In this photo released Monday by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), former Japanese wrestler-turned-lawmaker Antonio Inoki, left, is greeted by an unnamed North Korean official upon his arrival in Pyongyang. Inoki on Monday opened an office of his non-profit organization in Pyongyang to promote sports and cultural exchanges between Japan and North Korea.
© Japan TodayLooking ahead
©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
16 Comments
Login to comment
toshiko
Which Korea has been openly talking hatred toward Japan? These two will let Japanese people know that it is safer to go to N. Korea to watch sport and will be able to enjoy Korean culture without anti Japan propaganda.
gelendestrasse
Wow, and Rodman didn't show up for the media event? How'd he miss that? Hopefully Inoki is a better diplomat. Or that he takes the Un to the mat....
CGB Spender
The North Koreans seem almost more sympathetic than their south counterpart now.
Tel Porter
Antonio Inoki is a true superman. This man will bring world peace! BOM BA YE!
Serrano
70 years old and still no gray hair. Amazing!
Don't worry, Antonio, there are still about 28,000 U.S. troops in Korea, so most likely the North Koreans won't be stupid enough to launch an attack on the south while you're there.
slumdog
Probably north as the first known capital of the Korean pennisula was Pyonyang.
Good on Antonio Inoki. Anything that makes peace more realistic is a good thing.
Elbuda Mexicano
If its for the sake of peace!!平和の為‼ i want peace in this crazy world!!
kwatt
He is happy smiling now, but when he came back home, he might cry about what he has done. The Upper House did not give him an offical permission to go to North Korea.
smithinjapan
Good luck, and god bless. Sports and such exchanges are always the grassroots by which relations can improve. Shame that politicians always spoil it later. In this case, we have a lawmaker who seems genuinely interested in making things better, so all the power to him.
spudman
Japan's Rodman? Hope it works, those starving kids need nourishment as well as exercise, good luck Antonio.
hkitagawa
I wonder, where was the original government of Korea. North or South?
gogogo
Good for him, but can't see this working at all.
nath
He has a fabulous chin. went to bar 9not sure if his) in Okinawa which was plastered with pictures of him thru the ages and was playinh his fights ona contnuous loop. Very amusing.....
gokai_wo_maneku
I predict that in 10 years we'll be talking about our great vacation trips to Pyonyang. Just like now people talk about their great vacation trips to Hanoi. Couldn't be imagined in the 70s I guess.
SecularBeast
I'm looking forward to Inoki laying the smack-down on Kim Jong-un.
Enzuigiri, diving knee drop, and finish with a bridging fallaway slam for the count.
genjuro
Genki desuka!?