Japan's government has responded to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's "melons" comment about Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, telling Canberra it believes the controversy stemmed from "sensationalised reporting" in the Australian media.
The remark came during Albanese's appearance on Nikki Osborne's Beep Bush podcast, when he recalled being gifted two Shizuoka-grown melons during Takaichi's recent visit to Australia. Osborne jokingly asked whether Japan's first female prime minister had "smuggled" the prized melons through customs, making a hand gesture and referencing former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson.
"Got a couple of melons," Albanese replied, making a similar gesture. "She brought two, as you do.. and they're beautiful."
Japan's government wrote to the Prime Minister's department last month to suggest the matter had been "sensationalised reporting in the Australian media." Japan reassured Australia it did not believe there was any "ill intention" in Albanese's comments, adding that "no action" would be taken to "allow the Australian media to move on."
Gallagher defends the prime minister
Minister for Women Katy Gallagher defended Albanese on Channel Nine's Today show on Tuesday. "The PM's made clear that he did not mean it in the way that it's been reported and intended. And I work with the prime minister. I know he has a good working relationship with the Japanese prime minister. It's a very important relationship," she said.
"As minister for women, I have worked with him on all of the other areas across government where we are doing what we can to support women. Now he is a big supporter of women. He respects women, and I work closely with him," she added.
On Monday, about a month after the comments were aired, Albanese pushed back against suggestions his remarks were a crude joke about Takaichi's anatomy. "This assertion is wrong," he said.
Former ambassador says reputation was damaged
Shingo Yamagami, Japan's former ambassador to Australia, said the interview had undermined Albanese's reputation in Japan. Yamagami said Takaichi was no stranger to derogatory remarks about her body and gender from China and her political opponents, and "the last thing she expected was to be so casually mocked by the trusted leader of Japan's special strategic partner."
"However lighthearted it was intended to be, the recent joke delivered by PM Anthony Albanese at the expense of Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi is how he might be remembered by Japanese who most value the friendship with Australia," Yamagami wrote. "It is a time for toiling and not for crude jokes at another's expense."
Yamagami said the close relationship between Australia and Japan would not be weakened by the comments, but that they showed "a paucity of strategic thinking" at a time when the two countries needed to work together against China. "So, Prime Minister, please enjoy Japan's sweet and juicy melons without thinking about a woman's anatomy, and instead focus on what our two countries must do together," he wrote.
Other podcast moments spark backlash
Elsewhere in the podcast, Albanese played a game of "shag, marry or date" involving Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman and Rhonda Burchmore. Asked to choose, he said, "I've just got married. I'm only six months in." When Osborne pressed, "But if it goes tits up?" he replied, "Kylie, clearly."
"You'd marry Kylie? And shag her? And date her?" Osborne asked. "All of the above," Albanese said. "She's terrific."
Osborne also asked whether Albanese and his new wife Jodie Haydon were "bonking like rabbits." "Well, when we have time," he replied. "After the footy. It's always a good aphrodisiac, a Souths win," he added, referencing the couple's NRL team.
