Australia’s Melongate: Japan used as prop in domestic politics

Australian opposition politicians are demanding Prime Minister Anthony Albanese apologise to Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi for alleged sexist remarks on a podcast, dubbed 'Melongate'. Liberal leader Angus Taylor said: 'Why won't the prime minister stop treating us like fools, man up and say sorry to the prime minister of Japan?'

livemint.com reports Japan's government has distanced itself. Ambassador Kazuhiro Suzuki said he understands Albanese 'did not make the comments in the way that has been reported'. The episode follows a pattern of Japan being used as a 'Rorschach test' for foreign political arguments, with commentators projecting their own views without checking facts.

Similar incidents include muted Japanese reaction to Donald Trump's Pearl Harbor joke, and false claims about Takaichi's immigration stance. livemint.com notes that Japan's low crime rate and low birthrate are cited selectively by both left and right, while the country remains a 'blank screen' due to language and cultural barriers.