Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi thrilled by Deep Purple's visit to her office

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime MinisterSanae Takaichi took a short — and happy — break on Friday as she hosted legendary British rock band Deep Purple in Tokyo as a longtime admirer.

“Welcome to Japan ... Uh-oh, I can’t believe Deep Purple are here," Takaichi said as she walked into a guest room at the Prime Minister's Office with open arms and all smiles to welcome the band members. “I have always admired Deep Purple.”

“You’re my god,” Takaichi told drummer Ian Paice, presenting him with a set of Japanese-made TAMA drumsticks she had signed. “You're a drummer, we are friends,” Paice told her.

Takaichi is a hard rock and heavy metal music fan and was an avid drummer in her college days.

The prime minister explained her history as a Deep Purple superfan for more than half a century. At elementary school, she was already listening to “Machine Head," the band's 1972 album featuring top hits like “Highway Star” and “Smoke on the Water.”

In junior high school, she played the keyboard in a Deep Purple cover band, then as a university student she switched to drums, she said.

“Nowadays, when I have a fight with my husband, I play drums on ‘Burn’ and put a curse on him,” Takaichi joked. She has previously noted “Burn” as one of her favorite songs, saying it “clears my mind.”

The band's courtesy visit was a pleasant break for Japan's first female leader, known for her long working hours and now struggling with strained diplomatic ties with China, the fallouts from the war in the Middle East as well as rising prices at home.

“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,” Takaichi said, wishing them a successful tour beginning Saturday in Tokyo.

She did not forget to do her work as prime minister and stressed that promotion of cultural content is one of the key areas of her government's growth strategy.

“I hope Deep Purple’s performances starting tomorrow will excite fans across Japan and serve as a powerful force in promoting the long-standing Japan-UK cultural exchanges,” she said.

Associated Press journalist Ayaka McGill contributed to this report.

Ian Gillanat, a member of British rock band Deep Purple leaves after a meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo, Friday, April 10, 2026. (Yuichi Yamazaki/Pool Photo via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, back to camera, greets members of British rock band Deep Purple , from left, Ian Paice, Ian Gillan, and Roger Glover at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo, Friday, April 10, 2026. (Yuichi Yamazaki/Pool Photo via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, poses with members of British rock band Deep Purple, Don Airey, second left, Ian Paice, third left, Ian Gillan, third right, Roger Glover, second right Simon McBrideat, right, and British Ambassador to Japan Julia Longbottom, left, during their meeting the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo, Friday, April 10, 2026. (Yuichi Yamazaki/Pool Photo via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, right, poses with Ian Paice, a member of British rock band Deep Purple during their meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo, Friday, April 10, 2026. (Yuichi Yamazaki/Pool Photo via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, arrives for a meeting with members of British rock band Deep Purple at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo, Friday, April 10, 2026. (Yuichi Yamazaki/Pool Photo via AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Edmundo Sosa capped a three-run eighth inning with a two-run home run and the Philadelphia Phillies rallied to beat Los Angeles 4-3 on Saturday night, ending the Dodgers’ winning streak at six games.

Bryce Harper added an RBI single in the eighth as the Phillies scored all three runs against left-hander Tanner Scott with two outs.

Alec Bohm hit a home run, while Jesus Luzardo gave up two runs over 5 1/3 innings, Orion Kerkering (3-0) got the victory after allowing one run in an inning of work and Jhoan Duran pitched the ninth inning for his 12th save.

Kerkering pitched at Los Angeles for the first time since his error in the 11th inning of Game 4 in the National League Division Series ended Philadelphia’s season last year.

Alex Call, Santiago Espinal and Mookie Betts drove in runs for the Dodgers. They lost for just the third time in their past 16 games.

Roki Sasaki gave up one run and three hits over 5 1/3 innings, while Scott (1-2) was tagged for three runs on three hits in his inning of work.

Bohm gave Philadelphia a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a 406-foot home run to center field.

The Dodgers tied it at 1 in the second on an RBI single from Call and scored again in the fourth when Call doubled, advanced to third on an error by Adolis Garcia and scored on a fly ball from Espinal.

The Phillies had the bases loaded with one out in the sixth before Dodgers left-hander Alex Vesia struck out Sosa and got Bohm to ground out to Espinal at third base.

Betts gave the Dodgers a 3-1 lead with an RBI single in the seventh.

Phillies RHP Andrew Painter (1-5, 5.40 ERA) was scheduled to start Sunday against RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (4-4, 3.09 ERA).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jesús Luzardo throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Andy Pages, right, scores on a single by Mookie Betts under the tag of Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto during the seventhninning of a baseball game Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm, left, celebrates his solo home run with J.T. Realmuto, during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Philadelphia Phillies' Edmundo Sosa, right, hits a two-run home run as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith watches during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)