Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Eto Taku. Kyodo News Yonhap.
“Supporters give us a lot of rice. We have enough to sell.”
In Japan, where the burden on ordinary people is increasing due to the skyrocketing rice prices, Agriculture Minister Eto Taku’s controversial remarks have sparked criticism. Despite repeated apologies, public sentiment did not calm down, leading Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to effectively decide to dismiss Minister Eto.
Prime Minister Ishiba met with reporters at the prime minister’s office on the 20th, saying, “As the person responsible for appointments, I feel a deep sense of responsibility,” apologizing. However, he indicated that the role of the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries is to provide a clear answer regarding the surge in rice prices, and therefore Eto would remain in his position.
Nevertheless, the situation rapidly changed as opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party, agreed on the same day to demand Minister Eto’s resignation. Jiji Press reported, citing multiple sources, that it is expected he will resign, effectively taking responsibility. This would be the first ministerial dismissal since the establishment of the Ishiba administration.
The news agency explained, “Given the inappropriate comment on a topic of high public concern—the price of rice—there seems to be an intention to minimize its impact on the upcoming House of Councillors election this summer.”
At a ruling Liberal Democratic Party meeting held in Saga City on the 18th, Minister Eto stated, “I’ve never purchased rice.” This remark by a responsible minister, amid the government’s failure to curb the surge in rice prices and who should be ensuring price stability, was considered a gaffe. He attempted to clarify by saying, “There was a lack of consideration for consumers,” but the controversy did not subside.
In response to the soaring rice prices, the Japanese government has released reserved rice stocks, but the effect has been minimal. As of the previous day, the average rice price was 4,268 yen (about 41,129 KRW) per 5 kg, up 54 yen from the previous week. Compared to the same period last year, it has nearly doubled.
The Mainichi Shimbun reported that the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries pointed out ‘hoarding’ by distributors as the main cause of the rise in rice prices. With continuing extremely hot weather affecting crop yields and an increasing number of cases where distributors directly purchase rice from farmers without going through major collection companies, the explanation provided was that market price competition has intensified.