How a joke about rice cost a Japan cabinet minister his job

Mariko Oi

Business reporter

Reuters Japan's Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Taku Eto speaks to the media after a meeting with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba over his controversial comments about receiving rice from supporters, Tokyo, Japan 19 May, 2025.Reuters

Taku Eto’s comments that he never had to buy rice caused outrage

When Japan’s farm minister declared that he never had to buy rice because his supporters give him “plenty” of it as gifts, he hoped to draw laughs.

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