EeHH.CO.UK

We Are The Future

AMERICAN-BORN FORMER SUMO CHAMPION AKEBONO DIES AGED 54

Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive
 

  

American-Born former sumo champion Akebono dies aged 54

FILE PHOTO: Akebono, a native of Waimanalo, Hawaii and former Sumo Grand Champion in Japan, attends the opening ceremony of the K-1 World Grand Prix in Honolulu, July 29, 2005. REUTERS/Lucy Pemoni LP/PN

FILE PHOTO: Akebono, a native of Waimanalo, Hawaii and former Sumo Grand Champion in Japan, attends the opening ceremony of the K-1 World Grand Prix in Honolulu, July 29, 2005. REUTERS/Lucy Pemoni LP/PN© Thomson Reuters

TOKYO (Reuters) - Akebono, an American-born sumo wrestler who became the first non-Japanese yokozuna grand champion, died of heart failure this month, the U.S. Forces in Japan said on Thursday. He was 54.

Born Chad George Ha'aheo Rowan in Hawaii, Akebono entered the sumo world in 1988 and rose to its highest yokozuna rank in January 1993. He later became a Japanese citizen.

As the 64th yokozuna, Akebono won 11 championships while garnering celebrity status as a talent on Japanese TV shows. He became a professional K-1 wrestling fighter after retiring from sumo in 2001.

Akebono is survived by his wife, daughter and two sons. 

(Reporting by Mariko Katsumura; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim)  Story by Reuters: 

Articles - Latest

Articles - Most Read

Social Media Links Genius

Login

Login

BREAKING NEWS FEEDS -TOP STORIES

All: BreakingNews.ie

Ireland's premier breaking news website providing up to the minute news and sports reports. With e-mail news releases following breaking stories throughout the day. BreakingNews.ie

Who's On Line

We have 122 guests and no members online

We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential for the operation of the site, while others help us to improve this site and the user experience (tracking cookies). You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. Please note that if you reject them, you may not be able to use all the functionalities of the site.

Ok
X

Right Click

No right click