Watch Muhammend Ali vs. Antonio Inoki

Thanks to the magic of YouTube, you can now watch highlights from the historic Muhammad Ali fight with Japanese pro wrestling legend Antonio Inoki (read more about the fight here): It’s a sports documentary in Japanese, but anyone should be able to get a picture of what the fight looked like. And what does it … Continue reading Watch Muhammend Ali vs. Antonio Inoki

Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki: Beyond The Mat

I recently set up Google News Alerts, a wonderful service that e-mails you search results from Google News whenever they show up. My first big payoff is this story, going beyond the mat documenting the 1976 “boxer versus wrestler” match between Muhammad Ali and my favorite Japanese wrestler, Antonio Inoki. It’s a great read (excerpt … Continue reading Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki: Beyond The Mat

Watch Inoki vs. Ali!! 7pm on Saturday, Feb. 7 on TV Asahi

I’m no boxing expert, but I know a good fight when I see it (these days, I’ll watch anything featuring current WBC flyweight champion Daisuke Naito. That guy’s got spunk!). One of my earliest posts took a look at the legendary matchup between superstar pro wrestler Antonio Inoki and the greatest boxer who ever lived, … Continue reading Watch Inoki vs. Ali!! 7pm on Saturday, Feb. 7 on TV Asahi

Are we looking at a new political order?

We are less than a month away from the gubernatorial election in Tokyo, with the campaign officially starting a week from today, and it seems like it may be a key part of yet another massive political realignment. Until last week, Yoichi Masuzoe was looking like a shoo-in, with the support of the Abe government … Continue reading Are we looking at a new political order?

Tamogami, former ASDF “chife of stuff”, Running for Governor

Toshio Tamogami, rightwing blowhard and former Japan Air Force General, is officially running for Governor of Tokyo in February 9th’s election. As you can see below, his official website profile is touting his strong credentials as “the former chife of stuff,ASDF”, in order to appeal to the Tokyo electorate’s strong appreciation for what is presumably … Continue reading Tamogami, former ASDF “chife of stuff”, Running for Governor

Colbert: “I want you to address my pachinko analogy”

Recent exchange from the Colbert Report: Biologist/god critic Richard Dawkins: [Evolution] is a highly non-random process. The big thing that everyone misunderstands about Darwinism is they think it’s chance, they think it’s an accident, and it’s not an accident. Colbert: Well, it’s too complex for us to perceive, you know, it’s like, I know a … Continue reading Colbert: “I want you to address my pachinko analogy”

Heizo Takenaka to leave politics after Koizumi steps down, but who could possibly replace him?!

Japan Times reports on Takenaka’s announcement, which came at a post-cabinet meeting press conference: Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Heizo Takenaka said Friday he will retire from politics when outgoing Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi steps down Sept. 26. Takenaka, a 55-year-old professor-turned-lawmaker, said he decided to quit politics because his job had been to assist … Continue reading Heizo Takenaka to leave politics after Koizumi steps down, but who could possibly replace him?!

Required Movies for American Japan Watchers

The following is slightly modified from a response to an e-mail I received requesting recommendations for good “films on Japan” such as Lost in Translation of The Last Samurai. The recent double threat of Lost in Translation and Last Samurai (but not the dud Memoirs of a Geisha), like some other popular Japan-themed films, were … Continue reading Required Movies for American Japan Watchers

More Wrestlers in Politics: Nikolai Volkoff for MD State Assembly!

Remember Nikolai Volkoff, the “Soviet” wrestler everyone loved to hate? Well turns out he was actually from the former Yugoslavia. And he’s most recently been spotted following in the footsteps of greats such as Jesse “the Body” Ventura, Antonio Inoki, the Great Sasuke, and Hulk Hogan (ran for president of course) and run for office. … Continue reading More Wrestlers in Politics: Nikolai Volkoff for MD State Assembly!

Akebono to Diet? – it’s not what you think

Atsushi Onita, ex-wrestler and member of Japan’s Upper House of parliament (Liberal Democratic Party, Proportional Representation) has publicly encouraged Taro Akebono, Sumo wrestling’s first non-Japanese Yokozuna, to make a run for a seat in next year’s Upper House election. Since retiring from Sumo entirely in 2003 to take up a career as a professional wrestler/kickboxer, … Continue reading Akebono to Diet? – it’s not what you think