Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba named Shinjiro Koizumi, son of the most popular former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, as his successor.

Japan's farm minister resigned after accepting supporters' free rice attracted public anger, a country where prices soared.

Taku Eto's comments, which are many Japanese disconnected from economic reality, were held at a workshop on Sunday for the Liberal Democratic Party, which led a troubled minority government. The party may cause further trouble for the party ahead of the national election in July.

Eto once said that he “never bought rice by himself because my supporters donated so much to me that I could almost sell it”.

On Wednesday, the ETO told reporters that he proposed his resignation after the prime minister's "very difficult words."

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba later said at a meeting in the House of Lords that he “approved” the resignation of ETO from the perspective that agricultural policy cannot stop functioning.”

"I apologize to the Japanese" because "it is my responsibility for appointing him." Ishiba said the incident was "very unfortunate".

"It is not a one-time phenomenon to keep the rice prices high, but I think it is a structural phenomenon. We have to discuss this thoroughly, of course, they (rice prices) have to fall," he said.

Eto's weekend remarks played a part in Japan's nerves, where shortages soared, and prices climbed almost twice as much as in April 2024.

Factors include poor harvests caused by the hot 2023 weather, as well as last year’s “giant” warnings and panic buying caused by the tourism boom.

The government has been forced to release some emergency rice to lower prices - so far, with little success.

Junya Ogawa, secretary-general of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan's main opposition, criticized Eto's comments as "extremely inappropriate, loss and intolerable."

On Monday, the ETO tried to take his comments back, saying he was exaggerated and corrected by his wife.

"She told me that when the rice we donated was running out, she did go buy it," Eto said.

But the opposition seized the controversy, reportedly threatening to file a motion of distrust against the minority government in Island.

After resigning, Ishiba was appointed as the successor of the ETO, Shinjiro Koizumi, a former media-proficient environment minister and the son of popular former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Ishiba said he hopes Koizumi, 44, will show "strong leadership" amid the soaring rice prices.

Traditionally, rice farmers have been a long-term good foundation for support.