Agriculture Minister Taku Eto resigned following his controversial comments about receiving free rice amid soaring consumer prices. Prime Minister Ishiba, whose administration began in October 2024, quickly appointed Shinjiro Koizumi as the new minister with former Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga reportedly influencing this decision.

By mid-morning, Ishiba promised to achieve rice prices of 3000 yen per 5kg, accepting responsibility if prices don't decrease. Koizumi immediately suspended reserve rice bidding processes, declaring he would "focus on rice" and release unlimited quantities from government stockpiles.

This political crisis unfolded against a backdrop of economic troubles, with Japanese bond yields soaring due to faltering investor demand. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts with South Korea continued as Japan announced fast-track entry for South Korean visitors to commemorate their 60th anniversary of normalized relations. Trump's automotive tariffs have begun affecting export prices while Nvidia's CEO criticized US export controls on AI chips.