Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi Emerges as a New Hope Amidst the Rice Crisis in Japan

After a controversial statement on rice Japan’s Agriculture Minister Taku Eto resigned from his post. Japan, is currently facing a major rice crisis, followed by the increase in the price of rice. The strange statement and the increasing price have caused a stir in the country. Former Agriculture Minister Taku Eto in press conference said that “I never have to buy rice, my supporters gift it to me”, this caused a nation-wide rage amongst his supporters, post this conference Taku Eto had to resign from his post and Shinjiro Koizumi was later appointed as his successor.

After his new appointment as Japan’s agriculture minister a recent survey reported that approx. 60% residents of Japan believe that the price of rice will come down. Despite government efforts to stabilize supplies rice prices have doubled in Japan since last year. Koizumi plans to reduce prices to 2,000-yen by selling stockpiled rice directly to retailers.

A recent Kyodo survey showed that support for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Cabinet rose to 31.7 percent, however 52.6 percent still are not happy with this government. Survey reports suggest that 28.6 percent of people plan to vote for the ruling party in the upcoming upper house election, while 14.3% want Democratic Party for the People to win in the upcoming upper house election.

Shinjiro Koizumi has been appointed as the new agriculture minister from May 2025. Koizumi has also worked as the Minister of environment from Sept. 2019 to October 2021