Tokyo shut down 'melon-gate' before Koizumi's Canberra visit

Japan's ambassador Kazuhiro Suzuki publicly closed the 'melon-gate' file on 5 August 2026, declining to fault Albanese's conduct over melon comments made on a podcast. A leaked diplomatic cable blamed "sensationalised reporting in the Australian media" and found no "ill intention." The statement landed days before Defence Minister Koizumi arrives in Canberra for frigate talks — a deliberately timed cleanup.