On October 6, the Japanese government made a crucial cabinet decision to establish a Disaster Management Agency, which will serve as the command center in responding to natural disasters. This agency will be led by the Prime Minister and will possess advisory powers over other ministries, enabling it to address inter-departmental silos in disaster management. The government's goal is to have the bill enacted during the ongoing parliamentary session, potentially establishing the agency as early as November.

The proposed Disaster Management Agency will consist of various officials including a Disaster Minister, Deputy Ministers, and civil servants, expanding and reorganizing the current disaster management units in the Cabinet Office into a larger body comprising 352 personnel. The new agency aims to enhance pre-disaster preparedness and streamline responses from the onset of a disaster through recovery and reconstruction initiatives. Additionally, the establishment of local disaster management bureaus is planned, which will focus on strengthening Japan's pre-disaster measures against significant seismic risks, with expected completion in the summer of 2028.

In conjunction with the establishment of the Disaster Management Agency, the government has also decided to amend 68 related laws, including disaster response fundamental laws and seismic laws, further integrating disaster prevention efforts into a cohesive government strategy. Approximately 40 local governments have expressed interest in hosting local disaster bureaus, indicating significant support and awareness for improving disaster management ahead of future challenges such as earthquakes and tsunamis.