Japan’s Agriculture Minister Taku Eto has officially resigned after facing widespread criticism over a controversial joke he made about never paying for rice. The Japan agriculture minister resigns following a public uproar that highlighted growing frustrations over food affordability in the country.
During a weekend speech, Eto quipped that he had never bought rice himself because his supporters would give him ample supply—so much so that he joked he could even sell some. Intended as light humor, the remark was met with sharp backlash from citizens struggling with rising food prices.
The Japan agriculture minister resigns at a time when the government is actively trying to stabilize the rice market. In response to ongoing price hikes, Japan has been releasing emergency rice reserves and considering increased reliance on foreign imports.
Eto acknowledged the gravity of the public’s reaction, telling the media that he was “not the right person for the role” given the fallout from his remarks. He later expressed “deep regret” and issued a formal apology, but the damage had already been done.
Public sentiment quickly turned sour, with many pointing out the irony that a minister had access to free rice while ordinary citizens were tightening their belts. The incident reflects the widening gap between politicians and the public during economic strain.
The Japan agriculture minister resigns not only over a joke but also over what that joke represented—insensitivity to the real struggles of everyday people in Japan. His departure now adds pressure to the Japanese government to address inflation and rebuild public trust.
