Hiroto Kuwajima 
Schoolchildren walk near the road in Saitama where the sinkhole opened.
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Following the road collapse in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture, on January 28, there is growing concern over aging underground infrastructure. This includes sewer pipes, gas lines, and fiber-optic cables.
Kubota, a leading Japanese agricultural machinery company, is also active in the water infrastructure sector. It is currently focusing on a "rehabilitation" method that strengthens aging sewer pipes by inserting a new pipe inside the existing one and securing it with resin.
A company representative explained, "Since there's no need to dig up the road, we can carry out renovations without road closures and at a lower cost."
AI-Powered Systems
In April, Kubota will launch a system that uses artificial intelligence to predict water pipe damage caused by natural disasters such as earthquakes.
The system combines two AI models — one for assessing pipe deterioration and another for predicting disaster-related damage. Identifying high-risk areas for water outages enables authorities to prioritize earthquake-resistant upgrades in critical locations.
Underground gas pipes and fiber-optic cables were also damaged in the recent road collapse in Saitama. While large-scale collapses are not expected to be frequent, disaster preparedness remains a key focus.
Earthquake-Resilient Gas Pipes
Meanwhile, Osaka Gas has been promoting flexible polyethylene gas pipes since the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. These pipes are designed to withstand external forces and reduce the risk of gas leaks. This makes them more resilient to minor ground collapses. Additionally, the company has segmented its pipeline network to minimize supply disruptions in case of damage.
NTT West, which provides telecommunications services in western Japan, has reinforced its underground communication tunnels, where fiber-optic cables are concentrated. These tunnels have been strengthened to withstand earthquakes with a seismic intensity of 7, ensuring minimal disruption to telecommunications.
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Author: Hiroto Kuwajima, The Sankei Shimbun
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