Japanese journalist Waka Ikeda argues that the lack of public backlash over Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s sexualised "melon” joke about Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi exposes a double standard in how female leaders are respected. “I think it’s really important we should defend a woman’s dignity despite the political differences,” Ms Ikeda told News24 host Chris Kenny. “A lot of people [in Japan] don't know about this.”