Sports And Peace Party スポーツ平和党 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founder | Antonio Inoki |
| Founded | 23 June 1989 |
| Registered | until 17 July 1998 |
| Dissolved | 18 June 2006 |
| Headquarters | 107-0061 5-7 Kita Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo (at the time of dissolution) |
| Ideology | Sport politics World peace |
The Sports and Peace Party (Japanese: スポーツ平和党, romanized: Supōtsu Heiwa Tō) was a political party in Japan run by Antonio Inoki, a pro wrestler and former member of the House of Councillors. He continued to wrestle and promote while serving as a legislator. The party fielded 10 candidates in the 1989 election.[1]
Inoki met with Saddam Hussein for the release of prisoners from Iraq before the Gulf War. As is the traditional gift for a visiting head-of-state, Saddam gave Inoki a pair of golden swords. [citation needed]
He served in the Diet until 1995, when he failed to win re-election, after accusations of Yakuza involvement and bribery lead to a decline in his popularity.[citation needed] His party, however, also fielded candidates in 1998.
- ^ Sanger, David (July 21, 1989). "Japan's Opposition Tailors Itself to the Mainstream". The New York Times.