Overview

• Taku Eto announced his resignation as Japan's farm minister after facing backlash for comments about receiving rice as gifts while prices remain at multi-decade highs.
• Eto's remark, made at a Sunday fundraising event, drew widespread criticism from both opposition and ruling coalition lawmakers.
• Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba plans to appoint former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi as Eto's replacement, according to media reports.
• This marks the first resignation from Ishiba's cabinet, which has faced scrutiny over its handling of economic issues since its formation in October.
• Efforts to control rice prices, which have doubled year-on-year, have so far shown limited success, intensifying voter frustration ahead of July elections.