Japan Agriculture Minister Eto Apologizes for Controversial Rice Comment

The Japanese Agriculture Minister, Taku Eto, apologized on Monday for his remarks made during an event organized by the Liberal Democratic Party on Sunday where he said he “never had to buy rice thanks to the gifts from supporters.” Minister Eto apologized following the backlash he received for his comments.

Addressing journalists on Monday, Eto apologized for his statements and admitted that he may have exaggerated to please the crowd, acknowledging that he spoke incorrectly. When asked whether he was considering resigning, the Minister avoided the question.

In his statement, Eto said to reporters, “Just now, my wife scolded me over the phone. We live together, and we usually have enough rice, but my wife told me that when the rice runs out, I actually go out to buy rice.”

How Much is Rice in Japan?

According to local media, the current average price of a 5-kilogram bag of rice in Japan is 4,268 yen or approximately 29.50 dollars. This represents an increase of 54 yen or 40 cents from the previous week. The current price is reported to be about double compared to a year ago.