54-year-old Akebono Taro, the first foreign-born sumo wrestler and grand champion, passed away.
Hawaii-born Akebono Taro, the first foreign-born sumo wrestler to become a grand champion, has died aged 54. Born Chad Rowan in Hawaii in 1969, Akebono was among the most successful sumo wrestlers of the 1990s, reaching the rank of yokozuna, or grand champion, in 1993 and becoming a Japanese citizen in 1996. Akebono's passing has been widely mourned, with condolences pouring in from around the world.
April 11, 2024
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