Akebono Taro
| Akebono Tarō | |
|---|---|
| 曙太郎 | |
 |
|
| Personal information | |
| Born | Chadwick Haheo Rowan 8 May 1969 Waimānalo, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Height | 203 cm (6 ft 8 in) |
| Weight | 250 kg (550 lb; 39 st 5 lb) |
| Web presence | website |
| Career | |
| Stable | Azumazeki |
| Record | 654-232-181 |
| Debut | March 1988 |
| Highest rank | Yokozuna (27 January 1993) |
| Retired | January 2001 |
| Championships | 11 (Makuuchi) |
| Special Prizes | Outstanding Performance (4) Fighting Spirit (2) |
| Gold Stars | 4 Asahifuji (2) Ōnokuni Hokutoumi |
| * Up to date as of August 2007. | |
| Akebono | |
|---|---|
| Born | Chad Rowan May 8, 1969 Waimānalo, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Other names | Akebono |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Height | 6 ft 8 in (203 cm) |
| Weight | 514 lb (233 kg; 36 st 10 lb) |
| Division | Super heavyweight |
| Style | Sumo |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Tokyo, Japan |
| Team | Team Yokozuna |
| Rank | Yokozuna in sumo |
| Years active | 3 (2003–2006) |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 10 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Losses | 9 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 4 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Losses | 4 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Draws | 0 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Akebono Tarō (曙 太郎 Akebono Tarō?, born 8 May 1969 as Chadwick Haheo Rowan) is an American-born Japanese professional wrestler and former sumo wrestler from Waimānalo, Hawaii. 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 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 is now 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.
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