Japan’s farm minister said he has never had to buy rice. That cost him his job

[ad_1] Japan’s farm minister Taku Eto stepped down on Wednesday, home media reported, following public outrage over his feedback on getting free rice.

Eto stated Sunday that he has by no means had to purchase rice as he acquired ample quantities of the grain as presents from supporters — a remark that struck a nerve with locals combating rocketing costs of the beloved staple.

Japan has been grappling with hovering rice costs for months as inclement climate and the nation’s long-held coverage to guard native farmers’ pursuits crimps provides.

Taku’s resignation comes at a time when Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s authorities has been grappling with low approval scores forward of a pivotal Higher Home election this summer season and ongoing tariff negotiations with the U.S. NHK World reported that former Atmosphere Minister Koizumi Shinjiro will succeed Eto.

Ishiba’s cupboard approval score has dropped to an all-time low of 27.4%, as voters develop more and more discontent with the administration’s failure to handle hovering rice costs and rejection of consumption tax cuts in response to rising inflation, in line with a Kyodo Information ballot launched Sunday.

Whereas Japan’s agriculture ministry has been making an attempt to curb hovering costs by releasing authorities stockpiles, the transfer has had little impact in reining in costs.

Rice costs in round 1,000 supermarkets nationwide reportedly climbed to an all-time excessive within the week ending Could 11. Costs for a 5-kilogram bag of rice rose 54 yen week-on-week to 4,268 yen ($29.63).

“Following Japan’s rice scarcity and subsequent excessive costs in summer season 2024, costs have continued to soar, regardless of the arrival of the brand new home crop and report imports,” the U.S. Division of Agriculture stated in a March report.

The spike in rice costs displays the lingering results of poor harvests final 12 months, with home rice consumption being overwhelmingly supported by native manufacturing fairly than imports, stated HSBC’s chief Asia economist Frederic Neumann.

Straining the provision facet concern is the truth that rice in Japan is produced largely by aged individuals operating small farms, in order that they’re not very environment friendly, stated Sayuri Shirai, a professor of economics beneath Keio College’s school of coverage administration, who added that the variety of farmers can also be dropping with the getting old inhabitants.

“Japanese like Japanese rice. They don’t actually like international rice,” she stated.

Japan’s rice financial system stays pretty remoted from the world market, with stiff duties on imported rice geared toward defending its rice farmers.

To make issues worse, demand for Japanese rice has skyrocketed on the again of excessive vacationer footfall, the professor famous.

The sharp improve in rice costs can also be partly attributable to panic-driven hoarding by each households and companies, stated Takuji Okubo, chief economist of the Japan Danger Discussion board.

Whereas some retailers introduced plans to import rice, unfamiliarity with imported rice amongst each shoppers and companies makes it unlikely that such imports will meaningfully alleviate the supply-demand imbalance, he advised CNBC.

Japan’s inflation rose 3.6% 12 months on 12 months in March. Though the determine was decrease than the three.7% seen in February, it nonetheless marked three straight years that the headline inflation determine has remained above the Financial institution of Japan’s 2% goal.

“That may be very excessive in comparison with the U.S. or Europe,” stated Shirai, who added that Japan’s inflation image has extra to do with value pressures which are largely derived from meals costs.

“That's the reason numerous shoppers are very offended,” Shirai stated.

Moreover, a budget yen additionally makes meals imports costly, she famous.

Japan imports about 60% of its meals provide, in line with meals sourcing and knowledge hub Tridge. The nation has a meals self-sufficiency fee of 38%, in contrast with the federal government’s goal of 45% by fiscal 2030.