Japan's agriculture minister resigns after controversial rice comments
發佈日期: 2025-05-21 11:48
TVB News
Japan's agriculture minister resigned on Wednesday over his inappropriate remark about buying rice. This, as the public struggles with record high prices of the country's traditional staple food.
At a party seminar on Sunday in Saga prefecture, Taku Eto said he "never had to buy rice." This, as his supporters always give him the grain as gifts.
After resigning, Edo said he believed "it was nothing but an inappropriate comment, which was due to a lack of understanding of people's feelings."
Eto apologised to the people and retracted his comment, saying he buys rice himself and was not living on rice gifts.
Japan's rice shortfall started last August after panic buying following a government caution over preparedness for a major earthquake. The supply pressure eased after the autumn harvest, but a shortage and price increases hit again early this year.
Officials have blamed the supply shortage on poor harvests due to hot weather in 2023. That's in addition to higher fertiliser and other production costs.
Some experts blame the government's long-term rice production policy.
