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Asia Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Asia Times
Soaring rice prices are stirring political trouble in Japan
Japan's agriculture minister, Taku Eto, resigned on May 21 just six months into his term, following a public backlash to his joke that he never buys rice because supporters give it to him for free. Gaffes are by no means uncommon in Japanese politics. Controversial remarks by one former prime minister, Taro Aso, were routinely followed by retractions – and the ruling Liberal Democratic party (LDP) even distributed a gaffe-prevention manual to its members in 2019. But amid a severe rice shortage, which has seen prices surge to 90% higher than they were a year ago, Eto's quip was seen by the Japanese public as more than just an offhand comment. Rice has been a significant part of life in Japan for nearly 3,000 years. This deep connection is reflected in the Japanese word gohan, which means 'cooked rice' but is often used simply to refer to a meal. Rice has also shaped the foundations of Japanese cuisine and farming culture. Such is the importance of rice to Japanese people that a spike in prices in 1918 led to a nationwide wave of protest. The so-called rice riots forced then-Prime Minister Terauchi Masatake,to resign. However, despite the grain's obvious importance, Japanese government policy in recent decades has been focused on tightly controlling and regulating the production of rice. It has endeavoured to keep prices high, partly to reward farmers – who are an important support base for the LDP. This means consumers have paid a premium, contributing to a downward trend in rice consumption alongside other factors such as dietary diversification. By 2022, annual rice consumption in Japan had fallen to 51kg per person, less than half of what it was at its 1962 peak. In this context, the public reaction to Eto's comment was understandable. Japan's current prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, initially seemed prepared to weather the storm, advising Eto to retract his 'problematic' remarks and remain in his post. But with elections approaching in July and Ishiba's approval rating sinking to a record low of 21%, his administration was left with little choice and Eto ultimately resigned. The rice crisis has emerged as one of the defining issues of the upcoming election, which will determine whether Ishiba's ruling coalition can secure a majority in the upper house of parliament. Having already lost its majority in the lower house in October 2024, the government may be set for another crushing defeat at the polls. Japan's rice crisis A few factors have combined over the past year to cause rice prices to increase unexpectedly. Japan's hottest September in 125 years resulted in poor harvests, while government warnings that a major earthquake off the country's Pacific coast could be imminent triggered panic buying. The agriculture ministry also says that a surge in inbound tourism contributed to a sudden rise in rice consumption. However, the rice crisis is not fundamentally the result of climate volatility or increased demand. It is the product of decades of self-defeating agricultural policy that has prioritized institutional interests over national food security. Rice production caps, which were introduced in 1971 to control supply and prices, have never been fully dismantled even as domestic consumption has changed and the farming population decreased. This artificial control of output has left the country ill-prepared for demand surges. Compounding these issues are entrenched protectionist measures designed to shield small-scale rice farmers through high tariffs and rigid distribution systems. These distortions have prioritized institutional stability and political patronage over food security reform, leaving Japan increasingly vulnerable in an era of climate disruption and supply chain instability. Having struggled with low wages for years, many sectors of Japan's population are now grappling with inflation. The government has dug into its emergency rice reserves in an attempt to alleviate the problem, but the grain has been slow to reach supermarket shelves. And some farmers, increasingly frustrated by regulations limiting how much rice they can grow, have even organized demonstrations. Under current conditions, imported rice is becoming an unavoidable fallback. Japan is importing rice from South Korea for the first time in over 25 years, while Japanese tourists are reportedly filling their suitcases with Korean rice – despite deep-seated skepticism toward anything not domestically grown. Political change looming? With rice prices soaring and public discontent mounting, this beloved everyday grain is once again at the center of Japanese politics – just as it was more than a century ago during the 1918 rice riots. Despite the complexities of modern economies, connected to global systems of market exchange, Japanese consumers understand that government policies have played an oversized role in creating the current crisis. It is largely policy that has kept their wages low and failed to rein in inflation. Consumers are also keenly aware that the LDP's rice policy has worked to protect its critical agricultural support base, a situation strongly reflected in Eto's joke. As the government scrambles to get its house in order and put more affordable rice back on the table, a deeper reflection of the past seems advisable. Historical precedents, such as the 1918 riots, suggest that strong public distrust of a government's rice policy results in profound political change. Ming Gao is a research scholar of East Asia studies, Lund University; and Timothy Amos is a senior lecturer in Japanese studies, University of Sydney. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Kyodo News
25-05-2025
- Business
- Kyodo News
Nearly 60% expect rice prices to fall with new farm minister: poll
KYODO NEWS - 19 minutes ago - 21:27 | All, Japan Nearly 60 percent of Japanese believe soaring rice prices will fall with the appointment of a new farm minister, following his predecessor's sacking over a controversial remark about being gifted rice that angered consumers, a Kyodo News survey showed Sunday. In the two-day telephone poll conducted from Saturday, 59.8 percent expressed such expectations, while 35.1 percent said they do not believe there would be any such changes with Shinjiro Koizumi at the helm of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The son of a former prime minister is regarded as a young leadership hopeful in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The average price of rice sold at Japanese supermarkets has remained roughly twice as high as a year earlier, partly due to poor harvest caused by the hot summer of 2023. It hit a record 4,268 yen ($30) per 5 kilograms during the week from May 5 to May 11, even though the government took countermeasures such as releasing its stockpiles to stabilize supply. The survey also showed 44.7 percent believe rice prices should be brought below 3,000 yen per 5 kg, lower than recently pledged by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. That contrasts with 45.0 percent who believe the target rice price rollback is "appropriate," with only 7.6 percent saying the prices should be set higher. Koizumi said Friday the government plans to sell its stockpiled rice to retailers through direct contracts, bypassing auctions that have prevented government control over prices, and aims to make it available in stores at 2,000 yen per 5 kg. According to the poll, 42.2 percent said the removal of then farm minister Taku Eto on Wednesday, three days after the gaffe was made, came too late. Eto came under fire after saying at a fundraising event on May 18 that he has "never had to buy rice" because he receives so much of it from supporters. The comment drew criticism from consumers and lawmakers for being tone-deaf at a time when many households are struggling under rampant rice price inflation. Ishiba initially sought to retain Eto but eventually caved in to opposition pressure. Support for Ishiba's Cabinet rose to 31.7 percent, up 4.3 percentage points from the previous weekend's survey according to the poll. The disapproval rating stood at 52.6 percent, compared with 55.1 percent. Asked about how long Ishiba should remain as prime minister, 25.6 percent said they want him to resign at the earliest possible date, with 31.1 percent saying they want him to stay on until the House of Councillors election set for this summer and 22.2 percent saying "another year." Those wanting him in the post as long as possible accounted for 17.2 percent. As for the upper house election, 28.6 percent said they would vote for the LDP in the contest's proportional representation section while 14.3 percent expressed support for the Democratic Party for the People, an opposition party. Around 13.6 percent said they would vote for the main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, 6.3 percent for the Japan Innovation Party and 5.2 percent for the anti-establishment Reiwa Shinsengumi in the election. When asked which party they support, the poll showed 28.4 percent back the LDP, 12.1 percent the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, 14.1 percent the Democratic Party for the People and 6.5 percent the Japan Innovation Party, while 19.4 percent said they had "no party to support." The nationwide survey called 584 randomly selected households with eligible voters and 3,908 mobile phone numbers, yielding responses from 435 household members and 629 mobile phone users. Related coverage: Japan public express ire over farm minister out-of-touch rice remarks FOCUS: Free rice gaffe sends Ishiba into pre-election damage control mode
Kyodo News
25-05-2025
- Business
- Kyodo News
59.8% expect rice prices to fall with new farm minister: Kyodo poll
KYODO NEWS - 5 minutes ago - 17:59 | All, Japan Nearly 60 percent of Japanese believe that the country's soaring rice prices will fall under the new farm minister, following his predecessor's sacking over a controversial remark about receiving gifted rice, a Kyodo News survey showed Sunday. In the two-day telephone poll conducted from Saturday, 59.8 percent expressed such expectations, while 35.1 percent said they do not believe there would be any such changes with Shinjiro Koizumi at the helm of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The survey also showed 44.7 percent believing rice prices should be brought below 3,000 yen per 5 kilograms, lower than recently pledged by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. That contrasts with 45.0 percent who believe the target rice price rollback is "appropriate," with only 7.6 percent saying the prices should be set higher. According to the poll, 42.2 percent said the removal of then farm minister Taku Eto on Wednesday should have come sooner. Eto came under fire after saying at a fundraising event on May 18 that he has "never had to buy rice" because he receives so much of it from supporters. Consumers and lawmakers had criticized him for being insensitive at a time when many households are struggling under rampant rice price inflation. Ishiba initially sought to retain Eto but eventually caved in to opposition pressure. The approval rating for Ishiba's Cabinet rose to 31.7 percent, up 4.3 percentage points from the previous weekend's survey according to the poll. The disapproval rating stood at 52.6 percent, compared with 55.1 percent. Related coverage: Japan public express ire over farm minister out-of-touch rice remarks FOCUS: Free rice gaffe sends Ishiba into pre-election damage control mode
The Mainichi
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
59.8% expect rice prices to fall with new Japan farm minister: Kyodo poll
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Nearly 60 percent of Japanese believe that the country's soaring rice prices will fall under the new farm minister, following his predecessor's sacking over a controversial remark about receiving gifted rice, a Kyodo News survey showed Sunday. In the two-day telephone poll conducted from Saturday, 59.8 percent expressed such expectations, while 35.1 percent said they do not believe there would be any such changes with Shinjiro Koizumi at the helm of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The survey also showed 44.7 percent believing rice prices should be brought below 3,000 yen per 5 kilograms, lower than recently pledged by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. That contrasts with 45.0 percent who believe the target rice price rollback is "appropriate," with only 7.6 percent saying the prices should be set higher. According to the poll, 42.2 percent said the removal of then farm minister Taku Eto on Wednesday should have come sooner. Eto came under fire after saying at a fundraising event on May 18 that he has "never had to buy rice" because he receives so much of it from supporters. Consumers and lawmakers had criticized him for being insensitive at a time when many households are struggling under rampant rice price inflation. Ishiba initially sought to retain Eto but eventually caved in to opposition pressure. The approval rating for Ishiba's Cabinet rose to 31.7 percent, up 4.3 percentage points from the previous weekend's survey according to the poll. The disapproval rating stood at 52.6 percent, compared with 55.1 percent.
Kyodo News
24-05-2025
- Business
- Kyodo News
FOCUS: Free rice gaffe sends Ishiba into pre-election damage control mode
By Noriyuki Suzuki, KYODO NEWS - May 23, 2025 - 11:56 | All, Japan Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba dismissed his agriculture minister Wednesday after an off-the-cuff remark about gifted rice angered a public that is already questioning the Japanese leader's handling of soaring prices. Facing record-low public support following a series of slush fund scandals that engulfed the ruling party, Ishiba initially appeared concerned that ousting farm minister Taku Eto would trigger a cascade of negative repercussions for his administration and embolden the opposition. However, with a parliamentary election looming, Eto was eventually forced out as Ishiba looked to limit the damage, given he has already lost the party's majority in the lower house. Ruling party members have expressed concern that Eto's resignation has come at a particularly unfortunate time, and political analysts warn that a poor showing for the Liberal Democratic Party in the House of Councillors election may put Ishiba's premiership at risk. By selecting Shinjiro Koizumi, a young leadership hopeful in the LDP, as new agriculture minister, Ishiba is gambling with his future. Underperformance by the 44-year-old son of former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi will put pressure on Ishiba's already shaky standing. "I want Mr. Koizumi to exhibit strong leadership as we face a mountain of challenges, such as surging rice prices, and to give his all to the job," Ishiba told reporters after making the appointment. At first, Ishiba was reluctant to replace Eto, who faced a chorus of criticism when an attempt at a joke fell flat at a weekend fundraising event. "I'm not buying rice. Thanks to my supporters giving me plenty of it, I have so much of it in my house that I could sell it," Eto said, a comment widely slammed as tone-deaf when the public is straining under rampant rice price inflation. Ishiba, who himself has experience serving as agriculture minister, reportedly told his aides that the post is a "tricky" undertaking. Past departures of those holding the farm portfolio have often boded ill for the sitting prime minister. But Eto's future in the position became untenable when major opposition parties jointly went on the offensive, threatening a no-confidence motion against him. Such a motion, even if non-binding, would still send a strong message at a time when Ishiba desperately needs support from parts of the opposition bloc to pass bills and budgets and ensure the smooth functioning of his minority government. "The cards are being stacked against the prime minister," said Masahiro Iwasaki, a political science professor at Nihon University. "The rice issue could not have come at a worse time. It has further shaken the foundation of the government," he said, adding Ishiba's inability to properly resolve it is likely to deepen anti-LDP sentiment. Despite Ishiba's stated goal of restoring public confidence damaged by a spate of political funds scandals in the LDP, Eto's gaffe has renewed scrutiny of the leader. A senior ruling party member said of Eto's gaffe and subsequent resignation, "There is no doubt that this will become a debilitating blow" to the government. Opposition parties appear eager to seize the opportunity to tighten the screws on Ishiba, with a senior executive of the Democratic Party for the People firing the first shot by demanding Eto's swift resignation. Hours after the minister's departure, the head of the DPP, which has deepened policy coordination with the ruling camp while rejecting the idea of formally joining it, pressured Ishiba to the point where he promised to act on high rice prices. "Are you going to take responsibility as prime minister if rice prices don't fall into the 3,000 yen range?" DPP chief Yuichiro Tamaki asked Ishiba during a one-on-one debate, prompting him to vow to push them below the 4,000 yen threshold as soon as possible. Before the latest turmoil, former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Ishiba's immediate predecessor, said Tamaki could be a future candidate for premier, suggesting that LDP kingpins have lost confidence in the incumbent. Within his own Cabinet, Ishiba is expected to count on the personal popularity of Koizumi, who political experts say is a viable future prime minister, to make amends for Eto's failure. "For the prime minister, Mr. Koizumi may be a powerful rival but could also be a savior," Iwasaki said. Related coverage: Japan public express ire over farm minister out-of-touch rice remarks Stores to get priority on gov't rice stockpiles to ease prices faster Tokyo to waive basic water fees to help beat extreme summer heat
