Japanese agriculture minister resigns over rice gaffe

Japanese agriculture minister Taku Eto has resigned, taking responsibility for remarks he made about rice that angered voters reeling from historically high prices of the staple food.

Eto has been in hot water this week since media reports exposed comments he made at a political fundraising party on Sunday that he had “never had to buy rice” thanks to gifts from supporters.

The comment led to a frenzy of criticism from opposition party members and ruling coalition lawmakers alike, threatening Ishiba’s already-shaky grip on power ahead of key elections in July.

“I made an extremely inappropriate remark at a time when citizens are suffering from soaring rice prices,” Eto told reporters early on Wednesday morning after handing in his resignation at the prime minister’s office.

Eto’s would be the first resignation from Ishiba’s cabinet, which was formed in October.

The doubling of rice prices from a year ago to multi-decade highs has become a top concern for Japanese voters. The government has taken steps since March to tame prices but to little avail so far.

Public broadcaster NHK and other media reported on Wednesday that Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba would appoint former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi to replace Eto.