{"id":71557,"date":"2026-08-10T04:25:07","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T04:25:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/71557\/"},"modified":"2026-08-10T04:25:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T04:25:07","slug":"coalition-brands-pms-takaichi-remarks-grubby-as-labor-claims-misinterpretation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/71557\/","title":{"rendered":"Coalition brands PM\u2019s Takaichi remarks \u2018grubby\u2019 as Labor claims misinterpretation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Anthony Albanese has been urged to personally apologise to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after his comments about her \u201cmelons\u201d were criticised by a former diplomat as \u201cinsulting\u201d. <\/p>\n<p>Last month, the Prime Minister appeared on comedy podcast Bush Deep, where he referred to the gift of crown melons, the most prized fruit in Japan, given to him by Sanae Takaichi during her visit earlier this year. <\/p>\n<p>He referenced the Japanese leader bringing \u201ca couple of melons\u201d before gesturing with his hands. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe brought two, as you do,\u201d Mr Albanese said, after the host referred to actress and former Playboy model Pamela Anderson.<\/p>\n<p>On Monday, former diplomat Shingo Yamagami referred to the comments as a \u201cgaffe\u201d and an \u201cunthoughtful joke\u201d in an opinion piece for The Australian. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is a time for toiling and not for crude jokes at another\u2019s expense,\u201d Mr Yamagami wrote. <\/p>\n<p>He claimed the remarks showed \u201cignorance\u201d about the significance of the gift and \u201ccasually mocked\u201d Ms Takaichi, who had previously been subject to disparaging remarks from Japan\u2019s federal opposition and Chinese leaders. <br \/>Opposition Leader Angus Taylor later described the comments as \u201cbeneath the office of the prime minister\u201d. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey were insulting and the prime minister should make a personal apology. He\u2019s done it through a statement,\u201d Mr Taylor said on Monday. <\/p>\n<p>Deputy Opposition Leader Jane Hume echoed this sentiment, saying: \u201cThey (the remarks) were grubby, they were inappropriate, and if you offend a woman, you should apologise to that woman.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek described Mr Yamagami\u2019s criticism as \u201c100 per cent wrong\u201d, telling Seven\u2019s Sunrise his interpretation was not accurate. <\/p>\n<p>I completely disagree that (Mr Albanese) was in any way making the suggesting that the former ambassador is proposing,\u201d Ms Plibersek said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m really glad you played (the clip of Mr Albanese\u2019s comments) because I think people can make up their own minds.\u201d <br \/>This prompted One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce, appearing on the same program, to interject: \u201cThey have.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ms Plibersek then lashed the populist party\u2019s leader, Pauline Hanson, for her recent appearance on a podcast with UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson. <\/p>\n<p>Robinson has served prison time for offences including assault, fraud and contempt of court.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour leader did a podcast with a convicted criminal \u2026 so I don\u2019t think you\u2019re on very strong ground on the podcast story,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n<p>Read related topics:<a class=\"topic_tag\" href=\"https:\/\/www.news.com.au\/topics\/anthony-albanese\" data-tgev-container=\"story-topic-links\" data-tgev-label=\"Anthony Albanese\" data-tgev-order=\"1\" data-tgev-metric=\"npv\" data-tgev=\"event10\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Anthony Albanese<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Anthony Albanese has been urged to personally apologise to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after his comments 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