Japan's agriculture minister submits his resignation after inappropriate remark about buying rice

Japan's Agriculture Minister Taku Eto, center, arrives at the prime minister's office in Tokyo Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)

May 20, 2025 - 5:01 PM

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's agriculture minister said Wednesday that he has submitted his resignation over an inappropriate remark about buying rice that angered the public.

Taku Eto said Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba accepted the resignation.

Eto came under fire earlier this week after saying that he never had to buy rice thanks to his supporters’ gifts, triggering an uproar at a time when consumers are struggling with a rice shortage and skyrocketing prices.

Eto’s gaffe and resignation could deal a further setback for Ishiba’s already struggling minority government, which has seen dwindling public support.

News from © The Associated Press, 2025

More News ...

iN DISCUSSION: Hot takes on cold facts
This is where cold facts yield to the hottest of takes. Here you'll find reader responses to stories and newsletter editorials, or letters to the editor for the week of May 12. They may have been edited slightly for readability. Th

How a union at a Kamloops A&W beat the odds
After 18 months of effort, 20 workers at a Kamloops A&W have their first collective agreement. The workers are the first staff at a Canadian A&W restaurant to successfully unionize, acco

Thailand vows to tighten control on cannabis after smuggling cases involving tourists soar
BANGKOK (AP) — Thai officials on Wednesday said they planned to tighten regulations on cannabis sales after cases of tourists attempting to smuggle the drug out of the country soared in recent months. Thailand became the first country

Clearwater woman argues to get her dog back — but not her 10 cats
A North Thompson woman has managed to get her dog back after it was seized by the BC SPCA but not her 10 cats. According to an April 11 BC Farm Industry Review Board decision, Kristi Gerigk had two dogs and 10 cats seized in February when s

Popular vernon News

Kamloops woman wins legal fight after Tribunal rules ICBC decision 'unreasonable'
A BC Tribunal has ruled an ICBC decision was "unreasonable" after the insurer cut off the driver's income replacement benefits, saying she should return to work. The BC Civil R
May 18, 2025 6:00 PM
Penticton MLA kicked out of budget hearing at legislature has no regrets
Amelia Boultbee says she's slightly embarrassed about being kicked out of a hearing in the provincial legislature last week but makes no apologies for standing up to an NDP Minister who she cl
May 21, 2025 7:00 PM
Jail time ends Shuswap shoplifter's crime spree
Anthony Daniel McDonald walked into Askew's supermarket in Salmon Arm in January 2024, loaded up a cart with more than $500 of groceries and walked out without paying. A couple of months
May 21, 2025 6:00 AM
Fraud accusations levied at former, current Shuswap chiefs in alleged logging conspiracy
A Shuswap First Nation is taking three men to court over alleged logging fraud that siphoned millions away from four Secwepemc communities. Skwlax te Secwepemculecw (Little Shuswap Indian Ba
May 21, 2025 6:00 PM
West Kelowna resident demands financial review of controversial water treatment plant
People in West Kelowna who get water from the Rose Valley water treatment plant have had water quality problems, unexpected costs on their water bills and have had to deal with miscommunication fr
May 20, 2025 4:50 PM

Trending Now

TRENDING NOW: Little dog deals with cold sidewalk

View Site in: Desktop | Mobile

Japan's agriculture minister submits his resignation after inappropriate remark about buying rice

Trending Now

Kamloops

Kelowna

Penticton

Vernon