TOKYO — Agriculture Minister Taku Eto faced backlash after saying, “My supporters give me plenty of rice, so I have enough to sell,” amid rising rice prices in Japan. Many consumers angered by the comment say it shows he is out of touch with their struggles.
Eto made the remarks on May 18 during a lecture in Saga, southwestern Japan. He added that he never buys rice himself and described the effort it takes to receive rice gifts, even mentioning stones mixed in. The next day, Eto apologized, saying he had “greatly exaggerated” and clarified that his wife told him the rice gifts did not cover all their needs.
The comments raised questions about whether receiving rice from supporters could violate Japan’s Political Funds Control Act, which requires politicians to report political donations. Hiroshi Kamiwaki, a political law expert, said rice is likely given privately and would not be considered political funds.
However, Kamiwaki warned that if large amounts of rice come from certain companies, especially rice dealers, it could be seen as a bribe depending on the timing and minister’s duties. He stressed that such cases raise political ethics concerns, even if no legal penalty applies.
Kamiwaki also criticized Eto’s comments and actions as careless and violating “ministerial norms” that forbid behavior which could damage public trust. He said, “If he does not understand the pain of the majority of the people, it disqualifies him as a minister.” The controversy comes amid rising consumer prices, which have made Eto’s remarks seem even more out of touch.
