Canberra says no ill intent in prime minister’s remark on Takaichi’s gift
Takaichi gave Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese high-quality melons from Shizuoka Prefecture at their dinner during her visit to Australia in May.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made a remark regarding a gift from his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi that was criticized as sexist, but the Australian government maintains there was no ill intent behind his comments. According to sources at the Japanese Embassy in Canberra, the Australian side explained during a conversation with Japanese officials that Albanese's remark about the melons gifted to him by Takaichi was not intended to have a sexual connotation.
Takaichi presented Albanese with high-quality melons from Shizuoka Prefecture during her visit to Australia in May. At a recent podcast, Albanese described the gift as "strange but pretty good" while gesturing near his chest with his hands as he said that Takaichi brought two melons. The dinner between the two leaders took place in a friendly atmosphere, and the Australian government indicated that the Japanese side does not intend to create an issue over the matter.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
