Flamboyant Japanese wrestler-turned-politician Kanji "Antonio" Inoki kicked off his brand of sports diplomacy in North Korea Saturday in an unusual two-day event featuring martial artists from around the world. Inoki, 71, an opposition member of Japan's upper house with a penchant for red scarves, has travelled to the reclusive state with a host of international fighters in an attempt to use sport to thaw relations between Tokyo and Pyongyang.
He met with North Korea's ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-Nam on Saturday, hours before the first night of the "International Pro Wrestling Festival" kicked off at Pyongyang's 20,000-seat Ryugyong Jong Ju-Yong Stadium, Japanese media reported from the North Korean capital.
Kim presides over North Korea's parliament, the Supreme People's Assembly, and often receives state guests or credentials from foreign ambassadors - an indication of how seriously Pyongyang is taking Inoki's visit. "I feel very grateful for your continuous efforts to promote mutual understanding between the two countries and create an environment toward improvement in Korea-Japan relations," the 86-year-old Kim told Inoki at the Mansudae Assembly Hall, Kyodo news agency reported.
Supreme leader Kim Jong-Un, who is a keen sports fan, did not appear at the martial arts event as he did in January when former US basketball star Dennis Rodman sang "Happy Birthday" to him before an exhibition game, Kyodo said. Speaking at the opening, Inoki said that "prompted by this international event, I am hoping that the door of Japan and (North) Korea that has been shut for a long time will be opened". Inoki - who stands 1.9 metres (six feet three inches) tall - has organised the festival with North Korea's authorities, taking along 21 grapplers from Japan, the United States, France and Brazil as well as one from China, North Korea's communist ally.