A: Hey there! Did you catch the news about our agriculture minister, Eto?

B: Nah, what's going on?

A: Well, he made this weird comment about rice over the weekend. Turns out, he doesn't even buy rice himself and has so much at home that he could sell it!

B: Whoa, that sounds bad...

A: Exactly! His boss, Ishiba, called it extremely problematic because there's no rice in some stores and what's available is expensive. People are angry and worried.

B: Ouch, that must have been a tough talk for Eto.

A: Yup! He was summoned to the prime minister's office and got a good talking-to. Now he has to think about his actions and work harder to bring down rice prices.

B: Looks like he's in hot water, alright. I guess we'll see what happens when opposition lawmakers question him on Tuesday.

Japanese agriculture minister Eto Taku has retracted a comment he made about rice over the weekend. Eto apologized and suggested that he would remain in his post.



Eto made the remark during a speech in the city of Saga on Sunday, when talking about how to speed up the distribution of rice from government stockpiles in an effort to bring down rising prices.



Eto said: "I have never bought rice myself. Frankly, my supporters give me quite a lot of rice. I have so much rice at home that I could sell it."



Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru told reporters on Monday that, as the person who appointed Eto, he apologizes deeply.



Ishiba said there is no rice in some stores, and, even if there is, it is very expensive. He said consumers are angry and worried. He described Eto's comment as "extremely problematic."



Eto spoke to reporters after he was summoned to the prime minister's office and reprimanded by Ishiba. Eto said he was told to reflect on the matter seriously and to continue making efforts to bring down rice prices.



Opposition lawmakers appear poised to grill Eto over his remark at a Diet committee meeting on Tuesday.