Key Facts
• May 25: Tamaki criticized Koizumi’s ‘pseudo-abolition’ of rice acreage reduction.
• May 28: Tamaki plans to question Koizumi in the House of Representatives Agriculture Committee.
• 2018: Koizumi claimed to have abolished rice acreage reduction under Abe’s administration.
• Policy details: Farmers received ¥105,000 per 10 ares for producing animal feed rice.
• Tamaki argues this policy led to a rise in rice prices.
• Tamaki calls for bipartisan cooperation to reform Japan’s rice policy.
Summary
On May 25, Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, criticized former Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi for his ‘pseudo-abolition’ of rice acreage reduction, claiming it contributed to the recent surge in rice prices. Tamaki highlighted that Koizumi’s 2018 policy under the Abe administration incentivized farmers to produce animal feed rice instead of staple rice, offering ¥105,000 per 10 ares. Tamaki plans to confront Koizumi in the House of Representatives Agriculture Committee on May 28, urging bipartisan efforts to implement genuine reforms in Japan’s rice policy.
