Japan PM Dismisses Agriculture Minister Over Rice Price Gaffe

Japan's Agriculture Minister Taku Eto resigned following public outrage over his insensitive remark that he never had to buy rice because supporters gifted him so much, at a time when rice prices have nearly doubled due to poor harvests and high demand. The comment was widely criticized amid soaring food prices and ongoing supply shortages exacerbated by hot weather and panic buying. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba accepted Eto's resignation, taking responsibility for his appointment and appointing former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi as Eto's successor to restore public trust and address rice policy challenges. Koizumi pledged to focus on alleviating public concerns about rice prices, which remain a significant issue for Japanese consumers. The government has released emergency rice stockpiles to stabilize prices, but retail costs have continued to rise, fueling anxiety among consumers and retailers turning to cheaper foreign rice. This controversy compounds difficulties for Ishiba's administration ahead of a critical national election, highlighting structural issues in Japan's rice production and pricing system.