Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Hosts Deep Purple in Tokyo

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hosted Deep Purple in Tokyo on Friday, meeting the band she has long cited as her favorite. The meeting occurred ahead of the group’s scheduled concert at the Nippon Budokan arena.

Takaichi, a drummer herself, presented Deep Purple’s Ian Paice with a pair of signed Japanese-made drumsticks. Through an interpreter, she told the band, “You are my god. I can’t believe Deep Purple are here.” She praised their longevity and continued musical output.

The prime minister’s fandom is well documented. During her school years, she played keyboard in a Deep Purple cover band before focusing on drums. The event underscores the persistent cultural footprint of the classic rock group in Japan, intersecting unexpectedly with the country’s political sphere.