PM Takaichi meets British rock band group Deep Purple

PM Takaichi meets British rock band group Deep Purple

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (3rd from L), an avid fan of the British rock band Deep Purple, hands made-in-Japan drum sticks to Ian Paice (2nd from L), drummer of the group at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 10, 2026.

PM Takaichi meets British rock band group Deep Purple

PM Takaichi meets British rock band group Deep Purple

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (3rd from L), an avid fan of the British rock band Deep Purple, hands made-in-Japan drum sticks to Ian Paice (2nd from L), drummer of the group at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 10, 2026.

PM Takaichi meets British rock band group Deep Purple

PM Takaichi meets British rock band group Deep Purple

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (3rd from L), an avid fan of the British rock band Deep Purple, meets with members of the group at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 10, 2026.

Japan to release extra oil reserve from May

Japan to release extra oil reserve from May

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) speaks at a meeting of ministers held at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 10, 2026, to address the Middle East crisis. Takaichi revealed at the meeting that Japan plans to release an additional 20 days' worth of oil reserves starting in early May.

Japan to release extra oil reserve from May

Japan to release extra oil reserve from May

Cabinet ministers discuss measures to deal with the Middle East crisis in a meeting at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 10, 2026. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi revealed at the meeting that Japan plans to release an additional 20 days' worth of oil reserves starting in early May.

Japan to release extra oil reserve from May

Japan to release extra oil reserve from May

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at a meeting of ministers held at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 10, 2026, to address the Middle East crisis. Takaichi revealed at the meeting that Japan plans to release an additional 20 days' worth of oil reserves starting in early May.

Japan to release extra oil reserve from May

Japan to release extra oil reserve from May

Cabinet ministers discuss measures to deal with the Middle East crisis in a meeting at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 10, 2026. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi revealed at the meeting that Japan plans to release an additional 20 days' worth of oil reserves starting in early May.

Japanese PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japanese PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is pictured ahead of a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on April 10, 2026.

Cherry blossom viewing in Osaka

Cherry blossom viewing in Osaka

People stroll at the Japan Mint head office in Osaka on April 9, 2026, as its 560-meter-long, tree-lined path opens to the public for annual cherry blossom viewing through April 15. More than 300,000 visitors are expected for the event, which began in 1883.

Former Japan PM Ishiba holds talks with South Korean President Lee

Former Japan PM Ishiba holds talks with South Korean President Lee

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (L) holds talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the presidential office in Seoul on April 8, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi holds phone talks with Iran president

Japan PM Takaichi holds phone talks with Iran president

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at her office in Tokyo on April 8, 2026, after holding a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Takaichi urged Iran to swiftly secure safe passage for ships of all nations through the Strait of Hormuz.

Japan PM Takaichi holds phone talks with Iran president

Japan PM Takaichi holds phone talks with Iran president

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at her office in Tokyo on April 8, 2026, after holding a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Takaichi urged Iran to swiftly secure safe passage for ships of all nations through the Strait of Hormuz.

Japan PM Takaichi holds phone talks with Iran president

Japan PM Takaichi holds phone talks with Iran president

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at her office in Tokyo on April 8, 2026, after holding a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Takaichi urged Iran to swiftly secure safe passage for ships of all nations through the Strait of Hormuz.

Japan PM Takaichi holds phone talks with Iran president

Japan PM Takaichi holds phone talks with Iran president

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at her office in Tokyo on April 8, 2026, after holding a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Takaichi urged Iran to swiftly secure safe passage for ships of all nations through the Strait of Hormuz.

Japan PM Takaichi holds phone talks with Iran president

Japan PM Takaichi holds phone talks with Iran president

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at her office in Tokyo on April 8, 2026, after holding a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Takaichi urged Iran to swiftly secure safe passage for ships of all nations through the Strait of Hormuz.

Japan parliament enacts FY 2026 budget

Japan parliament enacts FY 2026 budget

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at her office in Tokyo on April 7, 2026, after the Diet enacted a record 122.31 trillion yen budget for fiscal 2026.

Japan parliament enacts FY 2026 budget

Japan parliament enacts FY 2026 budget

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at her office in Tokyo on April 7, 2026, after the Diet enacted a record 122.31 trillion yen budget for fiscal 2026.

Japan imperial family's trip to Fukushima

Japan imperial family's trip to Fukushima

(From R) Japan's Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko arrive at the Fukushima prefectural government office in Fukushima on April 6, 2026. The family is vising the northeastern Japan prefecture to inspect the recovery efforts since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. (Pool photo)

Japan imperial family's trip to Fukushima

Japan imperial family's trip to Fukushima

(From R, facing camera) Japan's Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko arrive at the Fukushima prefectural government office in Fukushima on April 6, 2026. The family is vising the northeastern Japan prefecture to inspect the recovery efforts since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

Japan imperial family's trip to Fukushima

Japan imperial family's trip to Fukushima

Japanese Princess Aiko arrives at the Fukushima prefectural government office in Fukushima on April 6, 2026. Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko are vising the northeastern Japan prefecture to inspect the recovery efforts since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. (Pool photo)

Japan PM Takaichi meets Microsoft President Smith

Japan PM Takaichi meets Microsoft President Smith

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (3rd from L) and Microsoft Corp. Vice Chair and President Brad Smith (2nd from L) pose for a photo at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 3, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi meets Microsoft President Smith

Japan PM Takaichi meets Microsoft President Smith

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (2nd from R) meets with Microsoft Corp. Vice Chair and President Brad Smith (2nd from L) at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 3, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi meets Microsoft President Smith

Japan PM Takaichi meets Microsoft President Smith

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (2nd from R) meets with Microsoft Corp. Vice Chair and President Brad Smith (2nd from L) at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 3, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi

Japan PM Takaichi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addresses a meeting with high school and university students who have received the Fuji Scout award, the highest honor given to members of the Scout Association of Japan, at the premier's office in Tokyo on March 31, 2026.

IEA chief in Tokyo

IEA chief in Tokyo

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) holds talks with International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol at her office in Tokyo on March 25, 2026.

IEA chief in Tokyo

IEA chief in Tokyo

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) shakes hands with International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol at her office in Tokyo on March 25, 2026.

IEA chief in Tokyo

IEA chief in Tokyo

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) shakes hands with International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol at her office in Tokyo on March 25, 2026.

Gov't launches meeting to deal with Middle East crisis

Gov't launches meeting to deal with Middle East crisis

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during an inaugural meeting of relevant ministers who convened at her office in Tokyo on March 24, 2026, to look for ways to mitigate the adverse effects on the domestic economy of the ongoing Middle East crisis.

Gov't launches meeting to deal with Middle East crisis

Gov't launches meeting to deal with Middle East crisis

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during an inaugural meeting of relevant ministers who convened at her office in Tokyo on March 24, 2026, to look for ways to mitigate the adverse effects on the domestic economy of the ongoing Middle East crisis.

Gov't launches meeting to deal with Middle East crisis

Gov't launches meeting to deal with Middle East crisis

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (front) speaks during an inaugural meeting of relevant ministers who convened at her office in Tokyo on March 24, 2026, to look for ways to mitigate the adverse effects on the domestic economy of the ongoing Middle East crisis.

Gov't launches meeting to deal with Middle East crisis

Gov't launches meeting to deal with Middle East crisis

The Japanese government holds an inaugural meeting of relevant ministers to look for ways to mitigate the adverse effects on the domestic economy of the ongoing Middle East crisis at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on March 24, 2026.

Japan-U.S. summit

Japan-U.S. summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House Oval Office in Washington on March 19, 2026.

Japan-U.S. summit

Japan-U.S. summit

U.S. President Donald Trump holds talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the White House Oval Office in Washington on March 19, 2026.

Japan-U.S. summit

Japan-U.S. summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (2nd from R) looks at her watch during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump (far R) in the White House Oval Office in Washington on March 19, 2026.

Japan-U.S. summit

Japan-U.S. summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) answers a question from a journalist during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House Oval Office in Washington on March 19, 2026.

Japan-U.S. summit

Japan-U.S. summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) holds talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House Oval Office in Washington on March 19, 2026.

Japan-U.S. summit

Japan-U.S. summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) holds talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House Oval Office in Washington on March 19, 2026.

Japan-U.S. summit

Japan-U.S. summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) holds talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House Oval Office in Washington on March 19, 2026.

Japan-U.S. summit

Japan-U.S. summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (2nd from R) holds talks with U.S. President Donald Trump (far R) in the White House Oval Office in Washington on March 19, 2026.

Japan-U.S. summit

Japan-U.S. summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C, L) holds talks with U.S. President Donald Trump (C, R) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on March 19, 2026.

Japan-U.S. summit

Japan-U.S. summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C, L) holds talks with U.S. President Donald Trump (C, R) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on March 19, 2026.

Japan-U.S. summit

Japan-U.S. summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) holds talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on March 19, 2026.

Japan-U.S. summit

Japan-U.S. summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C, L) and U.S. President Donald Trump (C, R) pose ahead of their talks in the White House Oval Office in Washington on March 19, 2026.

Japan-U.S. summit

Japan-U.S. summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House Oval Office in Washington on March 19, 2026.

Japan-U.S. summit

Japan-U.S. summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House Oval Office in Washington on March 19, 2026.

Japan-U.S. summit

Japan-U.S. summit

U.S. President Donald Trump holds talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the White House Oval Office in Washington on March 19, 2026.

Japan-U.S. summit

Japan-U.S. summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) holds talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on March 19, 2026.

Japan-U.S. summit

Japan-U.S. summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House Oval Office in Washington on March 19, 2026.

Japan-U.S. summit

Japan-U.S. summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (back, L) holds talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on March 19, 2026.

Japan-U.S. summit

Japan-U.S. summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) holds talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on March 19, 2026.