Japan’s Agriculture Minister, Taku Etō, has stepped down following public outrage over his controversial comment that he never purchases rice because he receives it as a gift. His resignation has intensified the pressure on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, whose government is already grappling with rising living costs and discontent ahead of the crucial upper house elections in July.
“Just now I submitted my resignation to Prime Minister Ishiba,” Etō announced outside the PM’s office.
Etō’s remarks, made at a recent fundraiser, triggered widespread criticism at a time when rice prices have nearly doubled. “I’ve never bought rice myself because my supporters donate so much to me that I can practically sell it,” he said. Earlier, he had expressed sympathy with consumers struggling under the price hike, noting the government’s release of 300,000 tons of rice from emergency reserves to curb prices.
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Japan’s agriculture minister Taku Eto sparked outrage by saying he’s “never had to buy rice,” as consumers struggle with soaring prices amid the rice shortage crisis. #米騒動 #江藤農相 pic.twitter.com/n6x7872HUk
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Public Anger and Political Fallout
His statement sparked fury across Japan, where rice has become a symbol of the larger cost-of-living crisis. Data from April shows a 5kg bag of rice now costs a record ¥4,268 ($29), up from ¥4,214 the week before, and nearly double the price from a year ago. The crisis stems from multiple factors, including a poor harvest due to extreme heat in 2023, hoarding by distributors, and panic buying following a “megaquake” warning in 2024.
Etō acknowledged his misstep: “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,” he told Kyodo news agency. “Once again, I apologise to people for making extremely inappropriate comments as minister when they are struggling with surging rice prices.”
He also admitted his wife had scolded him for the remarks, saying, “She told me that she does buy rice when the donated rice runs out. It’s not like our family is living entirely off of rice given to us as gifts.”
Opposition and Public Discontent
Junya Ogawa, secretary general of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, slammed the remarks as “extremely inappropriate, out of touch and intolerable.”
Prime Minister Ishiba, already facing declining popularity due to the ongoing economic crunch, had earlier apologised for Etō’s comments. In a Kyodo survey, 87% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the rice price crisis. The cabinet’s approval ratings have now hit their lowest since Ishiba took office last October.
Shinjirō Koizumi, a former environment minister and previous contender for LDP leadership, has been appointed as Etō’s successor.
In an unprecedented move last month, Japan also imported rice from South Korea for the first time in 25 years to address the domestic shortfall and growing consumer frustration.
