Japanese Agriculture Minister Resigns Amid Rice Shortage Controversy

The resignation highlights growing tensions over Japan's agricultural policies and the looming rice crisis.

Japan's Agriculture Minister Taku Eto resigned this week after inciting public outrage with his comments about never purchasing rice, a staple food amidst a national shortage that has angered voters. Speaking at a policy speech, Eto stated, "I have never bought rice myself; my supporters give me a lot of it," igniting a wave of criticism that emphasized his disconnect from the struggles impacting ordinary citizens in a country where rice prices continue to surge.

The shortage has been attributed to long-standing agricultural policies that hinder new farmers from utilizing available land, leaving many fields unplanted. This has sparked frustration among urban consumers facing rising prices, while the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) faces potential backlash in the upcoming July parliamentary elections.

Eto's remarks, perceived as tone-deaf, triggered the opposition parties to intensify their criticisms, even threatening a no-confidence vote. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who sees his approval ratings plummet, stated that the confusion surrounding Eto's comments warranted his resignation to prevent any further disruption of agricultural policies. In a move to stabilize the situation, Ishiba has appointed rising political star Shinjiro Koizumi as Eto's successor, hoping to remedy voter discontent and revamp the government's approach to agricultural issues.