TOKYO (AP) — Hawaiian-born Akebono Taro, one of the greats of sumo wrestling and a former grand champion, has died. He was 54 years old. He was the first foreign-born wrestler to reach the level of “yokozuna” – or grand champion – in Japan.
“It is with sadness that we announce that Akebono Taro died of heart failure earlier this month while receiving care at a Tokyo-area hospital,” the family said in a statement.
His wife, Christine Rowan, said in an email to The Associated Press that he died “within the past week” but declined to provide details.
“I had to take care of personal matters that needed to be done before publicly announcing my husband’s death,” she said.
Akebono grew up on the rural side of the Koolau Mountains of Honolulu and was born Chad George Hahiu Ruan.
He moved to Tokyo in the late 1980s and won his first major championship in 1993.
Early in his career, he was a veritable giant, said at the time to have weighed 500 pounds (225 kg) and stood 6 feet 8 – or 2.03 metres, tall.
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“I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Akebono, a giant of the sumo world, a proud Hawaiian and a bridge between the United States and Japan,” Emanuel said in his post.
“When Akebono became the first foreign-born grand champion, the highest ranking in sumo, in 1993, he opened the door for other foreign wrestlers to achieve success in the sport. Throughout his 35 years in Japan, Akebono strengthened cultural ties between the United States and his new homeland of By uniting us all through sport.
Akebono was an 11-time major winner and retired in 2001.
Friends and family will hold a “private celebration of his life,” the family statement said. He is survived by his wife, Christine, his daughter, and his two sons.
“The family requests privacy during this time of mourning,” the statement read.
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McAvoy contributed from Honolulu.
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