Japan's farm minister Taku Eto stepped down on Wednesday following public outrage over one hot-button issue: rice.

I made an extremely inappropriate remark at a time when consumers are struggling with soaring rice prices,” Taku Eto said.

TOKYO -- Japan's agriculture minister resigned Wednesday because of political fallout over recent comments that he “never had to buy rice” because he got it from supporters as gifts. The resignation ...

Taku Eto came under fire earlier this week after saying that he never had to buy rice thanks to his supporters’ gifts.