THE PRIME MINISTER DROVE A TWIN-TURBO SUPRA
You may have seen the recent news about the Japanese Prime Minister being a former drummer for a heavy metal Deep Purple tribute band. But did you know about her other heavy metal interest as a highway star?
By Doug Stokes & Roy Nakano
Wed, Apr 15, 2026 03:00 PM PST
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaishi drove a white 1991 Toyota Supra 2.5GT Twin-Turbo Limited for over 20 years. The car is now on display at the the Mahoroba Museum in her hometown of Nara, Japan (Toyota Newsroom).
“I love it. And I need it. I bleed it”
– from Deep Purple’s “Highway Star”
Highway Star
Before the Prime Minister made news last week with her Deep Purple connection, it was the news that she drove a white 1991 Toyota Supra 2.5GT Twin-Turbo Limited (JZA70) for over two decades that caught our ears.
Takaichi is even a fan of motorsports and previously owned a Kawasaki Z400GP motorcycle.
Her Supra was a personal vehicle used throughout her early political career and campaigns.
Key Details of Takaichi’s Supra
The car, featuring a burgundy interior and a 1JZ-GTE engine, was a personal vehicle used throughout her early political career and campaigns.
· Model: 1991 Toyota Supra 2.5GT Twin Turbo Limited (A70/JZA70).
· Appearance: Super White Pearl Mica exterior with a burgundy leather interior.
· Usage: She drove the car daily between Nara and Tokyo for 22 years.
· Modifications/Details: The car was known to feature TOM's stickers, diversity antennas, and export-style side markers.
· Restoration: The vehicle was restored by Nara Toyota and is currently displayed at the Mahoroba Museum in her hometown of Nara.
She no longer drives the Supra (something about security we suspect), and it’s now on display at the Mahoroba Museum in her hometown of Nara, Japan.
Pardon … with respect for the office and a low bow: YOU GO GIRL!
“Yeah, she is a whole new tradition”
- from Deep Purple’s “Woman from Tokyo”
THEY ARE AMONG US
Car Nut Captains of this Country
We though that it just might be appropriate to call out some of our stateside top brass and take inventory of some of their automotive leanings over the years.
Here’s a quick list of some of our top guys and their off-duty rides:
Joe Biden's Corvette
Joe Biden, as many may already know, is a Corvette guy. As a former vice president, Biden was already familiar with the rule against driving his own car, but on rare occasions when he got clearance to drive his beloved 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible, and he made the most of it.
George W. Bush's Ford F-150
George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States has owned several Ford F-150 pickup trucks including a 2009 King Ranch SuperCrew 4x4 that was auctioned at Barrett-Jackson 2017, The auction raised a princely $300,000 with Bush donating the proceeds to charity.
Ronald Reagan's Subaru Brat
Ronald Reagan, the movie star/40th president of the United States, was a well-know Jeep enthusiast, who bounced around his California ranch in a1983 CJ-8 Scrambler. Some savvy PR type at Subaru slipped RR a brand new Brat mini sport ute emoluments-free and seeing Reagan banging that it around his ranch is said to have helped bring on and popularize the first wave of Japanese sport/utility vehicles.
Richard Nixon's Oldsmobile 98
Richard Nixon, the 37th president, thought well of his 1950 Oldsmobile 98. He talked about the Oldsmobile because he thought owning one made him more likable and more empathetic to working-class Americans. (How did that go anyway?)
Lyndon Johnson's Amphicar
Lyndon B. Johnson was known for a car that wasn't confined to the road. His 1961 Amphicar, reportedly one of about 4,000 built, could cruise off solid earth and right into water. According to political car lore, Johnson enjoyed pretending the car's brakes had failed as the car headed toward a lake on his Texas ranch, just to give his passengers a scare before he eased it safely onto the water's surface. (This gag was a close second to LBJ’s penchant for lifting hound dogs up by their ears...)
"These days, when I fight with my husband I drum to Burn and cast a curse on him," the 65-year-old conservative leader told the members of Deep Purple at her office in Tokyo, according to the BBC.
(APT screenshot)
About The Authors
Doug has a long and wide-ranging history in the motoring business. He served five years as the Executive Director of the International Kart Federation, and was the PR guy for the Mickey Thompson's Off-Road Championship Gran Prix. He worked racing PR for both Honda and Suzuki and was a senior PR person on the first Los Angeles (Vintage) Grand Prix. He was also the first PR Manager for Perris Auto Speedway, and spent over 20 years as the VP of Communications at Irwindale Speedway. Stokes is the recipient of the American Autowriters and Broadcaster’s 2005 Chapman Award for Excellence in Public Relations and was honored in 2015 by the Motor Press Guild with their Dean Batchelor Lifetime Achievement Award. 2025 saw Stokes voted into the Go Kart Hall of Fame. “… I’ve also been reviewing automobiles and books for over 20 years, and really enjoy my LACar assignments.” he added.
Together with
Roy Nakano gave birth to LACar in the late '90s. As LACar's Editor, Roy shapes the content and assigns the stories. As a writer, Roy likes to stray off the beaten automotive path: "Six Degrees of Reparations" reflected on the ethical limits taken by car companies throughout history. "Traveling Through the Past and Present of the Green Book" looked at businesses that took a stand and the man that wrote the book. "Best Cars to Drive in Rush Hour Traffic" was an LACar guide published in the pre-GPS era. "In Search of the First Datsun 510 Tuner" looked at one of the milestones in the origin of import tuners. And "Us vs Them" examines the instances when rivalry among automotive enthusiasts crossed the line to violence and even death.
