Any government to be formed after the June 25 Lower House election should take steps to increase Japan's preparedness for natural disasters and other emergencies that could endanger national security or the lives of the citizens, said Kazuhisa Ogawa, an expert in crisis management.

"In terms of managing emergencies, Japan lacks an effective system that such a highly-industrialized nation ought to have," said 54-year-old Ogawa, a military analyst who has long been calling for Japan's security awareness to be increased, both at the government and public levels.

Ogawa argued in a recent interview that political leaders themselves should be questioned for their capacity to manage critical situations, even within their own field of politics.