Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected opposition calls to personally apologise to Japan’s PM after controversial comments made on a podcast.

In an appearance on the Bush Deep podcast that aired in July, Albanese mentioned two crown melons given to him by his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi.

Asked by host Nikki Osborne about how the melons were brought in to Australia, Albanese said he didn’t know, while making hand gestures near his chest.

“She brought two? She just came in looking like Pamela Anderson,” Osborne said.

“She brought two, and they’re beautiful,” Albanese said.

The podcast comments have brought renewed controversy after former Japanese ambassador Shingo Yamagami accused Albanese of failing to understand the cultural significance of the gift.

Crown melons are highly prized as gifts in Japan because of their intense sweetness. They are cultivated through a one tree, one fruit farming method where each plant produces just one melon.

Yamagami also said Albanese’s remarks put at risk bilateral ties between Australia and Japan.

But asked by Coalition MPs during Question Time on Tuesday whether he would personally apologise to Takaichi, Albanese rejected the claims the comments were disrespectful to women.

“I reject the assertion of the question,” he told parliament.

“Australia and Japan have never been closer or more strategically aligned, and my government has taken our special strategic partnership to new heights.

“During the recent visit by Prime Minister Takaichi, we announced substantial outcomes, including a joint declaration on economic security cooperation, signalling our resolve to support each other in the face of economic coercion.”

During the same podcast interview, Albanese also came under fire for playing a game of shag, marry or date between Kylie Minogue, Rhonda Burchmore and Nicole Kidman.

“Oh, Kylie, clearly … all of the above,” Albanese said.

He later apologised for the comments.

-AAP