Japanese Society of Steel Construction

The Japanese Society of Steel Construction (JSSC; 一般社団法人日本鋼構造協会) is a Japanese incorporated association and learned society dedicated to steel construction technology. Established in 1965, it was originally a government-supervised shadan hōjin under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and today operates as a general incorporated association. Its activities span research and investigation of technical issues in steel structures, the drafting of standards and specifications, international liaison work on behalf of Japan's steel construction community, and the certification of engineers and fabrication facilities. JSSC is a focal point for steel construction in Japan. It organizes the Steel Structures Symposium, publishes the Journal of Steel Structures (鋼構造論文集), and runs the Building Steel Quality Management Organization as part of efforts to assure the quality of building steelwork. It also trains engineers for the inspection and maintenance of civil-engineering steel structures. Its qualification programs include civil steel structure diagnosticians and assistant diagnosticians, building steelwork engineers, building high-strength bolted joint management engineers, steelwork construction management supervisors, and a family of stainless-steel-related certifications covering fabrication management, high-strength bolted joint installation, welding, and fabrication plants. Internationally, JSSC serves as a window for steel-construction exchange, participating in organizations such as the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE), the Pacific Structural Steel Conference (PSSC), the European Convention for Constructional Steelwork (ECCS), and the Pacific Steel Construction Association (PCSSA). It is also involved in ISO/TC-167 standardization and publishes an English-language journal to disseminate Japanese steel-construction information overseas. In 1999 it took over the IABSE Japan Group secretariat from the Japan Society of Civil Engineers, and in 2010 it merged with the Stainless Steel Building Association of Japan. The society is headquartered in Tokyo. Its office moved from Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku to Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku in 2002, and then to Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku in 2016. The official website lists a further planned relocation to Higashi-Ueno, Taito-ku, with operations beginning in August 2026. JSSC was designated a cooperative academic research organization by the Science Council of Japan in January 2008. Its presidents have included Koichi Takanashi (Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo), Yozo Fujino (President of Josai University; Professor Emeritus, Yokohama National University and University of Tokyo), and the current president Mitsumasa Midorikawa (Professor Emeritus, Hokkaido University).

The Japanese Society of Steel Construction was established on 17 March 1965 as a shadan hōjin (incorporated association) under the supervision of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. It was formally registered as a shadan hōjin on 28 December 1990. From its founding, JSSC has functioned as a national forum for steel construction technology, bringing together researchers, engineers, fabricators, and public agencies. In November 1999, JSSC took over the secretariat of the IABSE Japan Group from the Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE), strengthening its role as a bridge between Japanese steel construction and the international structural engineering community. In December 2002, the society moved its office from Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, to Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku. In April 2010, it merged with the Stainless Steel Building Association of Japan (ステンレス構造建築協会), adding stainless-steel structural activities and certifications to its portfolio. In December 2016, the office relocated again, from Yotsuya to Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku. On 24 January 2008, JSSC was designated by the Science Council of Japan as a cooperative academic research organization (協力学術研究団体). Over the decades, its scope has expanded from research and standards development to include the Steel Structures Symposium, the Journal of Steel Structures, the Building Steel Quality Management Organization, and training programs for the inspection and maintenance of civil steel structures. Its qualification programs, such as the Civil Steel Structure Diagnostician, have been incorporated into procurement and inspection guidelines issued by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, regional development bureaus, and local governments including Tokyo and Saitama City. Internationally, JSSC maintains direct membership in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the Pacific Steel Construction Association (PCSSA), the European Convention for Constructional Steelwork (ECCS), and the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE). It hosts and co-sponsors the Pacific Structural Steel Conference (PSSC) and engages in ISO/TC-167 standardization and the regular publication of an English-language journal. The society's leadership has included prominent academics: Koichi Takanashi (Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo), Yozo Fujino (President of Josai University; Professor Emeritus, Yokohama National University and University of Tokyo), and the current president Mitsumasa Midorikawa (Professor Emeritus, Hokkaido University). The official website notes a planned office relocation to Higashi-Ueno, Taito-ku, with operations beginning on 17 August 2026.

• Founded as an incorporated association (shadan hōjin) under the supervision of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

• Formally registered as a shadan hōjin.

• Took over the IABSE Japan Group secretariat from the Japan Society of Civil Engineers.

• Office relocated from Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku to Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.

• Designated as a cooperative academic research organization by the Science Council of Japan.

• Merged with the Stainless Steel Building Association of Japan.

• Office relocated from Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku to Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.

• Planned start of operations at new office in Higashi-Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo.

Japan's representative learned society and standards/certification body for steel construction, bridging industry, academia, and government.

• Journal of Steel Structures (鋼構造論文集)

• Steel Structures Symposium

• Civil Steel Structure Diagnostician / Assistant Diagnostician

• Building Steelwork Engineer

• Building High-Strength Bolted Joint Management Engineer

• Steelwork Construction Management Supervisor

• Stainless Steel Building Fabrication Management Engineer

• Stainless Steel High-Strength Bolted Joint Installation Engineer

• Stainless Steel Building Welder

• Stainless Steel Building Fabrication Plant

• Stainless Steel Building Intermediate Member Fabrication Plant

• Stainless Steel High-Strength Bolt Fabrication Plant

• Structural Stainless Steel Bolt Fabrication Plant

1. 1一般社団法人日本鋼構造協会jssc.or.jp
2. 2Japanese Society of Steel Construction - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3日本鋼構造協会 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org