Japanese Prime Minister welcomes her rock ‘gods’

In the usually austere corridors of the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo, the scent of diplomacy was briefly replaced by the spirit of 1970s rock on Friday. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan's first female leader, set aside pressing concerns over a sluggish economy and regional tensions to host the legendary British band Deep Purple, whom she described with uncharacteristic fervour as her "gods".

Takaichi, 65, a conservative politician often seen navigating complex geopolitical waters with China, revealed herself to be a lifelong "hard rock enthusiast." Greeting the band with open arms and a radiant smile, she singled out drummer Ian Paice for particular praise. "You are my god," she told him, before presenting the musician with a pair of signed, Japanese-made TAMA drumsticks. Paice, appearing delighted by the high-level reception, noted the camaraderie of their shared instrument, telling her: "You're a drummer; we are friends."

The Prime Minister's connection to the band—one of the "unholy trinity" of British heavy metal alongside Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath—is no passing whim. A fan since primary school, she famously purchased the Machine Head album as a young girl. Her musical pedigree is genuine; she played keyboards in a Deep Purple tribute band during her school years before switching to the drums at university. She was reportedly known for her ferocity behind the kit, frequently breaking sticks during intense sets. Even today, the music offers a domestic outlet. "When I fight with my husband, I drum to Burn and cast a curse on him," she joked, adding that the high-tempo track helps clear her mind.

The meeting took place as the band returned to tour a country that holds a pivotal place in their legacy. In 1972, they recorded the seminal Made in Japan here, an album widely regarded as one of the finest live recordings ever made.

While the visit provided a welcome respite from the long working hours and rising domestic prices that have defined her premiership since October, Takaichi remained mindful of her official role. She emphasised that promoting cultural content is a core tenet of her government's growth strategy. Expressing her "deepest respect" for the band's enduring creativity, she voiced hope that the tour would bolster long-standing Japan-UK cultural exchanges and thrill fans across the nation. For Paice, the meeting was a rare "added bonus" to a career spent making rock history.