In Japan, the Minister of Agriculture resigns after a remark on rice – Liberation

The Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Taku Eto, was pushed to resign on Wednesday, May 20, after declaring that he never bought rice because he received it for free. An unwelcome remark while The price of this basic food in Japan explodes. « I just submitted my resignation to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba »said Taku Eto leaving the office of the head of government, who immediately accepted his resignation « So as not to stop agricultural policy ».

During a public rally on Sunday, the minister said he had « Never bought rice because my supporters give me so much that I could practically sell it ».

This remark shocked opinion in a country faced with a sharp increase in food prices, especially rice, whose prices have almost doubled over a year. The Japanese government recently had to draw on its strategic rice reserves, especially due to bad harvests due to heat in 2023 and Panic purchases provoked by a warning of « mega earthquake » last summer.

Trying to justify himself, the now ex-minister explained on Monday that he had exaggerated and caused his wife’s anger. « She pointed out to me that she was going to buy rice when our stock is exhausted »he tried to make up for it. But his apologies were not enough to appease criticism. Junya Ogawa, secretary general of the main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, had judged these remarks « Extremely inappropriate, distant and intolerable ».

To replace him, the Prime Minister appointed Shinjiro Koizumi, former environment minister appreciated by the media and son of the former popular Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Proof of the importance of the subject in the archipelago, the head of government declared in the process that he expected that Koizumi, 44, actively attacks « Flowing up rice prices ».