Ventura Stories Wow Japan Students

.c The Associated Press


TOKYO (AP) - Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura's education ideas drew polite
applause from a class of Japanese high school students, but he wowed them
with his wrestling past.

Visiting a Japanese classic literature class Monday at Tsukuba High School as
part of a 10-day trade mission to Japan, Ventura got little reaction with his
discussion of how students can benefit from smaller classes. A 40-student
class is not unusual in Japan.

But when the former pro wrestler recounted his grappling with a famous
Japanese counterpart, Antonio Anoki, 18 years ago, a chorus of ``oohs''
erupted from the young audience.

And his description of his work as a bodyguard for the Rolling Stones drew a
big ``ah!'' and a round of applause.

``I won governor because of young people,'' Ventura told the students, who
crowded around for gift exchanges, photographs and autographs after the
meeting.

AP-NY-11-08-99 1444EST