Japan farm minister resigns over free rice gaffe

TOKYO: Japan's farm minister resigned on Wednesday after a gaffe about rice sparked public outrage in a country grappling with soaring prices of the cherished staple.

Taku Eto told a gathering over the weekend that he had "never bought rice myself because my supporters donate so much to me that I can practically sell it."

This struck a nerve in Japan, where shortages have sent rice prices soaring. Last month, prices were nearly double the level of April 2024.

The key factors behind the surge include poor harvests due to hot weather in 2023, panic-buying triggered by a "megaquake" warning last year, and a tourism boom.

The government has been forced to release some of its emergency rice reserves in an attempt to bring down prices—so far with little success.

Eto's comments were condemned as "extremely inappropriate, out of touch, and intolerable" by Junya Ogawa, secretary-general of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, whose poor approval ratings are partly attributed to high food prices, criticised the minister, calling the remarks "extremely unfortunate."

"The agriculture minister's job now is to provide solutions to the soaring rice prices. I expect him to deliver answers," Ishiba told journalists on Tuesday.

Opposition parties reportedly threatened to file a no-confidence motion against Ishiba's minority government, which faces tough upper house elections in July.

On Monday, Eto attempted to walk back his remarks, saying he had exaggerated and had been corrected by his wife.

"She told me that she does buy rice when our stockpile of donated rice runs out," Eto said, adding, "it's not like our family is living entirely off rice gifted to us."

'Very tough words'

But early on Wednesday, Eto stepped down, telling reporters that he had tendered his resignation after receiving "very tough words" from the prime minister.

Ishiba later told an upper house session that he had "approved his resignation from the viewpoint that agricultural policy cannot stop functioning."

"I apologise to the Japanese people, as it is my responsibility that I appointed him," said Ishiba.

"The fact that rice prices remain high is not a one-off issue but a structural one. We need thorough discussions on this, and prices must fall, of course," he said.

As Eto's successor, Ishiba appointed Shinjiro Koizumi, a media-savvy former environment minister and son of popular former premier Junichiro Koizumi.

Ishiba said he expected Koizumi, 44, to demonstrate "strong leadership amid soaring rice prices."

Voter Kyoko Sato, 68, who works at a restaurant in Tokyo, said she had been "shocked and disappointed" by Eto's comments.

"I have just one portion of rice for my Sunday meal at home. I have to buy rice, but the price is double what it was before," she told AFP.

"I'm surviving by eating meals prepared for workers at the restaurant on weekdays," she added.

"I'm a pensioner, but I can't make ends meet with my pension alone, so I have to work."

By RSS/AFP