In a nation where food prices are skyrocketing, the agricultural minister of Japan resigned after claiming he never buys rice because he receives it for free.
The resignation of Taku Etō has increased pressure on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who has outraged voters ahead of upper house elections in July by failing to control skyrocketing rice prices and address a broader cost of living crisis.
At the prime minister’s office, Etō said reporters, “I just submitted my resignation to Prime Minister Ishiba.”
After asserting that he never had to purchase rice and instead relied on presents from supporters, Etō had been the target of calls for his resignation.
After the government released over 300,000 tonnes of rice from emergency stockpiles earlier this year in an attempt to lower costs, Etō first expressed sympathy for the “hardship” that customers were going through. Last weekend, however, Etō stated during a fundraiser that he had “never bought rice myself because my supporters donate so much to me that I can practically sell it.”
Shinjirō Koizumi, a former environment minister who unsuccessfully challenged Ishiba for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership last year, took Etō’s post on Wednesday.
Customers were angered by Etō’s remark since, according to data released in April, they are now paying almost twice as much for a bag of rice as they did a year ago.
When I questioned whether it was suitable for me to remain in charge of the agriculture ministry during a crucial period for rice prices, I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t. The Kyodo news agency said Etō added.
“I apologise once more to the public for my incredibly inappropriate remarks as minister during a time when they are experiencing hardship due to the rising cost of rice.”
A number of reasons have been cited for Japan’s rice shortage, including low harvests brought on by hot weather in 2023 and panic buying in response to a 2024 “megaquake” prediction. It is also believed that distributors and wholesalers are stockpiling rice in case there are any more shortages.
Ishiba had previously expressed regret for Etō’s comments.
Weeks before voters cast ballots in upper house elections that could decide Ishiba’s future as prime minister, the government’s popularity has been tarnished by the protracted rice crisis and soaring household food and energy expenses.
While support ratings for Ishiba’s cabinet have fallen to their lowest levels since he took office last October, 87% of respondents to a recent Kyodo survey expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of rice prices.
In the week ending May 11, the average price of rice sold at supermarkets hit a record ¥4,268 yen ($29) for 5 kg, up from ¥4,214 the week before and nearly double what it was a year earlier.
In an effort to quell mounting consumer ire, Japan imported rice from South Korea for the first time in 25 years in April.
Etō’s remarks were deemed “very inappropriate, out of touch, and intolerable” by Junya Ogawa, secretary general of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic party.
Etō conceded that his remarks had angered his wife. “She told me that she does buy rice when the donated rice runs out,” he said. “It’s not like our family is living entirely off of rice given to us as gifts.”
