Australia PM under fire for remarks on Japanese counterpart's melon gifts

The exchange, which drew relatively little interest when the episode aired, has resurfaced after Tokyo's former ambassador to Canberra Shingo Yamagami labelled Albanese's comments a "sexist joke" and said they "betrayed the close bond" between Japan and Australia."The last thing [Takaichi] expected was to be so casually mocked by the trusted leader of Japan's special strategic partner," he wrote in an opinion piece published by The Australian on Monday.Crown melons are the "most prized fruit" in Japan and "treasured as something special", Yamagami added, 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," he said.During his two-year stint in Australia, Yamagami had a notably frosty relationship with some members of Albanese's Labor Party over disagreements regarding China.An opposition MP asked Albanese on Tuesday if he would apologise for the "foul-mouthed, classless comments about women", to which the prime minister said he "rejected the assertion of the question".He went on: "Australia and Japan have ne...