Even though rice is disappearing from store shelves and people are crying out that they cannot get rice, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries only says, “Overall, there is enough rice,” and “Please stay calm and act accordingly.” What purpose does this ministry serve? If the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries continues to give such bureaucratic answers and continue to administer the government without any consideration for consumers, he should be held politically accountable.

Shocking Minister’s Press Conference

Regarding the issue of rice shortages at retail stores, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Sakamoto cited a number of reasons for the shortage at a press conference on the 27th, including the fact that August is already the off-season and inventory is low, as well as increased demand due to emergency alerts regarding the Nankai Trough earthquake and typhoons.

He then revealed his outlook that “the shortage will be resolved around September when the new rice begins to distribute,” but expressed disapproval of the release of government rice stockpiles, saying that it would have a large impact on the market and that “careful consideration should be given to this.”

He also said, “We ask that people practice calm purchasing behavior, such as buying only the amount they need.”

In essence, it is tantamount to saying that nothing will be done because a new recruit will come along soon.

I am simply astonished by the way they make it sound as if the rice has run out because consumers are not calm.

There is no rice on the shelves, and people who need it cannot buy it. Even during interviews for our program, some people said they were unable to get rice and were “eating noodles and bread every day.”

Even though Prime Minister Kishida expressed his disapproval,

Even Prime Minister Kishida must have been annoyed by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ manner of speaking.

At a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office in the evening of the same day, he instructed relevant cabinet ministers to “stand from the consumer’s perspective and work to address concerns about the shortage of rice in distribution.”

By using the expression “distribution shortage,” the report took into consideration the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ position that “there is no tight supply and demand,” but by using the words “the consumer’s position,” it put an end to the government’s logic.

On the same day, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries requested rice wholesalers and collection agents to work to ensure smooth distribution.

The Kishida Cabinet has limited itself to the standard response of making “requests to industry” following instructions from the Prime Minister, and this may be where the limits of the Cabinet are.