Japanese rice tastier due to global warming, says Aso

Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said Monday that rice on the northernmost main island of Hokkaido "has become tastier thanks to (global) warming," a remark likely to raise eyebrows of climate campaigners.

I have read books of the wit and wisdom and George Bush and the unintended poetry of Donald Trump. Aso needs his own collected works. All privileged buffoons whose drag and damage to societies East and West has been incalculable.

Aso’s remarks on Japanese rice and global warming effects go right up in the top 3 of self-entitled idiotic sentences, fighting for gold with Marie Antoinette’s « let them eat cake ».

Just another reason why the LDP has to be removed. Rid us of this moron. This is a reality.

When will this idiot stop spewing nonsense!

What an embarrassment this guy is to Japan, go AWAY!

Japan's best troll.

Before everyone starts screaming, does anyone know the full context of the remarks and the speech itself?

Probably not.

Ah, Aso san. Hadn't heard from him for a while but like only Aso can, he came with a remark to hit the front page again.

Another gem to add to the list of idiocy. Still, not quiet in the top ten, with the utterance that, The elderly should be allowed to "hurry up and die" to relieve pressure on the state being No 1. Should take the advice.

Hokkaido rice tastes better because of global warming?

I'm sure that will be a great comfort to all the folks flooded out of their homes due to extreme weather patterns. Their emergency-ration onigiri will taste so much better, make it all worth while.

Moron.

A s o strikes again! Foot in mouth disease.

What if he’s right?

Also yield drops for every degree increase, so eventually you won't be able to grow rice at all.

TIme for another drink

I laughed very hard. A-so!

For tastier Hokkaido rice, we give away our sea ice, watch our sea levels rise, and embrace longer, more intense heat waves and weather events. Perhaps not a good trade, Mr. Aso.

People often associate a warming climate with negative developments, but there is "something good," said the 81-year-old politicia

No doubt Aso's thoughts and style of speech are provocative and unintelligent. But this point is somewhat (inconvenient) truth. Climate change is NOT really a global problem making everyone a loser. Some people, industries, regions and countries could benefit thanks to a higher temperature.

For example, Russia is increasing agricultural productions, gaining fossil fuels hitherto inaccessible frozen underneath. Greenland is set to explore oil/gas reserves (ready to become independent of Denmark?) In Japan, Hokkaido may benefit in some ways, but of course other regions may suffer.

Check if he has any financial interests in northern rice farms, or associated products.

Oh dear. Just goes to show how these LDP clowns think the general populace are easily brainwashed. Say anything and thou shall believe.

he's my favorite person

@noriahojanen

For example, Russia is increasing agricultural productions, gaining fossil fuels hitherto inaccessible frozen underneath. Greenland is set to explore oil/gas reserves (ready to become independent of Denmark?)

Doubling down on the root cause of climate change seems like sage economic advice. What's not to like!?

I see that a load of unpleasant people have come here to engage in their Orwellian 'two minutes hate'. Not one person has actually focused on whether Aso was right or wrong about the flavour of Hokkaido rice.

Aso was not arguing in favour of climate change, merely pointing out that, as we say in England, 'every cloud has a silver lining'. But it seems that for some people honesty, truth, objectivity and seeing all aspects of a situation is unacceptable, and only a blinkered and one-sided viewpoint will be tolerated.

Somebody publish a book of this buffoon's most notable quotes.

And next? Probably a recommendation for ‘cheap and everyone affordable’ Kobe beef instead of climate change triggered north disappearing fish. As you surely also know, he’s a master of knowing everyday living prices too. lol

He's still a moron isn't he?

We shouldn't pay too much attention to his remarks as he's not going to be around much longer. But the LDP will still win on Sunday!

Bet he doesn’t/can’t even tie his own shoelaces

What a fool he is.

I am really not surprised that Aso would say something like that...

I did. I agree with you. Objective truth is of no interest to most of the people posting on this thread. Only when it fits their agenda do they acknowledge the truth.

Right on Helix! When the sea levels are so high we can just cast off oceanographic vessels from city hall, just think of all the research we can do and tasty whale meat we can harvest!

Whether it tastes better or not is irrelevant, he is seeking to minimise the impact of climate change out of his short sighted ignorant self interest.

Daft old sod.

As my old PE teacher used to say, stupider than a bog brush and nowhere near as useful.

At least he isn’t talking about Nazis again.

Finally something positive about global warming!

Well I guess that means he at least acknowledges it's existence? My image of Aso couldn't really get any worse so this is almost a plus point added to his thousands of minus points.

It’s idiot is nothing more than a Japanese version of Trump. PLEASE Japan, if you have at least ONE functioning brain cell left, dump this guy at the polls come 10/31!!!

Pie in the sky, I do care about my rice, as long as instant rice, an idiot could mess up it

Absolutely! We need to fight the negativity, so accentuate the positive and turn that frown upside down.

A couple more seasons of drought, heat and wildfires and Australia will be rid of all those pesky cane toads, rabbits, giant spiders, snakes, crocs and other dangerous creatures. Bonzer, mate.

Ditto for Covid. In Japan, it has erased the two things all you ex-pats dislike most: Flu and tourists. Yet still you grumble!

Got to admit, he keeps you chuckling.

And the election is this coming Sunday. Say something else that's silly, Aso-san.

Uh.... warmer temperature will change the characteristics of the rice.

You can argue that rationalizing a positive from changing temperatures for political reasons is funny, but the rice will likely taste better.

To be fair, Russia seems to be pretty happy too with global warming. Places like Russia and Hokkaido are heating up instead of the the harsh cold weather.

If climate change makes the winter warmer on Honshu and the summers a bit unbearable then I’m not averse!

If the media yawning, bored, require a election howler, Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso is on hand to deliver an epic lapsus linguae.

These old fellas will say anything.

This guy is an eternal idiot.

@Hiro.

Russia has a lot of forests and a lot of frozen tundra. The forests will burn like Australia. The frozen tundra will melt and turn into swamp.

The real problem is not that local climates are moving, but the instability. Wherever you live in the world, you need a reliable season to grow crops, and a reliable cold spell without which some trees will not fruit. Climate change is making the climate increasingly unstable at an unheard of rate. Some crops can move indoors, but it is difficult to see that happening for the major crops like giant fields of wheat. There will be famines.

Stupid man says something stupid. Again. He is not fit for office.

Japanese rice doesn't have any "taste" or flavour. It's just about texture. That's why there is furikake. If you want rice with flavor, then go for Thai jasmine rice. Yum!

Rice has high concentration of arsenic,maybe that what he talking about

Is there ANY topic that this buffoon cannot make worse by weighing in with his 2 yen?

What person or group (This is a rhetorical question: I am well aware of his support base. Thank you for indulging a bit of venting. ) in their right mind still thinks, “Yeah, put this guy in charge!”

hokkaido potato futures look better

Ah, so? (rinse and repeat)

Hahaha, let the heads explode over a silly comment.

He is just appealing to Japanese sensibilities, as in ‘future thinking’ entails deeply pondering what one will have for dinner tonight.

Rice barely has taste to begin with.

When's the last time someone you know had a bowl of rice and licked their lips and said, man, that is one tasty rice?

Even though brown rice is delicious, high in dietary fiber and nutritious, frequent intake of brown rice may not be recommended as it may contain arsenic which may cause cancers such as bladder cancer and also contains phytic acid that may reduce the ability to absorb certain nutrients by the body. When it comes to cancer, a personalized nutrition plan balanced with the right foods and supplements with the right dosage, specific to the cancer type & treatment, is necessary to gain maximum benefits & stay safe. Men over 50 should have colon & prostate checks. Mr. Aso at 81 years, may be past due, including tests for dementia.

@Nippori Nick: Me. At a top notch Tonkatsu yesterday.

Thailand claims jasmine rice is the best alternative to avoid amounts of arsenic while India claims their basmati is the best. Enjoy the taste & texture of both as an alternative to Japan’s daily fixation. However, the costs of these varieties in Japan are exorbitant.

In Japan time moves……slowly.

Along with Japanese agriculture breeding technology and also due to global warming, Hokkaido rice will get better. Aso sayed facts but only half of it. Uneducated common Japanese people, Japanese voters and foreigners too will not be able to relate to Aso.

Yes, and as global warming increases, we can look forward to lower heating bills!

So this is the infamous Asoisms I’ve heard about. The man is a walking gaff factory.