Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Japan News/Yomiuri
The Japan News/Yomiuri
Sport
The Yomiuri Shimbun

7,000 mourners say final farewell to ex-wrestler Inoki

Some 7,000 people attended a farewell ceremony on Tuesday for former professional wrestler and politician Antonio Inoki, who died in October last year at 79.

The ceremony was held at Ryogoku Kokugikan arena in Sumida Ward, Tokyo.

Among the mourners were those from the pro-wrestling community as well as fans. They all said their last goodbyes to the man tied to the catchphrase "moeru tokon" (fiery fighting spirit), whose real name was Kanji Inoki.

The ceremony featured an altar inspired by his trademark red towel and a ring, as well as a large photo of a smiling Inoki.

When his theme music started playing, those in attendance erupted into calls of "Inoki!" At the ceremony's end, everyone pumped their fists in the air, yelling Inoki's favorite phrase, "1, 2, 3, dah!"

"He'll be my master forever, an eternal hero," said Tatsumi Fujinami, 69, who was Inoki's personal assistant.

A male company employee, 57, who had been an Inoki fan since elementary school, took a day off work to attend the ceremony. "I'd like to keep to Mr. Inoki's teaching that you should never regret your past and always look forward," he said.

Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.