Deep Purple Welcomed by Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at Tokyo Office

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi briefly stepped away from government duties on Friday to host members of the legendary British rock band Deep Purple at her official residence in Tokyo, greeting the musicians as a longtime admirer of their music.

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The meeting, described as a courtesy visit ahead of the band’s upcoming tour dates in Japan, offered a rare glimpse of the prime minister’s enthusiasm for classic rock and heavy metal.

A Longtime Fan

Entering the guest room with visible excitement, Takaichi welcomed the musicians warmly, expressing disbelief that the group she had admired for decades was visiting her office.

“I have always admired Deep Purple,” she said as she greeted the band members.

During the meeting, she presented drummer Ian Paice with a set of Japanese-made TAMA drumsticks that she had personally signed. Paice responded warmly, telling her that as fellow drummers they shared a connection.

Takaichi has long spoken about her interest in hard rock music and previously revealed she was an enthusiastic drummer during her student years.

She told the band that her admiration dates back more than half a century. As a child in elementary school, she recalled listening to Machine Head, the group’s 1972 album that includes well-known tracks such as Highway Star and Smoke on the Water.

Musical Memories

The prime minister also recounted her own experience performing the band’s music while growing up.

In junior high school, she said she played keyboards in a Deep Purple cover band. Later, during her university years, she switched to playing drums.

Takaichi shared a lighthearted anecdote about her continued connection to the band’s music. When she argues with her husband, she joked, she sometimes plays the song Burn on the drums.

The track, she said, is one of her favourites because it helps clear her mind.

Cultural Diplomacy

The visit provided a brief pause from the pressures facing Japan’s government. Takaichi, the country’s first female prime minister, has been dealing with a demanding policy agenda that includes strained relations with China, economic challenges at home, and the wider diplomatic impact of the conflict in the Middle East.

Despite the informal tone of the meeting, she used the occasion to highlight the importance of cultural exchange between Japan and the United Kingdom.

Takaichi praised the band for their influence on rock music and for continuing to produce new work decades after their rise to international fame.

“I express my deepest respect for you for making rock history and continuing to take on new challenges and producing even more compelling music today,” she said.

She also wished the band success for their tour, which begins in Tokyo on Saturday.

The prime minister added that promoting cultural content forms part of her government’s broader economic growth strategy. She expressed hope that Deep Purple’s performances in Japan would excite audiences and help strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 11 April 2026