{"id":74126,"date":"2026-08-14T06:48:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T06:48:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/74126\/"},"modified":"2026-08-14T06:48:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T06:48:33","slug":"nsw-premier-defends-albanese-amid-japan-melon-saga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/74126\/","title":{"rendered":"NSW Premier defends Albanese amid Japan melon saga"},"content":{"rendered":"

NSW Premier Chris Minns has told a reporter to ask the 1000 smelter workers whose jobs have been saved by a multibillion-dollar bailout \u201cwhat they care about today\u201d after Anthony Albanese was again asked if he referred to his Japanese counterpart\u2019s breasts in a controversial podcast interview.<\/p>\n

The Prime Minister\u2019s appearance on the Bush Deep podcast has haunted him for the last month, with the Coalition accusing him of creating a \u201cdiplomatic incident\u201d by joking about Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi\u2019s gift of crown melons earlier in the year.<\/p>\n

Mr Albanese has denied any lewd intention and the Japanese government has dismissed it.<\/p>\n

Asked on Thursday about gestures he made in the interview while fronting a press conference on the $2.5bn bailout for Tomago Aluminium, Mr Albanese insisted using \u201cmy hands\u201d while speaking was normal.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve answered this question many times,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact is that the Japanese Prime Minister and I have a very good relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Minns interjected, telling media: \u201cGo and ask the 1000 workers what they care about today.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued: \u201cThis is the biggest announcement for this region in a generation. Can we just talk about it for five minutes?\u201d<\/p>\n

A leaked Japanese diplomatic cable from July 13 \u201cnoted \u2026 sensationalised reporting\u201d after Mr Albanese\u2019s appearance on the podcast \u2013 the same interview in which he said he would \u201cshag, marry and date\u201d Kylie Minogue.<\/p>\n

Of his comments on Ms Takaichi, the cable said Tokyo believed there was no \u201cill intention\u201d and \u201cno action\u201d would be taken.<\/p>\n

It also said that Japan would not provide commentary to let media \u201cmove on\u201d.<\/p>\n

That cable was sent to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), prompting the Coalition to ask the Australian Federal Police to investigate how sensitive government-to-government communication became public.<\/p>\n

Later on Thursday, the Senate passed a formal request demanding the Albanese government present the leaked Japanese correspondence as well as \u201call correspondence between the Prime Minister\u2019s office, and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet\u201d on the cable, \u201cincluding emails, letters, text messages, instant messages, handwritten notes, minutes, briefings and submissions\u201d.<\/p>\n

The request from Liberal frontbencher James Paterson also called for \u201call internal documents held by the Prime Minister\u2019s office concerning the official correspondence\u201d.<\/p>\n

Passed with support from the Greens and the crossbench, the government has until noon on Monday to present the documents.<\/p>\n

NewsWire has contacted the Prime Minister\u2019s Office for comment.<\/p>\n

Critics cautioned against \u2018cultural offence\u2019 claim<\/p>\n

Japan\u2019s envoy has downplayed the comments, saying Canberra had made clear Mr Albanese \u201cdid not make the comments in the way that has been reported\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are aware of the reporting in the media,\u201d ambassador Kazuhiro Suzuki said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been informed by the Australian side that Prime Minister Albanese did not make the comments in the way that has been reported.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn any case, the dinner hosted by Prime Minister Albanese during the (Japanese) Prime Minister\u2019s visit to Australia this May was held in a very relaxed atmosphere, and we believe it helped build a personal trust relationship between the two leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n

Australian Institute of International Affairs chief executive Bryce Wakefield said if \u201cwe take the leaked diplomatic communication and ambassador Suzuki\u2019s comments at face value, Japan does not appear to regard this as a diplomatic problem\u201d.<\/p>\n

Dr Wakefield, who spent years living in Japan and held a tenured academic position in Japanese politics, cautioned critics against assuming any \u201ccultural offence\u201d had been caused. <\/p>\n

\u201cAlbanese\u2019s detractors are entitled to criticise his conduct,\u201d he said, adding that \u201cthey are on much shakier ground if they present that criticism as evidence of Japanese diplomatic offence\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is still a legitimate domestic argument about whether the joke was juvenile, sexist or inappropriate.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut that is an Australian political argument \u2013 it should not automatically be turned into a claim about Japanese cultural offence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Wakefield went on to say that commentary invoking \u201csupposedly distinctive Japanese norms of respect and dignity to explain why the episode must be especially offensive\u201d should be taken with a pinch of salt.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would be wary of that kind of cultural essentialism,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJapanese people are no more uniform in their reactions to a crude joke than Australians are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read related topics:Anthony Albanese<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NSW Premier Chris Minns has told a reporter to ask the 1000 smelter workers whose jobs have 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