By Ms. Yoriko Iiba & Dr. Bunichiro Shibazaki of IISEE

The Closing Ceremony of the Global Seismological Observation Training Course which started on January 21 was held at JICA Tsukuba on Friday, March 14. Nine participants from Bolivia, Fiji, Myanmar, Nepal (2), Pakistan (2), Papua New Guinea and Thailand attended the ceremony and have received the certificates from JICA and IISEE. Mr. Gonzalo Antonio Fernandez Maranon from Bolivia made an address as the representative of participants. (See page 4)

Please see the Newsletter attached on page 1.

By Dr.Yushiro Fujii, IISEE Senior Research Seismologist

This symposium was held on March 7th, 2014 at Kokuyo Hall (Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan) with support from JST (Japan Science and Technology Agency)-JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) SATREPS (Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development Program) project (The two projects of Peru and Chile are now being conducted).

Please see the Newsletter attached on page 2.

The 10th Asian Seismological Commission (ASC) General Assembly will be held in Makati by The Philippines, through the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS-DOST) and the City of Makati, from 17-21 November 2014. IISEE is planning to have the Alumni meeting there. WE ARE HAPPY TO SHARE THE TIME. Come and Join US!

Please see the Newsletter attached on page 2.

By Dr.Toshiaki Yokoi, Director of IISEE

From Mar.4 to 6, 2014, I have participated the international workshop entitled "New Initiative toward the Advancement of Strong Motion, Site Effect, and Risk Evaluation Studies for Future Mega-Quakes" held in Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University.

Please see the Newsletter attached on page 3.

By Dr.Bunichiro Shibazaki, IISEE Chief Research Scientist

I visited Institute of Geophysics, National University of Mexico (UNAM), from March 17 to 21. Recent high-resolution geodetic observations have revealed the occurrence of slow slip events (SSEs) along the Mexican subduction zone. In Guerrero, large SSEs of around Mw 7.5 repeat every 3?4 years. Also there is a seismic gap in Guerrero where a large earthquake may occur in the near future.

Please see the Newsletter attached on page 3.

It was with profound sorrow that we received the sad news of the passing away of Dr. Sheldon Cherry, Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia, Canada on March 23 of 2014.
Dr. Cherry was the former UNESCO Expert of IISEE from 1966 to 1967. He was one of the founders of IISEE training program. We greatly appreciate his support he has givin to IISEE. We would like to extend the sincerest sympathy from all of us at IISEE to his family.

Please see the Newsletter attached on page 3.

By Mr. Gonzalo Antonio Fernandez Maranon from Bolivia

Distinguished Ministers, Directors, Supervisors, Researches, Chiefs and Heads of section, Coordinators, Support Staff, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentleman. Good morning.
It is my great pleasure to address this closing speech to you at the end of the Global Seismological Observation Training Course hosted at IISEE-BRI and JICA Tsukuba.

Please see the Newsletter attached on page 4.