Japan Federation of Architects & Building Engineers Associations Holds National Convention in Niigata
On October 3, the Japan Federation of Architects & Building Engineers Associations (JFAA), chaired by Hiroya Ueno, held the 47th National Convention in Niigata City, with the theme “Passing on to the Next Generation: Harmony with the Environment.” The ceremony took place at Toki Messe, gathering more than 1,250 participants. Discussions focused on the relationship between nature, local communities, and architectural spaces in the resource-rich region of Echigo.
At a press conference before the event, Chairman Ueno stressed the urgent issue of “low-price bidding and dumping” in public construction design and supervision contracts. He called on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to introduce minimum bidding prices and said talks would also continue with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Ueno admitted the issue might not be solved within his remaining term, but emphasized the need to at least find a starting point for reform.
He also pointed out the record-low 2024 pass rate of 8.8% for the first-class architect qualification, warning that “at this rate, first-class architects could become an endangered species.” Shortages of building equipment engineers were also highlighted, with a call for stronger efforts to secure human resources, especially to support the participation of young people and women in the profession.
Niigata Association Chairman Hiroyuki Honma introduced the event’s diverse programs, including youth and women’s forums, encouraging participants to use the convention as a source of new insights for future activities. The program also featured a keynote lecture by architect Riken Yamamoto.
