Japanese Agriculture Minister Taku Eto submitted his resignation on May 21, 2023, following intense public outrage over comments he made regarding rice purchases amid soaring prices in Japan. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba accepted his resignation, stating the need to not halt agricultural policy, according to The Guardian.
Eto's controversial remarks came during a seminar in Saga Prefecture, where he stated, "I have never bought rice. Supporters give me a lot of rice. I have enough to sell at home." The comments, perceived as insensitive amid a critical rice price crisis, struck a nerve with locals struggling with skyrocketing rice prices.
Following Eto's resignation, reports indicate that Prime Minister Ishiba appointed former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi to lead the Ministry of Agriculture. Koizumi, son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, is considered a rising star in Japanese politics.
The episode has intensified existing challenges for the Ishiba administration. Public support for the current cabinet has dropped to its lowest level since he took office at the end of last year. According to The Japan Times, the cabinet approval rating dropped to an all-time low of 27.4%, reflecting growing dissatisfaction among voters.
Japan has been grappling with an increase in rice prices over the past year. Prices for a 5-kilogram bag of rice reached an average of 4,268 yen (approximately $29.40) in the week ending May 11, nearly double what they were in the same period last year. The surge in prices is attributed to poor harvests caused by heat in 2023, higher fertilizer and production costs, and panic buying provoked by a warning of a "mega earthquake."
Despite efforts by the government to alleviate the crisis, including releasing emergency rice reserves from strategic stockpiles, consumers have seen little relief. The government released about 300,000 tons of rice between March and April, but this move has yielded little effect in reining in rice prices. Only about 10.5% of the stockpiled rice has reached retail stores and restaurants, according to ABC News.
Eto's comments drew widespread criticism from both ruling and opposition lawmakers. Junya Ogawa, Secretary General of the main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, described Eto's remarks as "extremely inappropriate, out of touch and intolerable." Opposition parties had threatened to submit a no-confidence motion against Eto if he did not resign voluntarily by Wednesday afternoon.
Prime Minister Ishiba initially defended Eto but later reprimanded him over his remarks. Facing increasing public pressure and declining approval ratings, Ishiba accepted Eto's resignation. "I thought it is not appropriate for me to stay as head just as the government needs to tackle the rice price challenges," Eto said upon resigning, according to ABC News.
The appointment of Shinjiro Koizumi as the new Agriculture Minister is seen as an attempt by Ishiba to bolster his cabinet and address the ongoing crisis. Koizumi is expected to bring fresh perspectives to Japan's agricultural policies, including addressing the rising rice prices and the broader cost of living crisis ahead of the Upper House elections in July.
The soaring rice prices have impacted Japanese households. Rice remains a staple food and an integral part of Japanese culture and history. The increasing costs have contributed to the overall cost of living crisis, with inflation rising 3.6% year on year in March. Consumers are struggling, and dissatisfaction with the government's response is high. According to a recent Kyodo survey, 87% of respondents were dissatisfied with the government's handling of rice prices.
Sayuri Shirai, a professor of economics at Keio University, noted that rice in Japan is produced mostly by elderly people running small farms, making production inefficient. The number of farmers is dropping due to the aging population, further exacerbating supply issues.
The Ishiba administration faces mounting pressure to address the crisis effectively. With upcoming elections, the government's handling of the rice price crisis could impact its future. Critics argue that urgent action is needed to alleviate the burden on consumers and restore public confidence.
The preparation of this article relied on a news-analysis system.