Japan PM vows to cut rice prices that have doubled in a year

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledged Wednesday to take necessary steps to lower rice prices that have doubled over the past year, but repeatedly rejected opposition calls to cut Japan's consumption tax to support households.

During a one-on-one parliamentary debate with opposition leaders, Ishiba said he would, as soon as possible, bring rice prices down to below 4,000 yen ($28) per 5 kilograms from their average current level of 4,268 yen in early May, vowing to stake his job on achieving the target.