{"id":75985,"date":"2026-08-18T05:21:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T05:21:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/75985\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T05:21:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T05:21:15","slug":"he-did-not-mean-it-that-way-japans-defence-minister-officially-addresses-albaneses-melons-comments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/75985\/","title":{"rendered":"‘He did not mean it that way’: Japan\u2019s Defence Minister officially addresses Albanese’s melons comments"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Albanese government has met with Japan\u2019s Defence Minister in the highest-level engagement between Canberra and Tokyo since the \u201cmelongate\u201d scandal erupted.<\/p>\n

It comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared to make sexual innuendo<\/a> using Crown Melons given to him by Japan\u2019s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.<\/p>\n

The Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi sat down with Australia\u2019s Defence Minister Richard Marles on Tuesday in a closed-door meeting.<\/p>\n

Sources in Tokyo previously suggested that Mr Koizumi\u2019s visit could provide an opportunity for a senior Albanese government figure to privately apologise<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mr Koizumi was asked at a press conference following the meeting if the issue of Mr Albanese\u2019s melons scandal was raised.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. There was not such a discussion today,\u201d Mr Koizumi told reporters in Canberra, translated into English by an interpreter.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore I visited Australia, the Australian side had already told the Japanese side that Mr Albanese\u2026 he did not mean it that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Marles added that the Japan-Australia relationship had never been so strong, across defence and diplomacy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe relationship between Australia and Japan is at a high water mark. It has never had the level of depth and engagement that it has right now,\u201d Mr Marles said.<\/p>\n

The talks come as the Albanese government continues to face questions over whether the Prime Minister should personally apologise to Ms Takaichi for his \u201cmelons\u201d remark.<\/p>\n

Mr Albanese has repeatedly denied making a sexual reference to the Japanese Prime Minister when he discussed the melons she had given him.<\/p>\n

During a recent podcast, Mr Albanese recalled the gift and referred to Ms Takaichi bringing him \u201ca couple of melons\u201d, while gesturing around his chest.<\/p>\n

He has since rejected calls for an apology, arguing his comments had been misrepresented and that he had already apologised for other elements of the podcast.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do respect the Japanese Prime Minister,\u201d Mr Albanese told News24 when asked about the controversy last week.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere’ve been a lot of words written about this. There hasn’t been one word attributed to me that people have pointed towards as being inappropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked whether he should apologise if people had found the remarks offensive, Mr Albanese said he had already apologised for other parts of the podcast.<\/p>\n

\u201cI apologised for elements of the podcast… I did that very clearly, but there is nothing I have done with the Japanese Prime Minister,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cImportantly, her visit was a really warm one, we had a very friendly and warm dinner, it was very informal. We got to know each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Albanese also claimed he had received assurances from Tokyo that it had not taken offence from the incident.<\/p>\n

However, the Japanese Embassy in Australia told News24.com.au only that the Albanese government had attempted to assure Japan the comments were not offensive.<\/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,\u201d the embassy said.<\/p>\n

The controversy has also drawn criticism for a\u00a0diplomatic cable sent from Tokyo<\/a>\u00a0which was leaked to the media.<\/p>\n

\"Albanese<\/p>\n

Shadow defence minister James Paterson said last week that the leaked letter was an apparent \u201cunlawful disclosure of confidential correspondence\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe government appears to be leaking confidential correspondence from the government of Japan to the media,\u201d he said at a press conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is important that our closest allies have confidence that when they share confidential correspondence with us that it will not find its way in the media.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a dangerous strategic environment that trust with our closest partners is critically important. It is important that the AFP get to the bottom of this matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Paterson confirmed the police had received the referral, which he said included calls to investigate the Office of the Prime Minister.<\/p>\n

\"\u2018You<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, former Australian ambassador to Japan Shingo Yamagami has warned the incident had affected the relationship.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the Japanese government is sticking to this facade to maintain a cordial relationship,\u201d Mr Yamagami said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you take a close look at what’s being said on Japanese SNS (social media), certainly, this has made an impact on our special strategic partnership.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what is important? Yes, we need to move on, but I think we need to show mutual respect to each other.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Albanese government has met with Japan\u2019s Defence Minister in the highest-level engagement between Canberra and Tokyo 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