TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba plans to sack farm minister Taku Eto following remarks the minister made about rice, Kyodo News reported on Tuesday, citing multiple sources.
Eto apologised on Monday after saying he had “never had to buy rice” thanks to gifts from supporters, angering consumers grappling with sky-high prices for Japan’s staple food.
His removal could deliver a fresh blow to Ishiba’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party ahead of key upper house elections in July amid already declining public support.
Ishiba’s approval ratings have hit record lows in recent opinion polls, with many voters citing their discontent with the government’s response to rice prices, which have doubled from a year ago due to extreme heat and a tourism boom.
(Reporting by Kantaro KomiyaEditing by Gareth Jones)
