Okada and others attending the Wake of Antoni Inoki

8 comments

1. [Tokyo Sports link.](https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/241915)

2. Shinsuke needs to return to NJPW. Moments like these make me miss him tremendously.

3. Final test for disciples at Inoki’s farewell ceremony Mr. Naoya Ogawa “The coffin is unbearably heavy…”
   October 14, 2022 16:21

   　A funeral service was held on the 14th for the superstar of the professional wrestling world, “Burning Fighting Spirit” Antonio Inoki (age 79), who passed away on the 1st, with 358 people attending. It is said that Mr. Inoki in the coffin placed his Tokon towel on his chest and filled the space with bright red flowers. At the time of the coffin, active & OB wrestlers who wore a red towel, which was a symbol of Mr. Inoki, carried the coffin.

   According to officials, it was originally planned that six people would hold the coffin. However, Seiji Sakaguchi, an adviser of New Japan Pro-Wrestling and a close friend of Mr. Inoki, took the lead, saying, “Everyone should have a coffin.”

   Naoya Ogawa, the former reckless king, responded to the interview after the funeral, saying, “That’s… the chairman (Mr. Inoki’s coffin) is too heavy… It was too heavy for six people. That’s why Chono (Masahiro) Mr. and Mr. (Keiji) Muto said, “The chairman gave us the final test.” “Young people, please hold it, because our bodies are rickety.” That weight It was really the final test that the chairman gave his disciples,” he said with a smile. 　　Thanks to that, Mr. Sakaguchi, Tatsuji Fujinami, Chono, Muto, Nobuhiko Takada, Shinsuke Nakamura, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada, Kazuyuki Fujita, Mr. Ogawa, Masakatsu Funaki, Katsuyori Shibata and other wrestlers of the “Inoki faction” transcend generations. It is said that all at once surrounded Mr. Inoki’s coffin. This may also be a “surprise” set by Mr. Inoki.
   　Mr. Ogawa quietly said goodbye to his mentor, saying, “I thanked the chairman for his help. If Mr. Inoki hadn’t been there, what would I have become?”

   A funeral ceremony for professional wrestling superstar Antonio Inoki (age 79), who died on the 1st, was held in Tokyo on the 14th, and many people attended. I said my final farewell to the ‘Burning Fighting Spirit’.

   　According to officials, New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Seiji Sakaguchi adviser, Tatsuji Fujinami, Keiji Mutoh, Masahiro Chono, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, Nobuhiko Takada, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Masakatsu Funaki, Jushin Thunder Liger, and Ogawa. Naoya, Kazuyuki Fujita, Kensuke Sasaki and other Inoki disciples, current and retired wrestlers, and professional wrestlers such as Hisashi Shinma attended.

   　Also in attendance were announcer Ichiro Furutachi, professional baseball commentator Moenori Emoto, Democratic Party for the People representative Yuichiro Tamaki, and RIZIN CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara.
   　Before leaving the coffin, Mr. Inoki’s younger brother Keisuke Inoki, the chief mourner, said, “I spent an hour by my brother’s side the day before his death. I was confused, so I think I wanted to say thank you to everyone.Thank you very much to everyone who has supported Antonio Inoki so far.” 　　At the time of the coffin, Tanaka Kerolinguana, who colored the golden age of New Japan, called. Mr. Sakaguchi, Mr. Fujinami, Mr. Tanahashi, Mr. Okada, Mr. Nakamura, Mr. Chono, Mr. Muto, Mr. Fujita, Mr. Ogawa, Mr. Funaki, and Katsuyori Shibata carried the coffin while Mr. Inoki’s entrance theme song “Fire Fighter” was playing. “Inokikoru” erupted from the attendees, and the unparalleled burning fighting spirit was cremated.

   (Source: Tokyo Sports, translation from a Japanese to English done here via Google translate)

4. The black coats and red towels were a really nice touch, also the fact that all of them lifted the coffin. A moving tribute to Inoki.

5. Stupendous photo.

6. Is it sad that I can recognize Yano just by the top of his head/eyebrows?

7. Shibata

8. Dave Meltzer must be having orgasms watching this picture