoy my work in the present while keeping an eye on what the next 10 years might bring, lol.

 

See you later.