On Friday, the aroma of diplomacy was momentarily displaced by the spirit of 1970s rock in the normally austere hallways of Tokyo's Prime Minister's Office. Japan's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, put aside urgent worries about a weak economy and tensions in the region to host the renowned British band Deep Purple, whom she referred to as her "gods" with unusual zeal.
Takaichi, a 65-year-old conservative politician who is frequently spotted negotiating tricky geopolitical situations with China, disclosed that she has always been a "hard rock enthusiast." She gave the band a warm welcome and a beaming smile, praising drummer Ian Paice in particular. She said, "You are my god," and then gave the musician a pair of autographed TAMA drumsticks made in Japan. "You are a drummer; we are friends," Paice said, seeming delighted by the high-level reaction and pointing out the friendship of their shared instrument.
One of the "unholy trinity" of British heavy metal, along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, the Prime Minister's affinity for the band is no coincidence. She has been a fan since elementary school and is well-known for having bought the Machine Head record when she was younger. She has a real musical background; while in school, she played keyboards in a Deep Purple tribute band before moving to the drums for college. She was said to have a reputation for being fierce behind the kit, often smashing sticks during hard sets. The music continues to provide a domestic outlet. She joked, "When I quarrel with my spouse, I drum to Burn and put a spell on him," adding that the fast-paced song helps her decompress.
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The meeting happened while the band was returning to tour a nation that is important to their history. This is where they recorded the groundbreaking album Made in Japan in 1972, which is recognized as one of the
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