Prof. G.Rostagni, former RFX president and historical member of BA SC (Broader Approach Steering Committee) and Dr. G. Piovan, RFX director, visited Rokkasho on 23^rd October 2015. Prof. G. Rostagni is our most senior supporter, following various attempts to visit Rokkasho, it has been possible his visit after almost 7 years from the last time at Rokkasho

The agenda of the meeting was eventful, started with the greeting visit to the deputy mayor of Rokkasho Susumu Hashimoto-san accompanied by G. Pruneri, K. Sakamoto and K.Hirata respectively; Section leader ILIC Unit, deputy IFMIF/EVEDA Project Manager and JAEA site Public Affair Manager.

To follow, chronologically, were visited: Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited Facility (JNFL), Wind Power Generation System and Solar Power Generation System, all facilities are located within Rokkasho area. Lunch took place at Rokka Pokka, the famous SPA in Rokkasho.

In the afternoon were made some presentations by K. Tobita (IFERC Director) on IFERC status and future plan, G. Pruneri and K. Okiai, respectively on IFMIF/EVEDA status and the introduction of activities foreseen by JAEA, for a post BA project (A-FNS)

Afterwards took place a visit to the LINAc Accelerator, Computer Center and Demo R&D Center, with a comprehensive detailed explanation of the facilities, respectively given by K. Sakamoto-G.Pruneri, Y. Ishii-K.Tobita and H. Tanigawa – S. Nakamichi

Finally the visit ended at Misawa, to the Takara-sushi restaurant for a dinner, with a very delicious food and with a pleasant attendance of BA activities’ management: S. Ohira, K. Sakamoto, K.Tobita, K. Okumura, K. Ochiai, G. Pruneri and F. Scantamburlo.

The 8^th LIPAc Technical Meeting (LTM08) was held at the Garching antenna of Fusion for Energy (F4E) from 24^th to 26^th November 2015. More than 30 experts from different involved institutes, including CEA (Saclay, France), INFN (Legnaro, Italy), JAEA (Rokkasho, Japan), CIEMAT (Madrid, Spain), F4E (Garching, Germany) and the IFMIF/EVEDA Project Team; attended the meeting. In addition, Japanese experts from KEK and J-PARC were invited to attend on behalf of JAEA.
The first day was devoted to satellite meetings where the cryomodule assembly and licensing; and the control system were discussed in detail.

Detailed technical information was presented highlighting the significant progress that has been made for the manufacture and installation of various components since the previous LTM07 (held in Rokkasho on 15-17 June). The progress on Injector commissioning, as shown by the Deputy Director of the Department of Fusion Reactor Materials research at the JAEA Rokkasho Fusion Institute, Keishi Sakamoto, on behalf of Yoshikazu Okumura, the Head of the ILIC unit; was warmly appreciated.

Key activities which were completed on site during 2015 include:

• 29 June  : Establishing the radiation controlled area
• 7   July  : 1^st D+ beam
• 15 July  : Facility inspection
• 1   Sep  : 1^st arrival of the RF module to Rokkasho
• 9   Sep  : Start phase A-2
• 22 Oct  : Injector LCS upgrade
• 9-13 Nov : Injector resistor repair

The main outcomes presented during the meeting are listed below:

• Injector

Injector commissioning resumed on 22^nd April, and the first deuterium beam was produced two months later on 22^nd July 2015 after receiving the authorization from the Regulatory Authority on 15^th July. With the change of the plasma electrode aperture diameter from 10 mm to 12 mm, a 100keV/145mA/9.5% Deuteron beam was produced. The upgrade and integration of the Local Control System into Central Control System was completed on 23^rd October.

• RF power systems

Installation of seven HVPS’s and two RF modules for the RFQ, transformers and the HV breakers on the electrical platform was nearly completed. While the activity continues, there has also been much progress in the installation of cable trays inside the RF area.

• RFQ

The RFQ will be shipped from Legnaro (Italy) to Japan by air freight by the end of January 2016, while the associated cooling skid, piping and accessories will be shipped during December 2015. All remaining components will be shipped to Rokkasho by the end of April 2016.

On behalf of JAEA, Feedback was provided by Morishita-san explaining his experience of RFQ construction, installation and commissioning at J-PARC in Japan.

• MEBT

With the exception of the second buncher, for which the tests are ongoing, all MEBT subcomponents have passed their acceptance tests. The assembly of the subcomponents is approaching completion, and it is expected that the complete MEBT will be sent to Rokkasho by the end of January 2016.

• LPBD

Manufacture of The LPBD is underway, and will be completed in early 2016.

• SRF Linac

Manufacturing contracts for all critical components have been placed, and the tender process for a number of non-critical-path items has started. Licensing activities for the complete cryomodule continue, and informal approval for the cavity design has been given by KHK. Formal approval is expected soon.

Sakai-san (KEK) presented KEK’s experience of installation and commissioning of the cERL SRF LINAc. While the cERL LINAc is fundamentally different to IFMIF / EVEDA’s, the presentation provided useful insight which will be considered as the detailed cryomodule assembly procedure is developed.

• D-Plate

Assembly of the D-plate is nearing completion, and the fully integrated and aligned assembly will be ready for shipment at the end of January 2016.

• HEBT/Beam Dump

The water cooling skid was recently tested and is now ready for shipment. Preparation of the shipping contract is underway, and the skid will be shipped by the end of December 2015. The main components of the Beam Dump conceptually designed and the detailed design is progressing. Technical specifications for a number of HEBT components are nearing completion and several manufacturing contracts have been launched, particularly electro deposition for the inner cone which started in November 2015

• PPS-MPS

The Personnel Protection System has been modified to comply with regulatory requirements. The Machine Protection System has been enhanced to comply with the evolving operational requirements for injector commissioning. The Injector LCS has been fully integrated into the CCS.

A pleasant event on the second evening of the meetings was held at restaurant “Maisberger hotel” at Neufahrn

See you at the next LTM09 in Rokkasho (Japan)!

Our 7^th IFMIF Workshop took place during three days the 3^rd week of May in Brasimone under the warm host of ENEA.

The scenarios we are living, with DONES in Europe and A-FSN in Japan being discussed, allows to state that this has been our last, so called, IFMIF Workshop, what does not mean that future similar encounters will take place.

The technical discussions were intense and fruitful, also were the unforgettable gastronomical satellite meetings organized by Gioacchino.

The Spanish Scientific Counsellor, Santiago Herrero Amigo, visited Rokkasho on 7 September and witnessed the recently arrived components of the RF Power system, one of the various top technology hardware of Spanish contribution to LIPAc.

In the afternoon, he had an official encounter with Mamoru Toda, the mayor of Rokkasho, accompanied by IFMIF/EVEDA Project Manager, Shigeru O’hira and IFMIF/EVEDA Project Leader, Juan Knaster.

Photo taken at Rokkasho Village Office on September 7, 2015

We are proud to announce that the first components of the LIPAc’s RF Power System have arrived at Rokkasho site.

After a long sea travel from Spain, three containers reached Hachinohe port on 28^th August. Devanning at the port and transportation from Hachinohe to Rokkasho took three days starting from 31^st August.

  Containers at Hachinohe Port (left); and truck loaded and ready to depart to Rokkasho (right)

A total of fifteen packages were delivered to Rokkasho site; including seven RF high voltage power supplies (HVPS), two RF Modules, three electrical distribution cabinets, and auxiliaries.

From 2^nd to 4^th September, NKK Company opened all the wooden crates and started the installation of the components, which is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

   RF Power System’s wooden crates staged at the RF Power Bay Area (right) and two RF Modules (main and circulator platform) ready for its installation (right)

After almost five years since we arrived in Japan, my wife and I continue to astonish ourselves for the attractiveness and oddities that surround us.
We were impressed of the simplicity, morality and straightforwardness of the Japanese people; even though various events of daily life are often diametrically divergent and sometimes appear to me strange compared to the standards and customs of my home country, Italy.
For instance, it was a surprise to me to see the Japanese postman delivering the mail during wintertime; this might be normal worldwide, but in Japan, the peculiarity is that the postman delivers mail during winter, driving a motorcycle even during heavy snowfalls, with roads covered in white and slippery snow, and often icy!  Saturday and Sunday they still work regularly, 365 days per year the service is available and very efficient.
In Italy, Postmen use as well the motorcycle or bike, season allowing, normally is preferable a small car.