Akebono, the Hawaii-born sumo wrestler who became the first non-Japanese grand champion or “Yokozuna”, has passed away at the age of 54 due to heart failure. Akebono, originally Chad Rowan from Hawaii, won 11 championships and was known for his massive size of 6-foot-8 and over 500 pounds. He was a pioneer in the sport and achieved celebrity status in Japan through TV appearances. Akebono's success helped drive a resurgence in the popularity of sumo wrestling.
The legendary Akebono will go down in history as a superstar athlete who broke one of the hardest glass ceiling in sports, but he will also be remembered as a very kind-hearted and caring man. https://t.co/CEZYFDVLmq
Sumo wrestling legend Akebono Taro has passed away at age 54. Mr. Akebono was born in Hawaii and became the first foreign-born wrestler to earn the rank of grand champion in Japan. https://t.co/PJeX4oX5Ta
In Photos: The late Akebono, Japan's first foreign-born sumo yokozuna, over the years https://t.co/dSziJVwEen
Sumo, 1994 RIP Akebono (曙) who died this week. https://t.co/aLYG19VcLc
Sending my deepest condolences to Akebono Taro's friends and family. Akebono was a mighty force in sumo wrestling as the first non-Japanese person to earn the status of Yokozuna, or grand champion. He blazed a trail for so many and is a true Hawaii icon. May he rest in peace. https://t.co/Vzfhma6SfO
Hawaii-born Akebono Taro, one of the greats of sumo wrestling and a former grand champion, has died at 54. He was the first foreign-born wrestler to reach the level of “yokozuna” — or grand champion — in Japan. Read more: https://t.co/67xPncNV7g
ICYMI: Sumo Wrestling Legend Akebono Dead At 54 | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/Fv0AQnZH1K
Hawaii-born sumo champion Akebono Taro dies of heart failure at the age of 54 in Japan https://t.co/recJSplKWJ https://t.co/sWLmLh2FAo
Sumo wrestling legend Akebono Taro, who competed at WrestleMania in 2005, dies aged 54 https://t.co/IRoCY6ryN8 https://t.co/dy8kio0Lha
Akebono, Sumo Legend Who Competed in WWE's WrestleMania 21, Dead at 54 https://t.co/0q2kgczXLF
Born in Hawaii, Akebono moved to Japan in 1988 and won 11 grand championships of sumo wrestling. His success drove a resurgence in the sport’s popularity. https://t.co/gnFtahWXEl
Legendary sumo wrestler Akebono Taro dead at 54 from heart failure https://t.co/hnJRHJDGw7
“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 said in a statement. https://t.co/B1HnZ1lVbQ
WWE is saddened to learn that Akebono has passed away. WWE extends its condolences to Akebono’s family, friends and fans. https://t.co/UEvwnE1yVS https://t.co/Z28GCXvq9E
Sumo wrestling legend Akebono -- who once competed against Big Show at WWE's WrestleMania 21 -- has sadly died at 54 years old. 💔🕊 All we know 👉 https://t.co/QDCsnhK2M6 https://t.co/AHoAx5oLcT
Akebono Taro dies at 54; Hawaii-born sumo champ was considered a legend of the sport https://t.co/cQHv1WKsFx
Sumo wrestling legend, MMA fighter Akebono Taro dies at 54 https://t.co/RCN4gDVpeB
At the prime of his career Akebono was a real giant, reported at the time to weigh 500 pounds and stand 6-feet-8. https://t.co/5GqmqjNVU2
RIP Akebono. Along with being the first sumo wrestler not born in Japan to achieve the rank of yokozuna, Akebono competed in some of the most watched combat sports events of all time. More than 54 million people in Japan watched him fight Bob Sapp in a kickboxing match on…
Akebono, who retired from sumo in 2001, won 11 championships while garnering celebrity status as a talent on Japanese TV shows. https://t.co/cYTdU9kbAN
Hawaii-born Akebono Taro, one of the greats of sumo wrestling and a former grand champion, has died at age 54, his family says. https://t.co/mLKWxLU62V
Akebono’s massive size—6-foot-8 and 466 pounds—helped him dominate smaller opponents in the sumo ring. https://t.co/VyfoM7ZFzw
Hawaii-born Akebono Taro, one of the greats of sumo wrestling and a former grand champion, has died. https://t.co/KiGBkXbaL5
Sunday Morning Passage Hawaii-born Akebono, one of the greats of sumo wrestling and a former grand champion, has died. He was 54. He was the first foreign-born wrestler to reach the level of "yokozuna" - or grand champion - in Japan. https://t.co/WleLz3PXM6
Akebono, sumo wrestling legend, dead at 54 https://t.co/VX1j9wH50T https://t.co/dw9XrMgYSZ
In Photos: Akebono, Japan's first foreign-born sumo yokozuna, over the years https://t.co/at3xgMIHSM
RIP Akebono (1969-2024) the 1st non-Japanese-born sumo to reach Yokozuna (1993). Born Chadwick Haheo Rowan in Hawaii, he played basketball in HS and had a scholarship to Hawaii Pacific…there were concerns his 6’8” frame was too tall for sumo, but then he bulked up to 514 lb… https://t.co/wZiTrFDmfN
Pioneering US-born sumo grand champion Akebono dies at age 54 https://t.co/OCGZINa91b
Akebono, originally Chad Rowan from Hawaii, was a big part of the opening ceremony for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. I stood near him backstage there; he was 6-8 and weighed more than 500 pounds. https://t.co/GHg6Q2kpuU
Sumo Wrestling Legend Akebono Dead At 54 | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/DC2h9CZkMI
Hawaii-born sumo wrestler Akebono Taro dies of heart failure aged 54 https://t.co/Ehw0eOnlMP https://t.co/eCKi8xqfm8
Akebono, the first non-Japanese "yokozuna" of sumo wrestling, has died of heart failure at age 54, according to his family. Born in Hawaii, the sumo legend won 11 championships. https://t.co/qzEXQTVplg
RIP Akebono. I have fond memories of him visiting our school to teach us 8-year-olds about sumo and then just running around the playground with us for a while. https://t.co/777lgrySG0
Hawaii-born sumo wrestler Akebono Taro dies of heart failure aged 54: Was first foreigner to reach 'grand champion' level in Japanese sport https://t.co/dksfHHgYAJ https://t.co/YY1FYeVQzH
Akebono, the American-born sumo wrestler who became the first non-Japanese grand champion or “Yokozuna”, dies aged 54 https://t.co/EssGjBSPP0 https://t.co/UPU5rLsugH
Lived in Japan during his glory days. Amazing talent. So long great one! Akebono, First Foreign-Born Sumo Grand Champion, Dies at 54 https://t.co/LVqGM87tbG