Parinya Charoenphol is no stranger to Japan. Back in 1998 when she was a Muay Thai champion, Parinya had flown over to fight against wrestler Kyoko Inoue at the Budokan, in an extremely rare, mixed-gender match-up. The tickets were sold out months in advance. Parinya recalled being taken aback when Japanese fans shouted "kirei (beautiful)" at her -- a similar-sounding word in Thai means "ugly girl."
It was only after she returned home that she learned the Japanese were paying her the highest compliment and since then, she said, "Japan had always been a very comfortable place for me."
All this was revealed at the Tokyo press conference to promote "Beautiful Boxer," the film based on her life, during which Parinya appeared with director Echakai Uekrongtham and actor/Muay Thai athlete Asanee Suwan, who plays her.