Agriculture Minister Koizumi Cuts Rice Prices To Calm Angry Voters | Race To Power

Agriculture Minister Koizumi Cuts Rice Prices To Calm Angry Voters | Race To Power

Political uncertainty peaking in Japan just days before a critical upper house election that could decide the fate of the prime minister’s fragile government. 125 of 248 upper house seats will be up for grabs in the election on the 20th of July and the ruling coalition must win at least 50 to retain its majority. But public frustration is boiling over amid rising inflation, the political scandals, also the deepening rural discontent. At the center of the storm is the agriculture minister, a rising star and the son of former prime minister Junichiro Kisumi, who has become the face of the government’s high-risk reform first strategy. nicknamed the rice minister by some, Quizomi, shocked traditional rural voters when he slashed rice prices by directly releasing the government stockpiles and dropping the cost of a 5 kilo bag from over $27 to about $23. In fact, he bypassed long-standing agricultural networks and told skeptical farmers that if prices stayed high, consumers would stop eating rice altogether. And while urban households applauded the move during a time of rising food costs, the backlash in Japan’s aging countryside has been rather sharp for decades now. Rice farmers formed a key part of the ruling LDP’s base. But now many feel abandoned as their profits vanish and political loyalty erodess. The sensitivity of rice politics in Japan is nothing new. By the way, just last year, then fare minister Takuito was forced to resign after saying that he never buys rice because his supporters give it to him for free. And this comment was made while the country faced record high rice prices and food shortages. The backlash was swift and brutal, reminding the politicians that rice is personal and public trust is fragile. The gamble is clear here. Rebuild support among urban voters feeling the pinch even as uh even at the cost of alienating the rural heartland with Japan’s farming population shrinking and aging rapidly. Quizumo’s reforms reflect a broader shift in the LDP’s priorities. But it’s a gamble that could cost the prime minister dearly. Reports are suggesting polls suggesting that the coalition could actually fall short of its target and a loss on July 20th could trigger Ishiba’s resignation and end the ruling blocks grip on the parliament and it could potentially set the stage for a new political alignment. As voters prepare to cast their ballots, the question looms, will Kisumi’s bold moves save the LDP or end up unraveling it further? To stay up to speed with the latest news, download the Weon app and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Rice, a staple in Japan and an integral part of the country’s culture, tradition and politics, has turned into a pain point for the nation. A rice crisis has gripped the nation for nearly a year with soaring prices and empty supermarket shelves, but it is showing tentative signs of easing. New data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries revealed that average rice prices fell below the psychologically significant 4,000-yen mark for the first time since early March, offering hope to consumers long frustrated by the soaring cost of a dietary staple.

#japan #businessnews #worldnews

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