Japan’s Agriculture Minister Taku Eto, middle, arrives on the prime minister’s workplace in Tokyo on Wednesday, Might 21, 2025.
Kyodo Information/AP
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Kyodo Information/AP
TOKYO — Japan’s agriculture minister resigned Wednesday due to political fallout over latest feedback that he “by no means had to purchase rice” as a result of he bought it from supporters as items. The resignation comes as the general public struggles with file excessive costs of the nation’s conventional staple meals.
Taku Eto’s remark, which many Japanese noticed as out of contact with the troublesome financial realities they face, got here at a seminar Sunday in Saga prefecture. Politically, the gaffe might be additional bother for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s already struggling minority authorities, which faces an important nationwide election in July. A loss may imply a brand new authorities or that Ishiba must step down.
“I made an especially inappropriate comment at a time when customers are fighting hovering rice costs,” Eto informed reporters after submitting his resignation on the prime minister’s workplace. Eto mentioned Ishiba accepted his resignation.
“It’s not acceptable for me to remain” as officers work to decrease excessive rice costs and improve provide, Eto mentioned.
The federal government has launched tons of rice from its emergency stockpile in latest months, however the newest agricultural ministry statistics present that has not likely helped the state of affairs. Some supermarkets have began promoting cheaper imported rice.
Eto, whereas submitting his resignation, has sought to make clear the feedback that bought him in bother. He mentioned he does really purchase white rice himself and was not dwelling on rice given as items. He mentioned the reward remark referred to brown rice, which he desires individuals to grow to be enthusiastic about as a result of it will probably attain market sooner.
Media stories say Eto’s successor might be standard former Surroundings Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of a former prime minister.
Ishiba, additionally a former farm minister, mentioned he desires to strengthen Japan’s meals safety and self-sufficiency. He just lately proposed agricultural reforms, together with elevated rice manufacturing and doable exports, although critics say he ought to urgently repair the continuing rice drawback first.
Noting the rice state of affairs, Ishiba mentioned he suspects the rice worth surge is “not a short lived however a structural drawback.”
Opposition lawmakers had threatened to submit a no-confidence movement in opposition to him if Eto did not resign voluntarily by Wednesday afternoon. Get together leaders plan to additional grill Ishiba at a celebration leaders’ debate at parliament scheduled later within the day.
Japanese rice demand has decreased over latest many years as individuals’s diets have diversified, however rice stays a staple meals and integral a part of Japanese tradition and historical past.
“Rice is the steady meals for the Japanese. When its costs are rising each week, (Eto’s) resignation is simply pure,” mentioned Shizuko Oshima, 73.
The shortfall began final August on panic shopping for following a authorities warning over preparedness for a serious earthquake. The provision stress eased after the autumn harvest, however a scarcity and worth will increase hit once more early this 12 months.
Officers have blamed the provision scarcity on poor harvests due to scorching climate in 2023 and better fertilizer and different manufacturing prices, however some consultants blame the federal government’s long-term rice manufacturing coverage.
The unprecedented launch from emergency rice stockpiles was seen partly as an try to determine distribution issues. The federal government has denied there may be now a rice scarcity, however officers say it is a thriller why rice isn’t reaching customers. Some consultants say the rice scarcity might be critical nevertheless it’s troublesome to hint rice as its distribution route has grow to be so advanced because the finish of presidency management in 1995.
