Campaigning officially started on July 3 for an Upper House election that could further upend the power structure in Japanese ...

Rice prices in Japan have started to ease, falling below Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s target of below 4,000 yen for a five ...

Mr Eto offered his resignation to Prime Minister Ishiba on Wednesday, after controversial remarks at a party seminar last week. “Once again, I apologise to people for making extremely inappropriate ...

Rice is vital to Japanese culture, but is facing shortages and soaring prices, with costs doubling since last summer. Agriculture Minister Taku Eto resigned after insensitive remarks amid public ...

He's been tasked with investigating and resolving the rice problem. Japan's Agriculture Minister Taku Eto, center, arrives at the prime minister's office in Tokyo Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Credit: AP ...

Taku Eto, who resigned as agriculture minister on May 21, came under fire for commenting that he had never bought rice himself and instead had enough rice from supporters that he could sell it.

Instead, Taku Eto drew outrage - and enough of it to force him to resign. Japan is facing its first cost-of-living crisis in decades, which is hitting a beloved staple: rice.

Agriculture Minister Taku Eto resigned Wednesday after he raised an uproar by saying he “never had to buy rice,” because his supporters give it to him as gifts.

Business Nation & World Emergency reserves, high prices, rationing. How did Japan’s rice crisis get this far? May 22, 2025 at 7:17 am By MARI YAMAGUCHI ...

Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Taku Eto yesterday resigned after remarks he made about rice triggered a firestorm of criticism from voters and lawmakers, posing a fresh ...

TOKYO: (Bernama-Kyodo) Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday (May 21) dismissed Agriculture Minister Taku Eto over a controversial remark on rice prices, in a move seen as an effort ...

Agriculture Minister Taku Eto resigned Wednesday after he raised an uproar by saying he “never had to buy rice,” because his supporters give it to him as gifts.