Inoki wrestles with N Korea 'sport diplomacy'

Yeah, well he is being naive. And maybe a little naiveté can help.

If a handful of North Korean children see The Enemy real ain't Evil, well, maybe that can only help.

But, I admit, I am biased.

Seems like a big man with a big heart.

I don't think he is naive. He's trying a different approach, one that seemed to help previously. If it doesn't hurt, why not? Just how successful it will be is a god question though.

Inoki is doing something about it.

He is getting out there and communicating with people.

He is not stuck in an office.

He is actually BEING a politician as opposed to being a do-less office clerk. Which the majority of Japanese politicians seem to be.

Good on him!

He will be manipulated like Rodman. no way L'il Kim's regime allows this to be a force for people to realise that Japan isn't evil. He will have his comments edited to show he thinks his own country is bad. Still, guess he is an ok guy for trying.

Thanks for this article JT. I did not know this aspect of Mr. Inoki. Best wishes. I hope this can help to reveal more about the missing. Good on ya, Antonio. And thanks.

Inoki converted to Islam the same year, taking the name Muhammad Hussain during the hostage-rescue visit as he had been reportedly advised that being Muslim would be helpful for his contact with Iraqi leaders.

“I have not yet become a full-fledged Muslim. I drink alcohol once in a while and I do not have four wives yet,” he told the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan"

But once he becomes a full-fledged Muslim, he'll abstain from alcohol completely and have four wives, lol.

Good article. And a good example of Cultural (Sports) Diplomacy. However, the harder pillars of economic and military power hold the sway of relations with North Korea. But I do agree that this might help build some bridges that were not there before.

While I would hope that it works I'm not sure that you can have "diplomacy" with NK. That regime is beyond hope.

Serrano at Aug. 25, 2014 - 02:29PM JST Inoki converted to Islam the same year, taking the name Muhammad Hussain during the hostage-rescue visit as he had been reportedly advised that being Muslim would be helpful for his contact with Iraqi leaders. “I have not yet become a full-fledged Muslim. I drink alcohol once in a while and I do not have four wives yet,” he told the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan" But once he becomes a full-fledged Muslim, he'll abstain from alcohol completely and have four wives, lol.

You don't always have to have 4 wives... And no alcohol sounds pretty good to me. All it does is piss your money down the drain, you don't need it to have fun.