(Tokyo, 20th) The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries released statistical data on rice prices from over 1,000 stores nationwide on the 19th. As of the week ending May 11, the average price of a 5-kilogram bag of rice was 4,268 yen (126 ringgit), with an average price per kilogram of 854 yen (about 25.3 ringgit), an increase of 54 yen compared to the previous week.
According to China News Service, this price is more than double compared to the same period last year and is the highest since the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries began collecting this data.
Amidst soaring rice prices, Japan's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Taku Eto, stated in a speech in Saga City on the 18th that he has never bought rice himself as supporters have given him plenty, so much so that he could sell it. This remark sparked intense criticism from the Japanese public and opposition parties. Eto immediately 'corrected' his statement but expressed no intention of resigning.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba commented at the Prime Minister's Office on the afternoon of the 19th that such comments are highly inappropriate amidst public anxiety about rising rice prices and insufficient rice supply.
According to Kyodo News, with the public suffering from increased living costs, such remarks from a cabinet minister responsible for stabilizing rice prices are bound to attract criticism.
A poll released by Kyodo News on the 18th indicates that the cabinet led by Shigeru Ishiba saw its support rate drop by 5.2 percentage points from the previous month, hitting a new low of 27.4%. About 87% of respondents believe that the Japanese government has been ineffective in addressing the rising rice prices.
Since the summer of 2024, Japanese rice prices have been continuously rising due to factors such as extreme high temperatures leading to poor rice harvests. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries began releasing government reserve rice in March to curb the price increase, which was criticized as 'slow' and has not effectively restrained the rise in rice prices.
According to China News Service, this price is more than double compared to the same period last year and is the highest since the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries began collecting this data.
Amidst soaring rice prices, Japan's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Taku Eto, stated in a speech in Saga City on the 18th that he has never bought rice himself as supporters have given him plenty, so much so that he could sell it. This remark sparked intense criticism from the Japanese public and opposition parties. Eto immediately 'corrected' his statement but expressed no intention of resigning.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba commented at the Prime Minister's Office on the afternoon of the 19th that such comments are highly inappropriate amidst public anxiety about rising rice prices and insufficient rice supply.
According to Kyodo News, with the public suffering from increased living costs, such remarks from a cabinet minister responsible for stabilizing rice prices are bound to attract criticism.
A poll released by Kyodo News on the 18th indicates that the cabinet led by Shigeru Ishiba saw its support rate drop by 5.2 percentage points from the previous month, hitting a new low of 27.4%. About 87% of respondents believe that the Japanese government has been ineffective in addressing the rising rice prices.
Since the summer of 2024, Japanese rice prices have been continuously rising due to factors such as extreme high temperatures leading to poor rice harvests. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries began releasing government reserve rice in March to curb the price increase, which was criticized as 'slow' and has not effectively restrained the rise in rice prices.