Albanese Faces Apology Demands Over 2-Melon Gesture to Japan PM

3 articles · Updated · ABC News · Aug 10

Angus Taylor demanded Anthony Albanese personally apologise to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after a podcast clip showed him gesturing to his chest while recalling two melons she had gifted him.
Shingo Yamagami, Japan's former ambassador to Australia, reignited the issue by calling the exchange insulting, sexist and culturally ignorant, saying it slighted both Takaichi and the bilateral relationship.
Albanese's office said the claim he was joking about Takaichi's body was wrong, while ministers Tanya Plibersek, Mark Butler and Catherine King defended him and stressed strong Australia-Japan ties.
Tokyo has not publicly protested, and Japanese officials earlier treated the episode as minor, though one Australia-based business figure said Japanese elites had noticed it despite the public silence.
The flare-up revives scrutiny of Albanese's July podcast appearance, which had already forced an apology after he said he would "shag" Kylie Minogue during a game segment.