Akebono Taro - 曙 太郎 (born May 8, 1969 - April 11, 2024) was a American professional sumo wrestler from Waimanalo, Oahu, Hawaii. He made his debut in March 1988 and wrestled for Azumazeki stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 1990 and has six special prizes, four kinboshi, and 11 top division championships. He was the 64th yokozuna and he retired in January 2001.
Early Life[]
Chad Rowan (c. 1987)
Chadwick Haheo Rowan was born on May 8, 1969, to Randolph and Janice Rowan, and is of Hawaiian descent. He grew up with two younger brothers, one of whom, Ola, also became a sumo wrestler for a brief period after Chad.
Akebono was born and raised in Waimanalo where he was childhood friends with George Kalima, the future Yamato. He attended Kaiser High School, where he played basketball and became an All-Star center. Even though he did not play football, he was still offered a full football scholarship to University of Hawaii solely because of his size. In the end, he decided to stick with basketball and he went to Hawaii Pacific University on a basketball scholarship, but sat out his freshman season.
Career[]
Early Career[]
Akebono defeats rival Takahanada in their first meeting (c. 1988)
Rowan was planning to study for a career in hotel management, but he had always been interested in sumo from watching television broadcasts. A family friend introduced him to Azumazeki Oyakata, the former Takamiyama, who also originally hailed from Hawaii. Azumazeki overcame his initial concerns that Rowan might be too tall and his legs too long for sumo and agreed to let him join his Azumazeki stable, founded in 1986. Rowan flew to Japan in early 1988. Adopting the shikona of Akebono, meaning "new dawn" in Japanese, he made his professional debut in March 1988. This entry cohort was one of the most successful ever, producing two other yokozuna, Takanohana and Wakanohana (sons of the popular champion from the 1970s, Takanohana Kenshi), as well as a great ozeki, Kaio.
He initially wrestled under the shikona "Taikai" (大海) but switched to "Akebono" in his second tournament. His younger brother George later adopted the Taikai shikona. He rapidly rose through the lower divisions and did not produce a single losing record. He was promoted to juryo in March 1990 after a total of 12 tournaments.
Juryo Career[]
Akebono became the third American sekitori and continued to produce strong results as a sekitori. He managed an 8-7 record in his debut and followed with two strong 11-4 performances which earned him a spot in the top makuuchi division in September 1990.
Makuuchi Career[]
Akebono celebrates promotion to ozeki (c. 1992)
He made his top division debut in the same tournament as Wakanohana, as well as Takatoriki and Daishoyama. In the November 1990 tournament he was awarded his first special prize, for Fighting Spirit, and in January 1991 he earned his first gold star for defeating yokozuna Asahifuji. In March 1991 he defeated ozeki Konishiki in the first ever match between two non-Japanese wrestlers in the top division.
Ozeki Career[]
In 1992, after a year of 8–7 or 7–8 records near the top of the makuuchi division, Akebono suddenly came alive with a 13–2 record in January of that year, narrowly losing the top division championship to Takanohana. A second 13–2 record two tournaments later, in May, saw him win the top division championship for the first time, and with it promotion to ozeki. After an injury during the summer, he went on to win consecutive championships in November 1992 and January 1993 to win promotion to yokozuna.
Yokozuna Career[]
At the time of his promotion, the rank of yokozuna had been vacant for eight months (an exceedingly rare occurrence) and his promotion, despite the fact that he was the first foreign yokozuna, was welcomed by many. He had met the stipulation of winning two consecutive tournaments that had been mentioned by the Yokozuna Deliberation Council when turning down Konishiki the previous year, and was also seen as having conducted himself with the dignity and humility necessary for such an exalted rank. One commentator remarked, "He makes me forget he is a foreigner because of his earnest attitude towards sumo."
Akebono performs the yokozuna dohyo-iri (c. 1995)
Akebono was a long-standing and strong yokozuna, lasting nearly eight years in the rank and winning the top division championship on a further eight occasions. His career highlights include the rare achievement of winning the top division championship in three consecutive tournaments, in 1993. In July 1993 he beat Takanohana and Wakanohana in consecutive matches to win the honbasho when all three ended up tied at the end of the 15-day tournament, and in May 1997 he defeated Takanohana twice on the final day, once in their regular match and once in a playoff, to win his first title in over two years. The competition between Akebono and Takanohana, who reached yokozuna himself in 1995, was said to be one of the great defining rivalries of postwar sumo. The two finished their careers with a 25–25 tie in bouts against one another. At the opening ceremony of the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, a professional sumo wrestler was chosen to represent each of the competing countries and lead them into the stadium. After Takanohana fell ill, Akebono was given the honor of representing Japan in the opening ceremony.Akebono also led other sumo wrestlers in a ring cleansing ceremony at the Opening Ceremony (also meant to cleanse the stadium itself).
Akebono was quite susceptible to injury because of his height and weight. He suffered his first serious knee injury in May 1994 when, after winning his first ten matches of the tournament, he lost a bout to Takatoriki and fell awkwardly. He flew to Los Angeles and underwent career-saving surgery. From November 1998 to March 1999 he missed three successive tournaments due to a herniated disc in his lower back and faced calls for his retirement. However, after receiving the personal backing of the Chairman of the Japan Sumo Association, he scored a respectable 11–4 record in his comeback tournament in May 1999. In 2000 he enjoyed his first completely injury-free year since 1993 and won two tournaments, finishing as runner-up in three others. He won 76 bouts out of a possible 90, the best record of any wrestler that year.
Retirement from Sumo[]
Akebono oyakata teaches newly promoted Asashoryu the yokozuna dohyo-iri (c. 2003)
After winning his eleventh top division title in November 2000, Akebono suffered another injury and, after sitting out the tournament in January 2001, he decided to retire rather than face a daunting struggle back to fighting fitness. After his retirement, he became a member (or elder) of the Japan Sumo Association as a coach, or oyakata, and worked with his former mentor in the Azumazeki stable. He helped train the Mongolian wrestler Asashoryu who also became a yokozuna, and Akebono instructed him on how to perform the dohyo-iri, or yokozuna ring-entering ceremony.
While an oyakata, Akebono also appeared in TV commercials and opened a restaurant called ZUNA.
In June 2013 he returned to Azumazeki stable for the first time since leaving the Sumo Association to oversee some training sessions as an assistant instructor.
MMA and Kickboxing Career[]
Akebono left the Sumo Association in November 2003 to join K-1. The decision was influenced by financial problems due to the failure of his restaurant, among other financial difficulties. His koenkai, or supporters network, had dissolved after his marriage in 1998, depriving him of a valuable source of income. In addition, he earned far less as an oyakata than he had as a yokozuna. K-1 offered him a chance to clear his debts by fighting for them.
Akebono battles Bob Sapp in his kickboxing debut (c. 2003)
At the time of his debut, Akebono was involved in a highly publicized matchup at K-1 Premium 2003 against popular superheavyweight fighter Bob Sapp. The combined popularity of Sapp and Akebono attracted a crowd of 45,000 to the Nagoya Dome and granted the event a 43% viewership, making it the first time a combat sports event outdrew the NHK music festival Kohaku Uta Gassen, Japan's traditionally biggest New Year show. However, Akebono lost by knockout in the 1st round. Akebono continued his uneventful kickboxing career and lost to Musashi in his 2nd fight after unsportsmanlike conduct. In his 3rd and 4th fight, he lost to Zhang Qingjun and Rick Roufus by unanimous decision. His first win came in his 5th fight against Nobuaki Kakuda where he won by unanimous decision. Akebono's next three fights came against South Korean giant Choi Hong-man where he lost all three fights.
Akebono made his mixed martial arts debut on December 31st, 2004, at the K-1 PREMIUM 2004 Dynamite!! event where he lost to Royce Gracie in the first round by submission. In 2nd MMA fight, he lost to Bobby Ologun by unanimous decision. His 3rd fight was against UFC veteran Don Frye where he lost by submission in the 2nd round. His last MMA fight, he came up against professional wrestler Giant Silva where he lost in the first round by submission.
Akebono fought a rematch against Bob Sapp on 31 December 2015, at Rizin Fighting Federation Grand Prix event. He lost the fight by technical decision when a cut on his head could not be stemmed. His overall kickboxing record is 1 win and 9 losses. His overall mixed martial arts record is 0 wins and 4 losses.
Professional Wrestling Career[]
Akebono prepares to battle Big Show at WrestleMania 21 (c. 2005)
On 31 March 2005, Akebono made an appearance on SmackDown! to accept the Big Show's challenge to a (kayfabe) sumo match at WrestleMania 21. Akebono made his wrestling debut later that night, defeating jobber Eddie Vegas. At WrestleMania 21, Akebono defeated Big Show with a koshinage, throwing him entirely out of the ring. On 1 July, Akebono made an appearance in a house show in Japan to help Big Show during a match against Carlito after Carlito's bodyguard Matt Morgan had interfered. The next day, Akebono teamed with Big Show to defeat Carlito and Morgan in a tag team match.
He made his official wrestling debut for All Japan Pro Wrestling on August 4th, 2005. He teamed up with the Great Mutah to form a babyface tag team "Mutoh Room". At the end of the year, Akebono won the Tokyo Sports award for "Rookie of the Year" and "Team of the Year" with Mutoh, who then stated that Akebono had successfully graduated from his lessons, and was then released from his contract to move to other companies and gain experience.
Akebono celebrates after winning the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (c. 2013)
On 4 January 2006, Akebono appeared in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) alongside Yutaka Yoshie in a match against Black Strong Machine & Hiro Saito, coming out victorious. Later that month, Akebono competed for Pro Wrestling NOAH, teaming up with his old friend Takeshi Rikio to defeat Junji Izumida and Kenta Kobashi. With NJPW, he still many remained in the tag team scene.
He wrestled for the promotion Hustle from 2007-2009 and Dragon Gate from 2008-2010. He wrestled for Pro Wrestling Zero1 from 2009-2013. He returned to AJPW in 2009 and formed a tag team with Ryota Hama.
On 27 October, Akebono defeated Suwama to win the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship for the first time. Akebono made his first successful title defense on 24 November against Joe Doering. His second successful defense took place on 3 January 2014, against Takao Omori. On 23 February, Akebono made his third successful title defense against Go Shiozaki. Akebono's fourth title defense took place on 18 March, when he defeated Kento Miyahara. In April, Akebono looked to enter a rare group of men who have won the Champion Carnival, while holding the Triple Crown Championship, but on 22 April, after securing the top spot in his block, Akebono was forced to pull out of the tournament and forfeit his two remaining matches, after being hospitalized with poor health. On 30 May, Akebono officially relinquished the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship due to his health issues.
On 4 December 2015, Akebono announced he was forming a new company named Odo. He would serve as its president and has the backing of Motoko Baba, the widow of All Japan founder Giant Baba. Following Akebono's heart disability in April 2017 (below), and Motoko Baba's death on 14 April 2018, Odo became an inactive promotion.
Personal Life[]
Akebono with his father, Randolph (c. 1991)
Akebono was born to Randy, a taxi driver of Irish and Native Hawaiian descent and Janice, an office worker of Cuban and Native Hawaiian descent. He became a Japanese citizen in 1996, giving up his American citizenship and changing his legal name from Chad Rowan to Akebono Taro, as required by Japanese law. In regards to the change of citizenship he stated "Changing my nationality has nothing to do with who I am, just like I am still my mother's son even after I became a Japanese (citizen)."
At the end of 1996 he was engaged to Yu Aihara, a television tarento, but broke it off the following year. In February 1998, Akebono announced his engagement to Christiane Reiko Kalina, a teacher who is of Japanese and American descent. They married in September 1998 and have two sons and a daughter.
In April 2017 he was hospitalized after feeling unwell while on a wrestling tour in Kitakyushu. Early reports indicated that he had been placed in a medically-induced coma after suffering a cardiac condition, but his family later released a statement on Akebono's website criticizing "misleading" articles and saying he was undergoing treatment "due to a right leg cellulitis and an infection." A family spokesperson thanked Akebono's fans for their support, saying "The number of messages from around the world has been overwhelming." The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that the original story was in fact correct and that the cellulitis claim was a cover story for a serious heart issue.
Akebono's wife confirmed in March 2018 that her husband had suffered acute heart failure in the incident and was in a medically induced coma for two weeks. He lost nearly 130 pounds, much of it in muscle, and could not walk as of March 2018, requiring the use of a wheelchair. He was to begin intensive physical therapy. News regarding Akebono's health has been scarce. A news article from 2 January 2019 stated that he had lost use of his legs and suffers from partial memory loss. He was unable to remember his pro-wrestling days (after retirement from Sumo) and was for a short period unable to speak without the aid of his wife.
Although still unable to walk, he attended a memorial service for his former tsukebito Ushiomaru at Azumazeki stable in December 2019.
Death[]
It was announced by the Japan Sumo Association that Akebono had passed away on April 11th, 2024 due to heart failure, he was 54 years old.
Fighting Style[]
Akebono defeats Kotofuji by tsukidashi (thrust out)
Akebono was one of the tallest sumo wrestlers ever, at 203 cm (6 ft 8 in) tall, and also one of the heaviest with a peak weight of 233 kg (514 lb) in March 1999. He was also one of the most aggressive and ferocious sumo wrestlers. Despite having long legs, considered a disadvantage in sumo as it tends to make one top heavy and susceptible to throws, he covered for this by training exceptionally hard, and using his long reach to thrust his opponents out of the dohyo (ring). In his prime, he had incredible thrusting strength and on many occasions would blast lesser wrestlers out of the ring in one or two strokes using tsuppari techniques. His most common winning kimarite was oshidashi, a simple push out, and he also regularly won by tsukidashi, the thrust out. In later years he also used his reach to more often grab his opponent's mawashi, or belt, and then use his weight and power to force the opponent from the ring by yorikiri. He liked a migi-yotsu, or left hand outside, right hand inside grip, and was fond of using his left hand to employ uwatenage, or overarm throw.
Record[]
Division Results[]
- Total: 654-232-181/882 (78 basho)
- Makuuchi: 566-198-181/760 (63 basho)
- Juryo: 30-15/45 (3 basho)
- Makushita: 25-10/35 (5 basho)
- Sandanme: 11-3/14 (2 basho)
- Jonidan: 16-5/21 (3 basho)
- Jonokuchi: 6-1/7 (1 basho)
Championships[]
- 11 Makuuchi Championships
- 1st (May 1992)
- 2nd (November 1992)
- 3rd (January 1993)
- 4th (July 1993)
- 5th (September 1993)
- 6th (November 1993)
- 7th (March 1994)
- 8th (March 1995)
- 9th (May 1997)
- 10th (July 2000)
- 11th (November 2000)
Achievements[]
- Special Prizes: Outstanding Performance Prize (4), Fighting Spirit Prize (2)
- Kinboshi: 4: (2) Asahifuji, (1) Hokutoumi, (1) Onokuni
- 1st foreign-born yokozuna
- Record: 10th most career championships (11 championships)
- Record: Tied for 4th most championship playoffs (7 playoffs)
- Record: 6th most tournaments ranked at yokozuna (48 tournaments)
Shikona History[]
- Taikai (1988.03 - 1988.03)
- Akebono Taro (1988.05 - 2001.01)
Gallery[]
JSA Profile Pictures and Tegata[]
Career Overview[]
