Japan Opposition Leader Apologizes for 'Animal Feed' Rice Remarks Amid Price Surge

Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of Japan's opposition Democratic Party for the People, apologized after referring to the government's stockpiled rice as "animal feed," a remark that sparked backlash from politicians and social media. Tamaki's comment during a parliamentary session criticized the government’s plan to release rice from the 2021 harvest to curb soaring prices, claiming that stockpiled rice sold at low prices is not what people truly need. Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi expressed disappointment over Tamaki's remarks, emphasizing ongoing efforts to release the stockpiled rice effectively. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and other opposition leaders condemned Tamaki's comments as disrespectful to farmers and inappropriate. Japan faces record-high rice prices, with consumer prices rising significantly, prompting government measures to alleviate the situation by selling reserve rice at reduced prices. The controversy highlights tensions around the politicization of food supply issues amid economic pressures in Japan.