Antonio Inoki’s 65-Year Legacy: The Four Women He Loved and the Loneliness Behind the Legend
Burning Spirit" was shy when it came to women, and he "refused anything that came his way.
A family effort in raising the flag
The next woman Antonio Inoki dated was actress Mitsuko Baisho (78), introduced to him by veteran wrestler Michiharu Toyonobori.
With her older sister, Chieko Baisho (83), already a national icon thanks to the Otoko wa Tsurai yo series, their lavish “100-million-yen wedding” at Keio Plaza Hotel was widely covered in the media. However, right after the ceremony, Inoki clashed with the upper management of Japan Pro Wrestling over reforms and was expelled. He then focused on establishing his own organization, New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Keisuke Inoki returned from Brazil to join the new company as a salesman.
“Mitsuko-san’s support was indispensable in launching the promotion. She even volunteered to record the announcements for New Japan’s events, played from the publicity trucks. It was truly a family effort.”
In 1973, while the Inoki couple was shopping at the Isetan department store in Shinjuku, rising heel wrestler Tiger Jeet Singh (80) ambushed Antonio Inoki in the street, creating a now-legendary scene.
“I was there at the time. I remember desperately trying to hold Mitsuko-san back as she attempted to rush toward them. She was not just Inoki’s wife; she was his comrade-in-arms during his prime as a wrestler. Though they divorced in 1987, we still keep in touch with her and their daughter, Hiroko.”
Inoki’s third wife was “Ms. A,” 22 years his junior, whom he announced his engagement to in 1989, alongside his candidacy for the House of Councillors.
“They met at Osaka Airport and happened to sit next to each other on the same flight, which led to their relationship. During the engagement press conference, my brother made it seem like he took the initiative in their marriage, but the truth is, he was quite reserved when it came to women. He never proposed himself—he was always the one being pursued. Whether he truly followed his famous creed, ‘I’ll accept any challenge, anytime, anywhere,’ I can’t say, but when it came to relationships, his motto was definitely never turn anyone away.”
