Rock and rule: Japan’s first female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi still plays heavy metal and loves Metallica – The Times of India

Sanae Takaichi made history on Tuesday as Japan’s first female prime minister, but she is no ordinary politician. At 64, the new leader is a devoted heavy metal fan who still plays the drums at home when she feels stressed.“I play after he goes to sleep,” she joked during a recent interview with a Japanese YouTuber, referring to her husband, CNN reports. Her love of music has long been a defining characteristic, from playing drums in a college band to practicing on her electric set today. She carried four pairs of drumsticks as a backup while playing, in case they broke mid-performance. She is also a fan of Black Sabbath, Metallica, Deep Purple and Iron Maiden.Takaichi’s love for drumming is evident in the way she works. She became leader of the Liberal Democratic Party on October 4 and was elected prime minister by parliament on Tuesday. Despite promising more women in the cabinet, she appointed only two of the 19 ministers. Takaichi has spoken openly about women’s health and menopause, saying she hopes for “more policies from a woman’s perspective: support for childcare and help for women returning to work after having children.”Her political life has been equally dynamic. She started as an independent lawmaker in 1993, later joined the LDP and has held several cabinet positions, including Minister of Economic Security. She admires Margaret Thatcher and Shinzo Abe and is known for her conservative positions on defense and traditional values.Even with so many responsibilities, music is still a big part of who she is. Colleagues say her energy and focus come from the same discipline she developed behind the drums. “She sings songs when she is stressed, usually about her husband,” Japanese media report.