# Japan defence minister heads to Australia amid ‘melon-gate’ controversy

https://mins.news/en/item/23307

- The Guardian, 2026-08-16 04:44 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/16/japans-defence-minister-heads-to-australia-to-meet-marles-in-wake-of-melon-gate-controversy

> Japan’s defence minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, will visit Canberra and meet Australia’s deputy prime minister and defence minister, Richard Marles. Talks will focus on Australia’s planned purchase of Japan’s Mogami-class frigates and deeper security cooperation, as both governments play down a controversy over Anthony Albanese’s comments about gifted melons.

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