Australian PM Albanese rejects apology demand over melon joke about Japan's Takaichi

The podcast exchange

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faces criticism over comments he made about a gift of Japanese crown melons from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during an appearance on the comedy podcast "Bush Deep," hosted by comedian Nikki Osborne at his official residence. The episode aired in July but the remarks resurfaced this week after former Japanese ambassador to Australia Shingo Yamagami published an opinion piece in The Australian on 10 August.

During the podcast, Albanese described the melons Takaichi gave him during her visit to Australia in May as "pretty strange" gifts that "ended up being quite good." When host Nikki Osborne asked whether Takaichi had smuggled the fruit through Australian customs, Albanese held his hands in front of his chest and said "she had a couple of melons." Osborne replied that Takaichi had come in "looking like Pamela Anderson," to which Albanese responded: "She brought two, and they are beautiful."

Former ambassador's rebuke

Yamagami, who served as Japan's envoy in Canberra for two years, called Albanese's comments a "sexist joke" that "betrayed the close bond" between Japan and Australia. In his op-ed, he wrote that crown melons are the "most prized fruit" in Japan and "treasured as something special," noting that a single melon costs more than 30,000 yen ($188).

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.

Yamagami also wrote that "the last thing [Takaichi] expected was to be so casually mocked by the trusted leader of Japan's special strategic partner." During his tenure in Australia, Yamagami had a notably frosty relationship with some members of Albanese's Labor Party over disagreements regarding China.

Political fallout

Opposition leader Angus Taylor called the comments "insulting" and demanded a personal apology. When an opposition MP asked Albanese in parliament on 11 August whether he would apologise for his "disrespectful behaviour," the prime minister replied: "I reject the assertion in the question." He added that Takaichi was "a friend of Australia and a friend of mine" and that "Australia and Japan have never been closer."

Foreign Minister Penny Wong also rejected accusations that Albanese intended to insult Takaichi, saying the prime minister had been clear that he did not mean for the comments to be interpreted as the opposition was framing them. Several Labor ministers defended Albanese, with Finance Minister Katy Gallagher saying the remarks were not meant in the way critics suggested.

A second controversy from the same podcast

The melon comments are not the only controversy from the same podcast appearance. Albanese had already apologised for saying in the same interview that he would like to "shag" singer Kylie Minogue, a remark that drew an earlier backlash. The 63-year-old prime minister, who won a surprise election victory last year, does not face another election until 2028, but his government is under increasing pressure in polls from the right-populist One Nation Party.

Cultural context of the gift

Takaichi, 64, became Japan's first female prime minister in February 2026. Her May visit to Australia included the gift of Shizuoka-grown crown melons, a luxury item in Japan where a single fruit can cost more than AUS$270. Australia had lifted restrictions on melon imports from Japan in January. The Japanese Prime Minister's Office stated that Takaichi expressed hope for increased exports of Japanese agricultural products to Australia.