HYUGA, MIYAZAKI PREF. ¨C Former agriculture minister Taku Eto is facing an uphill battle to retain his House of Representatives seat in Sunday¡¯s general election after resigning from the Cabinet last year over insensitive remarks about rice amid a spike in prices for the staple grain.
¡°It truly was something I should never have said. I am deeply sorry,¡± Eto told an audience of about 100 people involved in agriculture at a campaign rally in Hyuga, Miyazaki Prefecture, on Saturday, bowing low in apology.
Eto was effectively dismissed from his ministerial post in May last year after drawing criticism for saying, ¡°I have never bought rice.¡± At a time when consumers were struggling with soaring rice prices, he explained that he received so much of the staple from his supporters that he could even sell it.
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