A: Hey there! Did you catch the latest news about Japan's Prime Minister?

B: Nope, what's up?

A: Well, their Agriculture Minister made a bit of a mess with some comments about rice... Can you believe it? He said he's never bought rice himself! Crazy, right?

B: Woah, that sounds weird. Did the PM say something about it?

A: Yeah, Ishiba apologized for the minister's words but wants him to stick around and deal with the high prices of rice. Seems like he thinks the minister can make things better.

B: But why would the PM keep someone who says they don't even buy rice in charge? Sounds fishy!

A: Ishiba said it's because the Agriculture Minister needs to truly apologize and actually do something about the high prices. He seems to think this guy can still get things done.

Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has apologized for the agriculture minister's controversial comments about rice. But he suggested that he wants the minister to remain in his post and stabilize the rising price of the staple grain.



Agriculture minister Eto Taku said in a speech on Sunday that he has "never bought rice" himself. He added that his supporters give him so much rice that he has enough to sell. Eto later apologized and withdrew the remarks.



Ishiba told reporters on Tuesday that Eto's remarks were extremely inappropriate toward consumers struggling with soaring rice prices and farmers working hard to produce the crop. He said he feels acutely responsible as the person who appointed the minister.



Asked whether the public could understand the decision to keep Eto in his post, Ishiba said the minister's job is to sincerely apologize and achieve concrete results in addressing soaring rice prices. Ishiba indicated that he would like Eto to fulfill his responsibilities.