Japan Agriculture Minister Eto Dismissed over Rice Gaffe
Tokyo, May 21 (Jiji Press)--Japanese agriculture minister Taku Eto was effectively dismissed from his post Wednesday over his recent gaffe over rice.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba accepted Eto's resignation at the prime minister's office. Ishiba is seen tapping Shinjiro Koizumi, former election strategy chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, to fill the ministerial position.
Eto became the first cabinet minister to be dismissed since the prime minister took office in October last year, amid mounting calls from opposition parties for his ouster. The move is likely to deal a blow to the administration ahead of this summer's election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of Japan's parliament.
In a speech in the southwestern Japan prefecture of Saga on Sunday, Eto said that he never bought rice as he receives so much of the staple from his supporters that he could sell it. This drew criticism from both ruling and opposition lawmakers amid soaring rice prices in the country.
(2025/05/21-09:09)
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