In Japan, which is facing the rising price of rice, the country's agriculture minister resigned on Wednesday after a mistake about rice caused public outrage.
Taku Ito told a gathering over the weekend, 'I never bought rice myself because my supporters donated so much to me that I could practically sell it.'
Rice prices skyrocket due to shortages In Japan, this statement has a great impact in Japan. The price of rice last month was almost double that of April 2024 .
ing factors include poor harvests due to hot weather in 2023 and emergency purchases prompted by 'megaquake' (big earthquake) warnings last year, as well as growth in the tourism industry .
The government has been forced to release part of its emergency rice reserves in an attempt to reduce prices, with little success so far.
Ito's comments were criticized by Junya Ogawa, general secretary of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, as "grossly unfair, far from reality and intolerable".
Prime Minister Shigeru Isiba, who has poor public opinion ratings due to high food prices, condemned the minister's comments as 'very unfortunate'.
'Now it is the job of the agriculture minister to solve the rising price of rice . I expect a solution from him", Isiba told reporters on Tuesday .
Opposition parties have reportedly threatened to file a no-confidence motion against Isiba's minority government, which faces tough upper house elections in July. On Monday, Eto'o tried to retract the comments, saying he had exaggerated and his wife had corrected him.
'She told me that when our stock of donated rice runs out she goes to buy rice', Ito said, 'It's not like our family is living entirely on the rice that was gifted to us .'
