Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets Deep Purple

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who came to power in October 2025, met with Deep Purple ahead of their appearance on Tokyo’s famed Budokan Hall on Saturday.

The 65-year-old politician welcomed the members of the band to the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, proclaiming, “Deep Purple are here!” before drummer Ian Paice responded, “You’re a drummer: we are friends!”