General Entertainment Hawaii-born Akebono Taro, Japan's first foreign-born sumo wrestling grand champion, dead at 54 (he wrestled Big Show at Wrestlemania 21)

[SaysWho?]

Hawaii-born Akebono Taro, Japan's first foreign-born sumo wrestling grand champion, dead at 54

WWW.CBSNEWS.COM

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Hawaii-born Akebono, the first foreign-born sumo wrestler to reach the level of "yokozuna," or grand champion, in Japan, has died, his family said. He was 54.

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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.

 

"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.

 

His wife Christine Rowan, in an email to The Associated Press, said he died "within the past week" but declined to give details.

 

[DarkStar189]

On Monday an old mma video popped up on my YouTube recommendations with him vs Don Frye. He was one big dude.