New Delhi

Taku Eto, Japan’s Agriculture Minister, stepped down on Wednesday following backlash over his unsettling remarks about receiving rice as gifts.

The Minister noted that he had always depended on rice contributions from his supporters, claiming he never purchased it himself.

His comments regarding this essential food item sparked public anger, leading to mounting pressure for his resignation.

Initially, he expressed understanding of the “challenges” faced by consumers after the government released over 300,000 tonnes of rice from emergency reserves earlier this year as a cost-cutting measure.

During a fundraiser for the Liberal Democrats, he mentioned, “I’ve never bought my own meals because my supporters donated a lot to me and I can actually sell them.”

Many in Japan felt that Eto’s remarks were out of touch with economic realities.

“I made a very inappropriate statement when consumers struggled with rising prices on rice,” Eto admitted after resigning at the Prime Minister’s Office. It has been reported.

“I submitted my resignation to Prime Minister Isba,” he stated.

This resignation occurred amid growing political difficulties for the government ahead of the upcoming elections. Japan is currently dealing with poor harvests and a rice deficit, which have led to increased production costs.

Eto’s departure has angered voters, especially given the rising US prices before the July Senate elections, alongside escalating living costs.

Supermarket rice prices rose to 4,268 yen (approximately Rs 2,543) for 5 kg on May 11, slightly down from 4,214 yen (Rs 2,511) the week before. This price is reportedly about double what it was in 2024.

According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Agriculture, while large amounts of rice were released from strategic reserves, the impact was negligible. Some supermarkets now offer cheaper imported rice.

A recent survey by Kyoto found that 87% of respondents were unhappy with the government’s management of rice pricing, causing Isba’s cabinet approval ratings to plummet to their lowest since he took office in October.

Several reasons have been identified for the rice shortage in Japan, including poor yields from the hot weather in 2023 and impulsive purchases following the “Megakoki” forecast in 2024. There’s also speculation that distributors and wholesalers are stockpiling rice anticipating further shortages.