Taku Eto, Japan's agriculture minister, resigned after facing backlash for stating he never buys rice due to donations from supporters. His comments, made during a fundraiser, heightened tensions as consumers struggle with skyrocketing rice prices, nearly doubling compared to last year. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is under pressure as rice prices soar and dissatisfaction grows ahead of upcoming elections. Eto's resignation follows earlier attempts to assuage public concern over food prices, as the country wrestles with food shortages attributed to poor harvests and stockpiling behavior amid crisis fears.
I asked myself whether it is appropriate for me to stay at the helm [of the agriculture ministry] at a critical time for rice prices, and I concluded that it is not.
Eto had initially sympathised with the hardship felt by consumers after the government released about 300,000 tons of rice from emergency stockpiles earlier this year in the hope of bringing down prices.
My supporters donate so much to me that I can practically sell it.
Japan's rice shortfall has been blamed on several factors, including poor harvests due to hot weather in 2023 and panic-buying prompted by a megaquake warning in 2024.
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