Taro Akebono, a Hawaii-born sumo wrestler who grew to become the game’s first overseas grand champion and helped to drive a resurgence within the sport’s reputation within the Nineteen Nineties, has died in Tokyo. He was 54.
He died of coronary heart failure in early April whereas receiving care at a Tokyo hospital, in response to a press release from his household that was distributed by the USA navy in Japan on Thursday.
When he grew to become Japan’s sixty fourth yokozuna, or grand champion sumo wrestler, in 1993, he was the primary foreign-born sumo wrestler to attain the game’s highest title in its 300-year trendy historical past. He went on to win a complete of 11 grand championships.
Akebono, who was 6-foot-8 and 466 kilos when he was first named yokozuna at 23, towered over his opponents. He was recognized for utilizing his top and the attain of his arms to his benefit, conserving his opponents at a distance and shoving them out of the ring.
Akebono’s rivalry with the Japanese brothers Takanohana and Wakanohana, each grand champions, was a serious driver of sumo’s resurgent reputation within the Nineteen Nineties.
Taro Akebono was born Chad George Ha’aheo Rowan in Waimanalo, Hawaii, in 1969. He moved to Japan in 1988 on the invitation of a fellow Hawaiian wrestler.
In 1992, a yr earlier than he grew to become grand champion, the council that decides which wrestlers are worthy for that honor had denied it to a different Hawaiian, saying no foreigner may possess the dignity befitting the title.
Akebono later stated in interviews that he hardly ever thought-about his nationality within the ring, considering of himself as a sumo wrestler at the beginning. He grew to become a naturalized Japanese citizen in 1996.
“I wasn’t considering, ‘I’m an American, I’m going to go on the market, plant my flag in the course of the ring and tackle the Japanese,’” he instructed The New York Instances in 2013.
He gained acceptance and recognition within the sumo world partially as a result of individuals in Japan appreciated his devotion to the game.
“He makes me overlook he’s a foreigner due to his earnest angle towards sumo,” Yoshihisa Shimoie, editor of Sumo journal, stated in 1993.
Akebono is survived by his spouse Christine Rowan, daughter Caitlyn, 25, and sons, Cody, 23, and Connor, 20, in response to the household.
In 2001, he retired from the game at 31, citing continual knee issues. He went on to coach youthful wrestlers, and in addition competed in kickboxing, skilled wrestling and combined martial arts.
“I’m retiring with a sense of nice gratitude for being given the prospect to turn into a yokozuna and expertise one thing open to solely only a few individuals,” he stated on the time of his retirement.
Motoko Wealthy contributed reporting.
