Yoshitaka Sakurada, 68, the minister who heads the government's cybersecurity office got befuddled when fellow politicians asked him some basic cybersecurity questions.

Asked by a lawmaker if nuclear power plants allowed the use of USB drives, a common technology widely considered to be a security risk, Sakurada did not seem to understand what they were.

"I don't know details well. So how about having an expert answer your question if necessary, how's that?"

Masato Imai, an opposition lawmaker moaned: "I can't believe that a person who never used a computer is in charge of cybersecurity measures."

"I have been independently running my own business since I was 25 years old. When computer use is necessary. I order my employees or secretaries" to do it. I don't type on a computer", Sakurada replied.