Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi revealed her lifelong devotion to British rock legends Deep Purple during a surprising meeting with the band in Tokyo on Friday, declaring to drummer Ian Paice, "You are my god."
The 65-year-old conservative leader, Japan's first female prime minister, beamed as she presented Paice with a pair of signed Japanese-made drumsticks, confessing she had been a fan since primary school. "These days, when I fight with my husband I drum to 'Burn' and cast a curse on him," Takaichi told the musicians during their visit to her office.
An avid drummer herself, Takaichi played in a Deep Purple tribute band as a girl and continued her musical passion through university, where she was known to carry multiple sets of drumsticks due to frequently breaking them during intense performances.
"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," Takaichi told the band through an interpreter.
The meeting occurred as Deep Purple returned to tour Japan, where they recorded their legendary 1972 live album Made in Japan, widely considered one of the greatest rock albums ever recorded. The band was scheduled to perform at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan arena on Saturday.
Formed in England in 1968, Deep Purple gained fame as one of the "unholy trinity" of British heavy metal bands alongside Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Their most renowned hit, "Smoke on the Water," appeared on their 1971 album Machine Head—an album Takaichi proudly noted she purchased back in grade school.
Paice expressed that visiting Japan was always a pleasure, but meeting their high-profile fan was an "added bonus." The prime minister said she hoped the band's tour would "thrill and excite fans all over Japan" and promote cultural exchange between the UK and Japan.
The lighthearted encounter offered a brief respite for Takaichi, who has faced diplomatic tensions with China, rising prices, and economic challenges since taking office in October.