21.05.2025 18:09
During a fundraising campaign event, Japan's Agriculture Minister Taku Eto, who said, "I have never bought rice thanks to the donated rice," became the target of criticism. Taku Eto, who apologized by stating, "I used an inappropriate expression during a time when the public is complaining about rising rice prices," has resigned.
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, Taku Eto, became the target of criticism after stating at a fundraising event he attended on May 19, "I am not buying rice. I have plenty at home because my supporters give me a lot."
APOLOGIZED AND RESIGNED
The "joke" made by Eto, which angered lawmakers and voters, led to his resignation. After submitting his resignation to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Eto appeared before the cameras and said, "I apologize for making an extremely inappropriate comment as a minister while the public is struggling due to rising rice prices."
In response to Taku Eto's resignation, Prime Minister Ishiba announced the appointment of former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, whom he described as someone with "experience, intuition, and passion for agriculture and fisheries," to the position of Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
RISING RICE PRICES IN JAPAN
Due to recent climatic events and natural disasters negatively affecting rice production, which holds significant importance in Japan's traditional cuisine, the Tokyo government released approximately 210,000 tons of emergency rice reserves into the market for the first time this February to curb rising prices. Despite this move by the government, rice prices continue to rise nationwide. According to government data, in the last week of March, the average price of 5 kilograms of rice increased to $29, doubling compared to the previous year.