Challenge | Taro Akebono

Akebono Taro, born May 8, 1969 as Chad Haaheo Rowan is a retired American born-Japanese sumo wrestler from Waimānalo, Hawaiʻi. Joining the professional sport in Japan in 1988, he was trained by pioneering Hawaiian sumo 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 foreign born wrestler ever to reach yokozuna, the highest rank in sumo.
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 is now a freelance professional wrestler, mainly performing for the All Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. He is the current Zero1 World Heavyweight Champion in Zero1.
ハワイ出身の元大相撲力士である曙太郎は、1969年5月8日にチャド・ハヘオ・ローワンの名で生まれました。初土俵を踏んだのは1988年。ハワイ出身の大相撲力士としてパイオニアである高見山の指導の下、凄まじいスピードで番付を上げ、1990年に新入幕を果たしました。そして、1992年11月場所と翌1993年1月場所には連続優勝を記録し、外国人初の横綱に昇進しました。
曙は1996年に帰化、2001年に現役引退後は親方として東関部屋で後輩の指導をしていましたが、2003年に日本相撲協会を退職、格闘技K-1に参戦 しました。 K-1では好成績を残せず、無所属のプロレスラーとして主に全日本プロレスのリングに上がり、ZERO1の世界ヘビー級王座を獲得しています。
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[@eltonalonsopompeu615]

Rest in peace, legend

[@rollip1639]

Akebono's strength was formidable back in the days. He wasn't only a big man, but a hell of a power house as well.

[@terimann3718]

Grew up in Hawai, Bring up Sumo, Nature our (Japanese people) Heart. Akebono-san, you were my hero and you ARE my hero ever. Thank you for your all.

[@allansantos219]

Rest in Paradise you legend

[@christiangerhardt2408]

How humble is he. That is awesome.

[@sebzammit7755]

i respect this man alot.

[@arnaudcollery5800]

Man, so sorry you went away. You were so humble and open to let us hear your story. Thank you for this memory. Thank you for doing our event.

[@malapertfourohfour2112]

Went away? Why such a euphemism? He died, be honest about the nature of life instead of hiding from it. That which is endless is valueless.

[@GrumpyYokozuna]

@@malapertfourohfour2112it’s the same thing regardless of how it’s worded.why be a prick over it?

[@dorolyncyo]

心優しくて強いひと。曙はお相撲さんの鑑のような存在です。

[@kizunadragon9]

A wonderful man and a fantastic champion. Aloha champ!

[@sosenhoko]

Dear Yokozuna Akebono, Thank you so much for your great story. Rest in peace.

[@curtcoeurdelion]

The breaker of chains. Rest in peace, big man!

[@VisvivaMediaSdnBhd]

Thank you Yokozuna Akebono, for being inspiring even you are off the ring.

[@AndoniZaldumbide]

Sleep well, Legend. You will be missed.

[@jasongrenierjasongrenier]

Great talk. Easy to appreciate his earnestness and humility.

[@josceola8979]

I remember seeing for the first time on tv and also seeing actual sumo matches instead of the exaggerated stuff you see on movies. It was a big deal because he was gonna be the first foreign competitors to become Yokozuna.

[@catalinegreanu]

Respect, to a GREAT CHAMPION! STAY HEALTHY. YOKOZUNA!!!

[@TheNotoriousDUDE]

Anyone else find it surreal that one of the all-time greats of a big nation's national sport can still be so nervous when he has to speak publicly? I can really relate to that, as it showcases that, at the end of the day, everyone is just another person.

[@catalinegreanu]

Thank you, Akebono!

[@josef253]

Great story! Great man! Great Yokozuna!!

[@repotip1]

Great guy! I hate how lower rated rikishi are treated in sumo stables... It's absolutely unreasonable

[@cosimocub]

one of the best personalities in the history of sport

[@richardjones3826]

A true gentle giant of the sport of sumo, sadly missed

[@YamatoTre]

What a legend of American and Japanese sport

[@erickinserrano1]

Respect🙌

[@muskyman3238]

RIP Akebono

[@juniyananajukyu]

Rest in peace Dai-Yokozuna.

[@furlockfurli2719]

A million views would not do justice of how important your words are to all of us, Taro Akebono.

[@pierfrancospaziani9397]

Great man, great champion, great soul!

[@briankady1456]

Rest in Peace, Akebono

[@VisvivaMediaSdnBhd]

RIP Yokozuna....

[@CutterHistorical]

Hard to believe hes gone at just 54

[@howardleekilby7390]

Akebono is a great Yokozuna. I wrote a letter to him requesting an autographed picture. He sent me two hand prints which I treasure. We have a Cherry Blossom Festival in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA. We are having Sumo matches in 2025.

[@kawikadee9670]

What a great story.

[@rd-yp8zf]

Awesome! What a Champion!

[@GRACELINE259]

Who tf thumbed down this video??

[@91010186]

Me

[@GRACELINE259]

@@91010186 the real yellow man 👲

[@ZEUCE62]

Great story…❤

[@DHCMGONZEAUX]

Awesome story!!

[@peterkoch3777]

That man sparked the love for Sumo in me. Not Takanohana!

[@jajavix7]

😢😢😢

[@Dillingham-]

Take a moment to listen to Tengoku Kara Kaminari by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. About Akebono, Musashimaru, and Konishiki 🌴

[@tomtalker2000]

I hope folks understand the importance of his speech. But more over just how absolutely GRUELING sumo training truly is. This is a sport steeped in tradition where there is a code of conduct one must adhere to. It is a brotherhood but you must prove yourself and climb through the ranks catering to your superiors first and foremost. It is a sport full of honor and integrity and through that discipline champions are born. This is not two fat guys pushing each other around. It is in my opinion the last ancient Japanese tradition that follows the same code of conduct Samurai went through. Cleaning toilets with a toothbrush as Akebono stated isn't the worst of it. Wiping your superior sumo's ass after he goes the bathroom would be. And YES they do make the juniors do that. This is why many don't make it because of how grueling the whole training process truly is. So hopefully people have a newfound respect and appreciation for this ancient tradition.

[@kawikadee9670]

Big Big Hawaiian!

[@arthurvargaslujan18]

Big show vs akebono deam match Wrestlemania

[@MinusTheRogue]

I think he ended up winning two yusho in a row in 2000 before retiring right?

[@harrymiram6621]

At last report, 4-5 years back, Chad(Akebono) operates Hawaiian-stye local restaurant named Zuna. Can anyone living/frequent visitor to Japan, confirm/deny this claim?

[@YamatoTre]

The restaurant has sadly since closed, I believe

[@harrymiram6621]

@@YamatoTre...Aye-yai-yai! Been closed awhile or just recently...>2019+?

[@harrymiram6621]

@@YamatoTre...Domo Arigato!

[@markalmazan7195]

Are you gonna take about your kickboxing and mma fights

[@jasonrodriguez712]

Is this is Yokozuna from WWE

[@jayanth1573]

No. This is Akebono. He was a “Yokozuna” in sumo wrestling (the highest rank). The Yokozuna in WWE never competed in sumo, he just called himself Yokozuna.

[@nabilanaim5173]

Yokozuna is like Grand Champion of Sumo in Japan. Akebono is the first foreign-born Yokozuna. He's like the 10th Yokozuna with most wins in history.

[@briankady1456]

Akebono did have one match in WWE, WrestleMania XX against Big Show. It was a scripted sumo match. The other "Yokozuna" was Rodney Anoia, who is a member of the famous Samoan wrestling family that included Rikishi (Fatu), Samu, the Rock, High Chief Peter Maiavia...