JJapan

Japan farm minister resigns over controversial gifted rice comments

  • May 20, 2025

Japan’s agriculture minister, Taku Eto, resigned after admitting to not buying rice due to receiving gifts from supporters, sparking public backlash amidst rising prices. This resignation, the first in Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Cabinet, comes ahead of a summer election and further weakens public support.

by SkyInJapan

7 comments

  3. He sowed the seeds of his own downfall. But experience should tell us that politicians like this are weeds, not crops: expect to see him sprout up somewhere else before too long.

  4. How long can Ishiba last? He bought some time with Eto but with support dipping into the 20’s, his tenure seems tenous at best.

  6. More on this subject from other reputable sources:

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    – Mainichi Shimbun (C+): [Japan farm chief slammed over ‘plenty of rice’ remark amid shortages – The Mainichi](https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250519/p2g/00m/0na/033000c)
    – Reuters (A): [Japan PM Ishiba to sack farm minister Eto over rice remarks, Kyodo says](https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/japan-pm-ishiba-sack-farm-minister-eto-over-rice-remarks-kyodo-says-2025-05-20/)
    – japannews.yomiuri.co.jp (B): [Agricultural Minister: I Have Never Bought Rice; Remarks Criticized by Opposition Parties, Others](https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20250520-255442/)
    – AsiaOne (C): [Japanese farm minister apologises after saying he has 'never had to buy rice'](https://www.asiaone.com/asia/japanese-farm-minister-apologises-after-saying-he-has-never-had-buy-rice)

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  7. Contrary to what the article says, he wasn’t pushed out over being gifted rice. He was pushed out because he said that there was plenty of rice to go around, then it came out that he didn’t know what he was talking about since he doesn’t have to buy his own rice. Kind of a “let them eat cake” situation.

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