An off-the-cuff remark about never paying for rice has cost Japan’s agriculture minister his job, as pressure mounts on the government to solve the nation’s rice crisis. Taku Eto resigned on ...

TOKYO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries began the third auction of government-held rice reserves on Wednesday as part of efforts to stabilize surging ...

Earlier data showed the average retail price of rice in Japan rose again in the week leading up to May 11, reaching 4,268 yen (about 29.4 U.S. dollars) per 5 kg, nearly twice as high as the same ...

TOKYO — Japan's agriculture minister resigned Wednesday because of political fallout over recent comments that he "never had to buy rice" because he got it from supporters as gifts. The ...

Japan’s farm minister Taku Eto stepped down on Wednesday, domestic media reported, following public outrage over his comments on getting free rice. Eto said Sunday that he has never had to buy ...

TOKYO — Rice is essential to Japanese culture, tradition and politics. People take pride in the oval-shaped sticky Japonica grain, which is still a staple even though total consumption has ...

TOKYO — Japan’s agriculture minister resigned Wednesday because of political fallout over recent comments that he “never had to buy rice” because he got it from supporters as gifts.

Japan is releasing rice from its national emergency stockpile for the first time to combat shortages. High temperatures reducing rice production and stockpiling are thought to be behind the problem.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s agriculture minister was forced to resign Wednesday because of political fallout over his recent comments that he “never had to buy rice” because he got it from ...

Eto's successor is former environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who has taken part in reforming Japan's powerful agriculture lobby. He's been tasked with investigating and resolving the rice problem.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's agriculture minister resigned Wednesday because of political fallout over recent comments that he “never had to buy rice” because he got it from supporters as gifts.

The price of Japanese-grown rice is soaring due to high inflation, low farm yields and a growing tourism sector. Arata Hirano prepares a tray of cooked California-grown Calrose rice and side ...