Japan’s Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Taku Eto on Wednesday submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba after facing intense criticism for his recent remarks on rice.
During a public speech on Sunday, Eto stated that he had never bought rice as he received so much from supporters, at a time when the public is fretting over soaring rice prices, reports Xinhua from Tokyo.
Although he later apologized and retracted the comment, opposition parties and the public condemned the remark as highly inappropriate and questioned his fitness for office. Prime Minister Ishiba has reportedly decided to appoint former election strategy chief Shinjiro Koizumi as Eto’s replacement.
Earlier data showed the average retail price of rice in Japan rose again in the week leading up to May 11, reaching 4,268 yen (about 29.4 U.S. dollars) per 5 kg, nearly twice as high as the same period last year. As Japanese consumers struggle with high rice prices, Etō Taku decided it was a good idea to rub his privilege in their faces.
There seems to be little Japan’s government can do about this. The price hasn’t fallen significantly since MAFF began releasing some of the country’s strategic reserves. Many experts say consumers shouldn’t expect relief until the fall, when this year’s crops hit shelves. In other words, the most a politician can probably do right now (outside of sideways strategies, like offering cash payments to taxpayers) is be sympathetic to the Japanese consumers’ plight, reports local agencies.
Etō chose to…well, not do that. Instead, at a fundraising party in Shiga Prefecture, he thought it was a good idea to say, “I’ve never bought rice.”
The Minister compounded his mistake by continuing to say words. “My supporters give me tons of rice. I have so much in my pantry, I could sell it.”
The brazen comment stirred outrage among the Japanese public, which continues to reel from the high price of its staple crop. Etō apologized and retracted his statement but showed no sign of resigning from his position. At first, Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru seemed set on salvaging his minister. He called Etō to the Prime Minister’s residence and let him off with a warning. It didn’t quell the controversy.
In the past, this would have been a purely symbolic move. However, Ishiba and his advisors were apparently worried that, in today’s political climate, the resolution would pass.
As a result, news broke today that Etō would be moved out of his position and replaced. Before that could officially happen, the Minister voluntarily submitted his resignation. He said PM Ishiba had accepted it and he once again apologized for his comments. While that may address the current controversy, it doesn’t address Japan’s anger over the rice crisis.