Japan is no stranger to political fallout over rice. But this time, it took just one poorly timed joke to bring down a cabinet minister.
Taku Eto, the country’s farm minister, found himself out of a job after casually joking that he never needs to buy rice because supporters gift him plenty. He may have been aiming for laughs, but the public wasn’t amused. With rice prices more than doubling in the past year, many Japanese families are already cutting back. Eto’s remark came off as tone-deaf and ultimately cost him his position.
The backlash was swift. Facing a no-confidence motion from opposition parties, Eto stepped down. His resignation added more pressure to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s struggling government, which is already dealing with low approval ratings.
Rice is more than just a staple in Japan. It’s cultural, historical, and political. In 1918, rice shortages sparked riots that led to the fall of a government. That’s how deeply people care about it. So when prices shoot up, frustration follows.
For young families like that of Memori Higuchi in Yokohama, the price hike hits home. With a seven-month-old daughter and limited income, cutting back on rice means compromising on nutrition. “Politicians don’t understand. They don’t shop for groceries,” she says.
Experts point to a policy misstep. The agriculture ministry estimated national rice demand at 6.8 million tonnes. Actual demand was closer to 7.05 million. Meanwhile, production lagged at just 6.61 million tonnes. Blame goes to a post-pandemic surge in dining out and increased tourism, as well as heat waves that hurt crop yields.
Making matters worse, growing rice has become less profitable. For years, farmers were paid just enough to break even, or less. Many switched to other crops like wheat or soy. Some shifted to rice varieties used for sake or livestock feed.
Now, the tables have turned. Today’s prices for 60kg of rice range between 40,000 and 50,000 yen. That’s finally good news for farmers, but bad news for consumers.
In response to the price surge, the government released rice from emergency reserves. But for many, the damage was already done.
And for Taku Eto, one careless joke was one too many.
By Risper Akinyi
