Akebono Tarō
(曙 太郎)
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Data Complete 70%
Born
1969-05-08
Waimānalo, HawaiiDied
Unknown Date
Position
Fighter
Status
Deceased
Ethnicity
Pacific Islander
Team Number
Height
203 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Weight
233 kg (514 lb; 36.7 st)
Outfitter
Kit
Wage Year
Player Cutout
Player Cartoon
Full Body Render
Sport
FightingTeam
_Deceased Fighting
2nd Team
League
_No League
Creative Commons Artwork
No
Description
Akebono Tarō (Japanese: 曙 太郎, Hepburn: Akebono Tarō, born Chadwick Haheo Rowan; 8 May 1969 – 11 April 2024) was an American-born Japanese former professional sumo wrestler and professional wrestler from Waimānalo, Hawaii. Joining sumo in Japan in 1988, he was trained by pioneering Hawaiian wrestler Takamiyama and rose swiftly up the rankings, reaching the top division in 1990. After two consecutive yusho or tournament championships in November 1992 and January 1993 he made history by becoming the first non-Japanese-born wrestler ever to reach yokozuna, the highest rank in sumo.
One of the tallest and heaviest wrestlers ever, Akebono's rivalry with the young Japanese hopefuls, Takanohana and Wakanohana, was a big factor in the increased popularity of sumo at tournament venues and on TV in the early 1990s. During his eight years at the yokozuna rank, Akebono won a further eight tournament championships, for a career total of eleven, and was a runner-up on thirteen other occasions, despite suffering several serious injuries. Although his rival yokozuna Takanohana won more tournaments in this period, their individual head-to-heads remained very close.
Akebono became a Japanese citizen in 1996, and after retiring in 2001 he worked as a coach at Azumazeki stable before leaving the Sumo Association in 2003. After an unsuccessful period as a K-1 fighter, he became a professional wrestler. In All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) he has been a two-time Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, two-time World Tag Team Champion, and two-time All Asia Tag Team Champion, as well as winning the 2015 Champion Carnival. In 2017, as a result of health problems, he became inactive from professional wrestling. He passed away of heart failure in 2024, less than a month before his 55th birthday.
Icons
TableTrophies
 Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion |  APJW Mens | 2015 | |
 Champion Carnival | APJW Mens | 2015 | |
| Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion | APJW Mens | 2013 | |
 Yusho Nagoya |  Azumazeki | 2000 | |
 Yusho Kyushu | Azumazeki | 2000 | |
 Yusho Natsu | Azumazeki | 1997 | |
 Yusho Haru | Azumazeki | 1995 | |
| Yusho Haru | Azumazeki | 1994 | |
| Yusho Nagoya | Azumazeki | 1993 | |
| Yusho Kyushu | Azumazeki | 1993 | |
 Yusho Hatsu | Azumazeki | 1993 | |
 Yusho Aki | Azumazeki | 1993 | |
 Shukun-sho | Azumazeki | 1992 | |
| Shukun-sho | Azumazeki | 1992 | |
 Kanto-sho | Azumazeki | 1992 | |
| Yusho Natsu | Azumazeki | 1992 | |
| Yusho Kyushu | Azumazeki | 1992 | |
| Shukun-sho | Azumazeki | 1991 | |
| Shukun-sho | Azumazeki | 1991 | |
 Kinboshi | Azumazeki | 1991 | |
| Kinboshi | Azumazeki | 1991 | |
| Kinboshi | Azumazeki | 1991 | |
| Kinboshi | Azumazeki | 1991 | |
| Kanto-sho | Azumazeki | 1990 |
Milestones
| No records found |
Former Youth Teams
| No records found |
Former Senior Teams
| Azumazeki | 1988-2000 | Permanent | - | - | |
 K-1 Mens | 2003-2004 | Permanent | - | - | |
| K-1 Mens | 2005-2006 | Permanent | - | - | |
 WWE Mens | 2005 | Permanent | - | - | |
| APJW Mens | 2005 | Permanent | - | - | |
 New Japan Mens | 2006-2007 | Permanent | - | - | |
| APJW Mens | 2009-2015 | Permanent | - | - |
Former Club Staff
| No records found |
Contracts
| No records found |
Fanart
Player Poster
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News Reports
None found...
Collections
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Statistics
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