Japan's sticky problem with Trump, tariffs and rice

A member of staff works as bags of rice are seen piled up at a rice store in Tokyo on July 9, 2025. Rice holds a cherished place in Japanese national culture: Samurai reputedly used to be paid in it.- AFP

TOKYO: Donald Trump's insistence that "spoiled" Japan imports more US rice is adding to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's problems ahead of elections that could sink his premiership after less than a year in office.

Japan is one of more than 20 countries receiving letters this week from the US president warning of "reciprocal" tariffs from August 1 failing a trade agreement with Washington.