On a crisp Friday in central Tokyo, one of the world’s most influential hard rock acts crossed paths with their most high-profile admirer – Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, a decades-long Deep Purple superfan.
The legendary British rock group, currently on a Japanese tour commemorating their historic 1972 live album *Made in Japan* – widely ranked among the greatest live rock records ever cut – met Takaichi at her official office ahead of their Saturday headline set at Tokyo’s iconic Nippon Budokan arena. For 65-year-old Takaichi, the encounter was the fulfillment of a fandom that began when she was a primary school student, when she first picked up the band’s breakthrough 1971 studio album *Machine Head*.
A skilled amateur percussionist herself, Takaichi cut her musical teeth performing with a Deep Purple tribute act as a teenager; she started on keyboards before switching to drums during her university years. In a playful revelation to the band, the conservative leader shared that she still turns to the band’s raw, high-energy sound to blow off steam today: “These days, when I fight with my husband I drum to *Burn* and cast a curse on him,” she told the group, laughing. Greeting founding drummer Ian Paice with a broad smile, Takaichi presented him with a custom pair of hand-signed Japanese-made drumsticks, telling him “You are my god.”
Through an interpreter, Takaichi expressed profound admiration for the band’s enduring five-decade career, noting: “I have the deepest respect for the way you continue to make rock history while embracing new challenges and creating captivating music to this day.” She added that she hoped the band’s cross-country tour would not only thrill Japanese rock fans but also strengthen cultural ties between the United Kingdom and Japan.
Formed in Hertfordshire, England, in 1968, Deep Purple holds a place as one third of the “unholy trinity” of foundational British heavy metal, alongside fellow icons Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. The band is best known for their era-defining hit *Smoke on the Water*, whose iconic guitar riff remains one of the most recognizable in rock history. The group’s current tour marks a homecoming of sorts: it was in Japan that Deep Purple recorded *Made in Japan* over 50 years ago, a record that cemented their global stardom.
Paice, the band’s founding drummer, called the meeting with the prime minister an unexpected delight, describing it as a special “added bonus” to the band’s already anticipated return to Japan. In an Instagram post documenting the meeting, the band highlighted that Takaichi has long been open about her love for hard rock and heavy metal, and has repeatedly named Deep Purple as one of her all-time favorite acts. Takaichi’s history with drumming is well-documented: she was known for carrying multiple sets of drumsticks to performances early on, thanks to her intense playing style that often left sticks broken mid-set.
The lighthearted meeting comes as a rare break for Takaichi, who has navigated a series of pressing political and economic challenges since taking office last October, including strained diplomatic relations with neighboring China, persistent domestic inflation, and a stagnant national economy.