PAKISTAN: Former Japanese wrestler and current parliamentarian Antonio Inoki takes message of peace to Pakistan

Record ID: 858127

  • Title: PAKISTAN: Former Japanese wrestler and current parliamentarian Antonio Inoki takes message of peace to Pakistan
  • Date: 11th October 2013
  • Summary: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (OCTOBER 9, 2013) (REUTERS) JAPANESE EX-WRESTLER AND JAPAN RESTORATION PARTY POLITICIAN, ANTONIO INOKI, WALKING INOKI SHAKING HANDS WITH FORMER MINISTER AND PARLIAMENTARIAN FROM FATA (FEDERALLY ADMINISTRATED TRIBAL AREAS), G.G. JAMALI INOKI SITTING DOWN INOKI LOOKING AROUND INOKI WALKING AWAY NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE EX-WRESTLER AND JAPAN RESTORATION PARTY POLITICIAN, ANTONIO INOKI, SAYING: "I did face quite a bit of opposition when I said that I wanted to do things in the Peshawar region. But my thinking is that if somewhere is dangerous, then it should only be more true that a message of peace should be taken there and that's why I want to go." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE EX-WRESTLER AND JAPAN RESTORATION PARTY POLITICIAN, ANTONIO INOKI, SAYING: "You don't give up going because it's dangerous. You endure danger for peace. As for what exactly will happen I hope to have everyone's knowledge and help in that respect." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE EX-WRESTLER AND JAPAN RESTORATION PARTY POLITICIAN, ANTONIO INOKI, SAYING: "It's important not just to talk, but to actually take action. Then these (colored zones) can change to orange then yellow and then finally green." INOKI TRADING HIS SIGNATURE RED SCARF FOR GREEN SCARF
  • Embargoed: 26th October 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan
  • City:
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAC18TQLLV420F32DSPFPFH9QIQ
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Japanese ex-wrestler and current politician Antonio Inoki said on Wednesday (October 9) that he had a message of peace for Pakistan during a visit to the country.
    Inoki, currently a parliamentarian in Japan's Restoration Party, was in Pakistan for a wrestling championship and to promote wrestling among the younger generation.
    Inoki said that he also wanted to help promote peace in the country.
    "I did face quite a bit of opposition when I said that I wanted to do things in the Peshawar region. But my thinking is that if somewhere is dangerous, then it should only be more true that a message of peace should be taken there and that's why I want to go," Inoki said.
    Inoki met parliamentarians from the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) and said they discussed safety in region and the Taliban, Inoki's website said.
    "You don't give up going because it's dangerous. You endure danger for peace. As for what exactly will happen I hope to have everyone's knowledge and help in that respect," Inoki said.
    During the news conference Inoki showed a map with areas of Pakistan coded in colours from green to red, indicating the danger level in the area. Red being the most dangerous.
    Inoki said he hoped to rid the country of zones listed as dangerous.
    "It's important not just to talk, but to actually take action. Then these (colored zones) can change to orange then yellow and then finally green," Inoki said, before changing out his trademark red scarf for a green one.
    Inoki left Japan last Friday (October 4) and said when he was in Pakistan in 1976, over 100,000 people turned up to watch but now hardly anyone did due to security concerns.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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