The Japanese Minister of Economy Taku ETO answers media questions after submitting the resignation to Prime Minister Shiger IShiba at the Prime Minister's office in Tokyo on May 21, 2025.
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Japanese Minister Farm Taku Eto gave up on Wednesday, The national media reportedAfter publicly outrage because of his comments on obtaining free rice.
Eto said on Sunday that he never had to buy rice because he received a lot of grain as presents from fans – a comment that hit nerves with residents struggling with the prices of his beloved basic base.
Japan has been struggling with rice prices for months as adverse weather and long -term policy in the country in the protection of the interests of local farmers.
Taku's resignation appears at a time when the government of Prime Minister Shiger Isehiba struggles with low assessments of approval before key elections in the High Chamber this summer and ongoing tariff negotiations with the American world of NHK announced that there were an environment that were environmental Minister Koizumi Shinjiro will replace ETO.
Assessment of approval by the Ishby office has fallen to The lowest level 27.4%As voters are becoming more and more dissatisfied with the lack of a solution to the administration of rice prices and rejection of consumer tax reductions in response to growing inflation, in accordance with Sunday published in Kyodo News.
While the Japan Ministry of Agriculture tried to limit rising prices, releasing Government stocksThis movement brought little influence on the price reinning.
Rice prices in about 1000 supermarkets Apparently, it increased throughout the country to all times in the week ending on May 11. Prices for a 5-kilo rice bag increased 54 yen week to 4268 yen (USD 29.63)
“After a shortage of rice in Japan and later high prices in 2024 he said in the March report.
Spike at rice prices reflects the persistent effects of bad sets last year, with the consumption of domestic rice usually supported by local production, not imports, said the main economist of HSBC Asia Neumann.
Sayuri Shirai, a professor of economics for Keio University management lecturers, who added that rice in Japan is mainly produced by older people running small farms, so they are not very efficient.
“Japanese like Japanese rice. They don't like foreign rice,” she said. The Japanese rice economy remains quite isolated from the global market, with Stiff duties on imported rice aimed at protecting rice farmers.
Even worse, Japanese rice demand he crumbled at the back of the high tourists The professor noticed, as the professor noted.
The sharp increase in rice prices is also partly attributed to the accumulation of panic both by households and companies, said Takuji Okuubo, the main economist of Japan Risk Forum.
While some Details have announced plans to import riceKnowledge of imported rice among consumers and companies makes it unlikely to significantly relieve the imbalance of supply, said CNBC.
Inflation of Japan It grows 3.6% year on year in March. Although this number was lower than 3.7% observed in February, it still meant three simple years that the header number of inflation remained above the target 2% of Japan.
“This is very high compared to the US or Europe,” said Shirai, who added that the Japanese image of inflation has more in common with cost pressure, which mainly result from food prices. “That's why many consumers are very bad,” said Shirai.
She noticed that she cheaply makes food import.
Japan imports about 60% of food supplyAccording to food acquisition and tridge data hub. The country also has Food self -sufficiency ratio of 38%compared to The government's goal of 45% according to fiscal 2030.