Akebono, a former grand champion and one of sumo wrestling’s legends, has died at 54. He was the first foreign-born wrestler to achieve the rank of “yokozuna” (grand champion) in Japan.
“It is with sadness that we announce Akebono Taro died of heart failure earlier this month while receiving care at a hospital in the Tokyo area,” the family wrote in a statement acquired via Hawaii Governor Josh Green’s office.
Akebono, born Chad Rowan, grew up on the rural side of Honolulu’s Koolau Highlands.
Akebono Taro was an 11-time Grand Tournament winner
He relocated to Tokyo in the late 1980s and won his first Grand Championship in 1993.
At the peak of his career, he weighed 500 pounds (225 kilograms) and stood 6 feet 8 inches, or 2.03 meters.
Rahm Emanuel, the United States ambassador to Japan, expressed his condolences on the social media platform X.
“I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Akebono, a giant in the world of sumo, a proud Hawaiian, and a bridge between the United States and Japan,” Emanuel posted.
“When Akebono became the first-ever foreign-born grand champion, sumo’s highest rank, in 1993, he opened the door for other foreign wrestlers to find success in the sport. Throughout his 35 years in Japan, Akebono strengthened the cultural ties between the United States and his adopted homeland by uniting us all through sport.”
Akebono was an 11-time Grand Tournament winner who retired in 2001.
According to the family’s statement, friends and relatives will gather for a “private celebration of his life.” He is survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.
