Antonio Inoki poses in a red muffler in Musashino, Tokyo, on September 2, 2019. (Mainichi/Junichi Sasaki)
Antonio Inoki (real name Kanji Inoki), a former popular professional wrestler who was called “Burning Fighting Spirit” and served two terms as a member of the House of Councilors as a politician, passed away on the 1st.
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Mr. Antonio Inoki showed his willingness to improve relations between Japan and North Korea because the professional wrestler Rikidozan, whom he looked up to as his mentor, had roots in the Korean Peninsula. Politicians who worked with him also voiced their condolences.
Kenta Matsunami, 51, a member of the Osaka prefectural assembly who visited North Korea with him when he was a member of the House of Representatives, said, “You can’t start negotiations without seeing the other party’s face, and you can’t get enough of North Korean officials. His behavior was impressive,” he recalls.
This year’s Setsubun day we had dinner together. Mr. Inoki said that he gave me a melon by hooking “mask” and “melon” and showing a pun with “muskmelon” because of the spread of masks.
Mr. Matsunami, who had witnessed his rapidly weakening figure, said, “We talked regarding exposing his weakening figure as a way of life.
Yoshio Arita, a former member of the House of Councilors and a journalist, said, “I was trying to find a way to solve the abductions issue by developing my own route. I did my best until the end, such as visiting the Diet in a wheelchair. Thank you for your hard work.” .
Hiroshi Hase, a former professional wrestler and governor of Ishikawa Prefecture, touched on his “pro-wrestling diplomacy” in North Korea and Iraq, and expressed his condolences, saying, “Anyway, I have nothing but the best memories of my life. I will dedicate this to you,” he announced.
(Japanese original by Daisuke Okazaki and Koji Endo, City News Department)