As Japan gears up for the July 20 Upper House election, there is a noticeable lack of debate among political parties about boosting the country's disaster resilience, with all sides striking a similar tone.

In a country where tremors are common, beefing up measures for disaster-preparedness is an urgent task.

The powerful earthquake that hit the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture in January 2024 has highlighted the problems faced by graying, hard-to-reach communities in rural and mountainous areas.