Deep Purple Pays Courtesy Visit to Japanese Prime Minister

Apr 10, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Members of the globally renowned hard rock band Deep Purple paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on April 10th during their visit to Japan.

Takaichi, who has publicly declared herself a longtime fan of the band, welcomed the group by presenting a pair of drumsticks and telling them, "You are my god." She also shared personal anecdotes, recalling that she played keyboard in a Deep Purple cover band during her junior high school years and later took up the drums while attending university.

The meeting offered a rare glimpse into the prime minister’s musical background, highlighting her long-standing admiration for the band.

The visiting members, listed in seating order, included Ian Paice, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Don Airey, and Simon McBride.

Source: TBS

Three Dead, Four Missing After Explosion Devastates Aeon Mall Kumamoto

Three women have been confirmed dead and four employees remain unaccounted for after a powerful explosion tore through Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture, following the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck the region on July 28.

Stone Walls Collapse at Kumamoto Castle

A powerful earthquake that registered the maximum seismic intensity of 7 in Kumamoto Prefecture on July 28 caused stone walls to collapse at 28 locations within Kumamoto Castle, reviving painful memories among residents who experienced the devastating earthquakes a decade ago.

Typhoon No. 13 Forecast to Reach Violent Strength Before Approaching Ogasawara Islands

Typhoon No. 13 (Dolphin) continued to intensify over the Marshall Islands on July 29 and is forecast to become a violent typhoon by July 31 before approaching the Ogasawara Islands early next week, potentially bringing severe winds, high waves and other effects to Japanese territory.

Kumamoto Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 13

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on July 29 that 13 people had died following the powerful earthquake that registered the maximum seismic intensity of 7 in Kumamoto Prefecture, including cases still being investigated for a possible connection to the disaster.

Are Japanese Temples Up For Sale?

Temples that have long shaped Japanese life and culture are increasingly closing and being put up for sale as falling numbers of parishioners and a shortage of successors leave many religious institutions unable to continue operating.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Entertainment NEWS

Japan's Latest Capsule Toy Craze

Small "marker charms" attached to umbrellas, plastic bottles and other everyday items are becoming a major capsule toy trend in Japan, attracting not only younger consumers but also adults drawn to their practicality, affordability and collectible appeal.

Ainu Summer Festival Opens in New York

An Ainu Summer Festival showcasing the Indigenous people's diverse traditions opened at the Japan Society in New York on July 22, bringing artists, cultural practitioners and educators from Hokkaido to the United States in a major international tribute to pioneering Ainu leader Shigeru Kayano.

Kabuki-za Revives Classic Summer Ghost Story

One of Japan's most celebrated ghost stories will return to Tokyo's Kabuki-za theater in August, with Bando Minosuke and Onoe Ukon portraying a husband and wife whose greed unleashes consequences more terrifying than the spirits haunting their home.

Tokyo’s Broadway: The Forgotten Cinema District

A black-and-white photograph taken in 1955 has revealed how Tokyo's Kinshicho district once resembled a sprawling movie set, with theaters, restaurants and drinking establishments packed into an entertainment quarter that drew crowds from across the city's eastern neighborhoods.

Fandom Takes Japan By Storm

Japan’s booming "oshi-katsu" culture, in which fans devote themselves to supporting favorite celebrities, athletes, characters and other interests, has grown into an estimated 3.8 trillion yen market, but some enthusiasts are taking multiple jobs, restricting meals and falling deeply into debt to sustain their spending.