Rising rice prices, scandal prompt resignation of Japan’s agriculture minister

TOKYO, JAPAN: Japan’s Agriculture Minister, Taku Etō, has resigned following controversial remarks in which he stated he never purchases rice because he receives it for free, sparking public outrage amid rising food prices. His departure has intensified pressure on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, whose government has faced criticism for failing to control soaring rice costs and address the broader cost-of-living crisis ahead of the July upper house elections.

Etō announced his resignation to the prime minister’s office, explaining, “Just now I submitted my resignation to Prime Minister Ishiba.” He had faced calls for his resignation after revealing that he relied on gifts from supporters rather than buying rice himself. Initially, Etō showed some understanding of consumer hardships following the government’s release of approximately 300,000 tons of rice from emergency stockpiles earlier this year to lower prices. However, during a fundraiser last weekend, he claimed, “I’ve never bought rice myself because my supporters donate so much to me that I can practically sell it.”

His comments angered consumers, who are currently paying nearly double the price for a kilogram of rice compared to the previous year, according to April data. Etō questioned whether he should remain as agriculture minister during this critical period, ultimately deciding that he should step down. He apologized for making “extremely inappropriate comments” while the public struggles with rising rice prices, which have been driven by factors such as poor harvests caused by hot weather in 2023, panic-buying following a “megaquake” warning in 2024, and hoarding by wholesalers and distributors.

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Following Etō’s resignation, Shinjirō Koizumi, a former environment minister and last autumn’s unsuccessful contender for the Liberal Democratic Party leadership against Ishiba, has been appointed as his replacement.

Public dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the rice crisis remains high. A Kyodo survey showed that 87% of respondents disapprove of the government’s response to rising rice prices. Prime Minister Ishiba’s approval ratings have fallen to their lowest since he assumed office last October. Meanwhile, the average supermarket price for a 5kg bag of rice reached a record ¥4,268 ($29) in early May, nearly doubling from the previous year. In April, Japan imported rice from South Korea for the first time in 25 years in an effort to quell consumer anger.

Opposition figures, including Junya Ogawa of the Constitutional Democratic Party, criticized Etō’s remarks as “extremely inappropriate, out of touch, and intolerable.” Etō admitted that his comments had upset his wife, explaining, “She told me that she does buy rice when the donated rice runs out,” adding, “Our family is not entirely living off rice given to us as gifts.”