Both ruling and opposition parties are pledging to enhance disaster countermeasures in campaigning for Sunday’s House of Councilors election, given that Japan constantly faces the risk of natural disasters, including major earthquakes and torrential rains.
The country’s social infrastructure is rapidly aging. According to an estimate by the infrastructure ministry, 57% of some 730,000 road bridges across Japan will be at least 50 years old in 2031, up from 32% as of the end of March 2021.
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