Japan's farm minister apologises after free rice remarks spark outrage
Japan's Agriculture Minister Taku Etō has issued an apology after remarks he made about never needing to purchase rice due to gifts from supporters sparked widespread outrage among citizens struggling with soaring food prices.
The controversy erupted after Japanese media reported Etō's comments, made at a political fundraising event on Sunday, during which he claimed he had "never had to buy rice" and even had enough to sell.
Pressed by journalists on Monday, Etō attempted to clarify his statements, admitting he may have overstated the situation to entertain the audience.
"I just got scolded by my wife over the phone," he added. "It's just the two of us so we generally have enough but she told me that when we run out, she actually does go out and buys rice."
Footage by a public broadcaster showed Etō speaking at the event, where he joked about receiving plenty of rice from supporters, an apparent attempt at humour that has backfired amid growing public anxiety over the cost of food.
The backlash highlights the sensitivity of food security issues, especially rice, in Japan's current political climate. The timing is particularly delicate for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which faces upper house elections in July.
A recent Kyodo News poll showed support for Ishiba had plummeted to a record low of 27.4%, with nearly 90% of respondents expressing dissatisfaction over the government's handling of rising rice prices.
The government began releasing rice from its emergency reserves in March in a bid to stabilise the market, but the measure has so far had minimal effect.
A 60-year-old from Osaka stated that she avoids "eating rice because it's expensive," local media reported.
"His comment is incredibly distasteful and lack common sense," she added.
After briefly dipping, rice prices rose again last week. Retail figures showed a 5-kilogramme bag of supermarket rice averaged 4,268 yen (€26), an increase of 54 yen (€0.33) from a week ago and nearly double the price from the same time last year.
The surge follows a season of extreme heat that damaged crops, compounded by increased demand from a resurgence in domestic tourism.
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