Sumo icon and WrestleMania 21 star Akebono passes away at 54

According to local media reports, the former sumo wrestler Akebono who was also renowned as the first foreign-born yokozuna, has passed away at the age of 54 due to heart failure. Akebono had been struggling with an illness since collapsing in the city of Kitakyushu seven years ago and had been receiving treatment in a hospital near Tokyo.

The Wrestler’s condition took a sudden turn for the worse earlier this month, leading to his untimely demise, as reported by the Nikkan Sports daily. A private funeral will be held to honour the sumo legend. Born in Chadwick Haheo Rowan in Waimanalo, Hawaii, Akebono ascended to the rank of yokozuna in the year 1993, becoming immensely popular. Throughout his career, he claimed victory in 11 grand tournaments.

Akebono began his professional sumo career in the month of March 1988 and ascended to the top division during the September tournament two years later. He achieved the prestigious rank of yokozuna in the year of 1993. Retiring from sumo in January 2001, he also resigned from the Japan Sumo Association in the year 2003. During that same year, he revealed his decision to join K-1, a combat sport blending martial arts, kickboxing, and wrestling.

Akebono wrestled Big Show at WrestleMania 21

As the inaugural foreign-born grand champion, attaining sumo's highest rank, Akebono paved the way for other foreign wrestlers to excel in the sport. In 2005, Akebono faced off against The Big Show at WrestleMania 21 in Los Angeles. During his peak, he purportedly weighed 500 pounds and stood at 6 feet 8 inches, relying on his immense size to forcefully eject opponents from the ring. Rahm Emanuel, the United States ambassador to Japan honored Akebono by referring to him as "giant in the world of sumo".

"I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Akebono, a giant in the world of sumo, a proud Hawaiian and a bridge between the United States and Japan,” Emanuel posted.