How a joke on rice cost a minister Japan his work

When the Minister of the Japan farm said that he had never had to buy rice because his supporters give him “a lot” like gifts, he hoped to make laughs.

Instead, Taku Eto attracted indignation – and enough to force him to resign.

Japan is facing its first cost of living crisis for decades, which strikes a beloved basic food: rice. The price has more than doubled last year, and the imported varieties are rare.

Eto apologized, saying he went “too far” with his comments on Sunday during a local fundraising. He resigned after the opposition parties threatened a request without confidence against him.

His ousting is a new blow to the minority government of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who already had trouble lowering public support.

Rice can be a powerful trigger in Japan, where shortages have already caused political upheavals. The riots on the weapon cost of the rice even overthrew a government in 1918.

It is therefore not surprising that rice prices have a role in Ishiba approval ratings.

“Politicians do not go to supermarkets to make their grocery store so that they do not understand,” said Memori Higuchi, 31, at the BBC from his home to Yokohama.

Ms. Higuchi is the first mother of a seven month old child. Good food for her postnatal recovery has been crucial, and her daughter will soon start to eat solid foods.

“I want it to eat well, so if prices continue to increase, we may have to reduce the amount of rice My husband and I eat. “”

It is a simple question of supply and demand, said agricultural economist Kunio Nishikawa from the University of Ibaraki.

But he thinks it was caused by an error in calculating the government.

Until 1995, the government controlled the quantity of productors producers productors by working in close collaboration with agricultural cooperatives. The law was abolished that year, but the Ministry of Agriculture continues to publish estimates of demand so that farmers can avoid producing rice overabundance.

But, said Professor Nishikawa, they were mistaken in 2023 and 2024. They estimated that the demand was 6.8 m tonnes, while real demand, he adds, was 7.05 million tonnes.

Rice demand has increased due to more tourists visiting Japan and an increase in people who eat outside after the pandemic.

But real production was even lower than the estimate: 6.61 million tonnes, said Professor Nishikawa.

“It is true that the demand for rice jumped, due to several factors – including the fact that rice was relatively affordable compared to other foods and an increase in the number of foreign visitors,” spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture at the BBC.

“The quality of the rice was not excellent due to unusually high temperatures, which also led to a drop in rice production.”

Rice producers have not been able to earn enough money for many years, explains Kosuke Kasahara, 59, whose family has been in agriculture for generations.

He explains that it costs around 18,500 yen ($ 125.70; £ 94.60) to produce 60 kg of rice, but the cooperative in its Niigata region on the west coast of Japan offered to buy it last year at 19,000 yen.

“Up to three or four years, the government would even offer financial incentives to municipalities that have agreed to reduce rice production,” he added.

The ministry spokesman confirms that the government has offered subsidies to those who choose to produce wheat or soybeans instead of rice.

Meanwhile, young farmers have chosen to produce different types of rice that are used for sake, crackers of rice or fed on cattle because the demand for rice in Japan had dropped until last year.

“I got tired of fighting retailers or restaurants who wanted me to sell rice at a lower cost for many years,” said Shinya Tabuchi.

But it was returned to his head, with the rescue rate for 60 kg of rice today at 40,000 to 50,000 yen.

Although higher prices are bad news for buyers, this means that many farmers in difficulty will finally be able to earn money.

But while the public was angry with the thrust, the government sold auction some of its rice emergency reserves in March to try to reduce prices.

Many countries have strategic reserves – stocks of vital products – crude oil or natural gas to prepare exceptional circumstances. In Asia, many governments also have rice stocks.

In recent years, the Japanese rice stock has been used only in the wake of natural disasters.

“The government has always told us that they would not release its emergency rice actions to control the price, so we felt betrayed,” said Tabuchi.

Despite the rare government’s decision to release rice, prices have continued to increase.

The cost of rice soar in Southeast Southeast Asia, which represents almost 30% of world rice production – economic, political and climatic pressures have led to shortages in recent years.

In Japan, the question has become so serious that the country began to import rice from South Korea for the first time in a quarter of a century, even if consumers prefer local varieties.

Prime Minister Ishiba also hinted at the expansion of American rice imports while his government continues to negotiate a trade agreement with Washington.

But buyers like Ms. Higuchi say they are unlikely to buy non -Japanese rice.

“We have long been saying local production for local consumption,” she said. “There must be a way for Japanese farmers to be profitable and consumers to feel safe by being able to afford local products.”

This divides opinion between farmers.

“You can hear that the industry is aging and shrinking, but it is not necessarily true,” said Tabuchi, who thinks that the sector has been too protected by the government.

“Many elderly farmers can afford to sell rice at a lower cost because they have pensions and assets, but the young generation must be able to earn money. Instead of guaranteeing all farmers’ income and distorting the market, the government should let non -profitable farmers fail.”

Mr. Kasahara does not agree: “Agriculture in rural areas like ours is to be part of a community. If we let these farmers fail, our areas will be in ruins.”

He maintains that the government should set a guaranteed purchase price of 32,000 to 36,000 yen by 60 kg of rice, which is lower than today’s price, but still allows farmers to be profitable.

And given what happened to Eto, it is also a sensitive subject for politicians.

The country is expected to organize a key national election this summer, therefore to appeal to consumers and farmers – especially the elderly in both camps that tend to vote more – is crucial.