Not professionally, she did play drums in multiple bands during her college years, including a metal band that performed covers of Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. She has described herself as a longtime heavy metal fan, citing bands like Iron Maiden, Riot, and Japanese rock group X Japan as favorites.

Sanae Takaichi played in four bands as a drummer during college and even performed in a professional backing band for singer Mariko Kobayashi. She still uses an electronic drum kit at home to relieve stress, often playing "Burn" by Deep Purple after her husband goes to bed.

Despite media portrayals labeling her a "heavy metal drummer," some analyses argue this narrative exaggerates her musical past, noting she is a conservative politician whose views contrast with metal’s counter-cultural roots. However, her passion for metal and active drumming in youth are well-documented across multiple sources.

*Henceforth, I'm calling her Iron Maiden 😸