Japan Agriculture Minister Taku Eto Resigns
Analysis based on 12 articles · First reported May 21, 2025 · Last updated May 21, 2025
The resignation of Taku Etō and the ongoing rice crisis in Japan are negatively impacting the approval ratings of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and the Japan — List of Liberal Democratic parties, potentially affecting the upcoming national election. The government's efforts to stabilize rice prices through reserve releases and imports have had limited success, leading to public frustration and concerns about food security.
Japan's agriculture minister, Taku Etō, resigned after facing public backlash for an 'extremely inappropriate' remark about never having to buy rice due to supporter gifts, made during a period of record-high rice prices. This incident has intensified pressure on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's government, whose approval ratings have plummeted amid voter frustration over rising food inflation and the government's response to the rice crisis. Opposition parties, including the Japan — Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Nigeria — People s Democratic Party, condemned Eto's comments and threatened a no-confidence motion. The rice crisis in Japan is attributed to poor harvests in 2023, increased fertilizer costs, and panic buying, leading to prices doubling over the past year. The government has attempted to mitigate the crisis by releasing rice from emergency reserves and importing from countries like South Korea, but prices remain stubbornly high. Shinjirō Koizumi, former environment minister, is expected to replace Taku Etō and will be tasked with addressing the ongoing challenges of rice supply and price stability.
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