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On May 21st, Japan’s Agricultural Minister Taku Eto resigned from his position due to his inappropriate utterance.

Eto spoke his deceiving words in a fundraising event held on May 18th that instantly drew public scrutiny.

“I don’t have to buy rice because I receive it from my supporters”, Eto stated at the event.

His apparent indifference towards the crisis sparked widespread intense outrage from the citizens already suffering from the current massive inflation.

Audience members criticized Eto’s conduct as irresponsible and mischievous to speak as for a person who should be responsible for handling the catastrophe.

Moreover, the fact that Eto received rice from his supporters became an issue; it was alleged of receiving undeclared gifts from his political supporters, raising concerns about corruption in Eto’s agriculture administration.

Eto accepted full responsibility for his remark by announcing his resignation while transferring his governmental position to Shigeru Ishiba, the current agricultural minister.

Rice prices in Japan continue to soar with the price of 4268 yen per 5 kilogram as of May 20th, according to The Japan Times.

This current price, nearly triple the pricing two years ago of 1613 yen, demonstrates the steep escalation in rice prices.

Japan’s rice price crisis is attributed to the  prologing issues that have accumulated over time in the country’s rice stock management system.

The initial  spike in prices stemmed from adverse weather conditions during  the summer of 2024.

Japan experienced one the most devastating heatwaves on record in the recent decade which severely disrupted starch development of plants, leading to decline in overall cultivation.

In addition, citizens have started purchasing rice before the price goes unaffordable, as people get engulfed by the anxiety.

Retailers are seeing early-morning queues of customers competing for restored rice stocks. 

As a result of these compounding crises, the Japanese society is hurdling in supplying their most dominant food source.

The Japanese government is planning to release emergency rice supplies to the market to meet the urging demand starting from June 2nd.

These rice products, listed as a supply produced three years ago, are getting released at a price of 2160 yen through convenience stores and supermarkets.

Customers have responded with satisfaction and relief as the price offered is nearly half the price of the current retail price.

However, critics are giving conflicted comments as this decision could set off further drastic situations in the future since all the future proof runs out.

Japanese agriculture minister Ishiba, in the recent press, clarified the government’s decision while justifying the critics that the emergency rice supplies are for emergency situations, which is now.

The government has demonstrated their plan in gradual regulation of rice price, stating that it is projected to be regularized by the end of 2026; they emphasized their specific goal of lowering the retail price down to 2000 yen per 5 kilogram.

Overall, former Japanese agriculture minister Taku Eto lost his position after his reckless remark which underscores the seriousness of the current situation.