Japan's Agriculture Minister Taku Eto has resigned following public outrage over remarks suggesting he never had to buy rice thanks to gifts from supporters.
His comments were deemed insensitive as consumers across Japan face a significant rice shortage and surging prices.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba accepted Eto’s resignation, marking a notable political setback amid growing public frustration with food supply issues.
Eto had come under intense criticism after stating he avoided purchasing rice due to gifts he regularly received from backers, sparking backlash at a time when rice affordability and availability are serious national concerns.
Although Eto later issued a formal apology, the damage had already been done. The incident further highlighted the widening disconnect between political leadership and the daily struggles of ordinary citizens.
In response to the ongoing rice crisis, Tokyo released around 300,000 tonnes of stored rice between March and April in an effort to stabilise market prices.
However, according to local media reports citing data from the Ministry of Agriculture, the total volume of rice obtained by major distributors by the end of January was still 230,000 tonnes lower than the previous year, despite an overall increase in crop production.
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