Japan’s defence minister is due in Canberra for talks amid tensions sparked by prime minister Anthony Albanese’s comments about Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi.

Shinjiro Koizumi’s visit to Australia is expected to focus on the growing Australia-Japan security partnership, including cooperation over Australia’s planned acquisition of Japan’s Mogami-class frigates.

The controversy, dubbed “melongate” in local media, began after Mr Albanese joked on a podcast about receiving two melons from Ms Takaichi and appeared to gesture towards his chest.

The remark and gesture triggered calls for him to apologise, but Mr Albanese has maintained he made no inappropriate comment about the Japanese leader.

Mr Albanese was asked in parliament whether he would apologise to Ms Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, who gifted him two crown melons when she visited Australia in May.

“I reject the assertion in the question,” he replied.

The remarks were made on Bush Deep, a comedy podcast recorded at his residence and broadcast in July.

Crown Melons from Shizuoka are Japan’s most coveted fruit.

The gesture came after Australia decided in January to reopen its market to Japanese melons. In Japan, a single Crown Melon can command a price higher than a premium bottle of wine, according to The Japan Times, which the outlet said reflected the painstaking craftsmanship and pursuit of perfection associated with the Japanese concept of takumi.

Such fruit is typically reserved for occasions when the giver wants to convey particular respect and honour, it said.

The remarks by Mr Albanese attracted little attention at the time but resurfaced after Shingo Yamagami, Japan’s ambassador to Australia until 2023, wrote in the Australian that the comments were sexist and betrayed the bond between the two countries.

“So, prime minister, please enjoy Japan’s sweet and juicy melons without thinking about a woman’s anatomy and instead focus on what our two countries must do together,” Mr Yamagami wrote, adding that the last thing Ms Takaichi expected was to be casually mocked by the leader of Japan’s closest strategic partner.

Japan’s government sent a diplomatic cable to Canberra in July, days after the podcast episode aired, complaining about sensationalised reporting in the Australian media and saying that it detected no ill intention in Mr Albanese’s remarks, according to the Australian.

Meanwhile, the Australian deputy prime minister and defence minister, Richard Marles, told the Guardian Australia: “Our relationship with Japan continues to go from strength to strength, and I look forward to welcoming my good friend, minister Koizumi back to Australia this week.

“Together we will progress efforts to enhance defence cooperation and support our shared commitment to regional security, building on the joint statement announced by our prime ministers in May.

“This includes in the areas of co-developing and co-producing defence capabilities, advanced weapons testing, enhanced training and exercises, and increased information and intelligence cooperation.”

Waka Ikeda, who is a research fellow at the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies and writes on gender, family, society, culture, digital and youth issues, wrote inThe Japan Times: “Albanese’s office issued a one-sentence written apology, but for a different offence: his musings in the same interview about wanting to ‘shag’ singer Kylie Minogue.

“He has never addressed the Takaichi joke, never said whether any apology reached Tokyo or repeated the written apology aloud. His acting minister for women declined to comment. The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, waved the interview away as lighthearted. This, from the government of a man who had declared, only weeks earlier, and in Allan’s defence over a billboard calling her a witch, that it is ‘completely unacceptable to demean, objectify, belittle or offend women’.”

The Japanese defence minister will also travel to India’s capital Delhi after Canberra, where he is scheduled to hold his first meeting with Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday. During his visit, Mr Koizumi is also expected to visit an Indian naval base, Japan’s defence ministry said.