Back in early July, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese found himself at the center of a media storm over a comment he made on a TV show regarding Japanese PM Takaichi Sanae’s visit. The chat turned to the premium melons Takaichi had gifted during her May trip, and when the host asked how she managed to bring them through Australian customs, Albanese chuckled, “I wouldn’t know,” adding that she’d brought along “two melons” while mimicking the host’s hand gesture near his chest—a move many read as a cheeky innuendo.
Despite issuing a quick apology after the show aired, the story gained fresh traction when Shingo Yamagami, a former Japanese ambassador to Australia, penned a column in local media on Monday labeling the joke “sexist” and “discourteous,” according to reports from Australian outlet 9News.
Then, on Tuesday (August 11), while fielding questions in Parliament about whether he’d apologize for his “disrespectful conduct,” Albanese pushed back: “I reject the premise of that question.”
“The Australia-Japan relationship has never been stronger, and our strategic alignment has never been more in sync. My government has elevated this special strategic partnership to new heights,” he stated. “PM Takaichi is a friend of Australia, and a friend of mine.”
When pressed again on the same topic, Albanese doubled down on the strength of the bilateral ties. “I share an excellent rapport with Japan’s PM. We’ve met on the sidelines of various forums, and I’ve welcomed her here as well,” he said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong also chimed in, rejecting any notion that Albanese’s words were meant to demean Takaichi. “The PM has been clear that he never intended for his comments to be interpreted the way the opposition has spun them,” she noted.
Adding another layer to the story, recently leaked Japanese diplomatic cables suggest Tokyo is keen to let the whole thing blow over. One cable dated July 13 reportedly describes the Australian media’s coverage as “sensationalized,” while noting that Tokyo sees “no malice” in Albanese’s remarks and “will not take any action,” aiming instead to help the Australian side stay quiet and steer the press away from the story.