Akebono biography
Akebono, authentic title Chadwick Haheo Rowan, additionally known as (from 1996) Akebono Tarō, (born May 8, 1969, Waimanalo, Hawaii, U.S.), American-born Japanese sumo wrestler, who, in January 1993, grew to become the primary non-Japanese individual to be elevated to yokozuna (grand champion) standing, the best rank in skilled sumo.
Rowan grew up on the island of Oahu in Hawaii and entered school there on a basketball scholarship. In lower than a yr he had dropped out of college as a result of he had arguments together with his coach and located his lessons boring. Setting apart a pure curiosity in language and tradition, he took his father’s recommendation and in 1988 agreed to fulfill fellow Hawaiian Jesse Kuhaulua, who had turn out to be a sumo stablemaster in Japan. Before retiring from sumo competitors in 1984, Kuhaulua (below the title Takamiyama) had set a collection of just about unbeatable data as an ozeki (junior champion), the second-highest sumo rank. He persuaded Rowan to affix his secure.
During his first six months in Japan, Rowan was so homesick that he cried virtually each evening, and his Japanese was so poor that he couldn't combine simply together with his stablemates. However, throughout apply Rowan confirmed wonderful energy however had issue sustaining his stability due to his towering peak (6 toes 8 inches [204 cm]) and massive weight (roughly 500 kilos [about 225 kg]). With persistence he regularly developed the strategies and abilities required for his skilled debut in March 1988, taking the title Akebono (“Dawn”). He breezed by way of sumo’s decrease ranks and junior division, setting efficiency data alongside the way in which. At first, after he had been promoted to the senior division (makuuchi) in 1990, successes had been blended with challenges: he had a mediocre match document in 1991, his first full yr at that degree.
Akebono’s fortunes circled dramatically in 1992. In May he received his first match championship, and he was elevated to ozeki rank. He received once more within the November match and adopted it with a second consecutive championship on the January 1993 match. Following that victory, he was promoted to yokozuna, a feat nobody earlier than him had achieved in simply 30 competitions.
Akebono received 4 of his subsequent eight tournaments in 1993–94 and completed with glorious data within the different 4. By mid-1994, nevertheless, accidents had begun to plague him, and he was compelled to overlook an growing variety of tournaments. Despite these setbacks, he saved returning to the dohyō (sumo ring), and by the point he retired in 2001 he had received 11 championships and had amassed a extremely respectable whole of 566 victories towards 198 losses on the makuuchi degree—together with a 432–122 document as a yokozuna. In addition, Akebono was awarded 4 Outstanding Performance and two Fighting Spirit prizes, and though he didn't seize an elusive zenshō-yūshō (an ideal document of 15 victories in a single match), he did obtain a 14–1 mark on 4 events.
Fame didn't considerably alter Akebono’s way of life. He continued to love in style and classical music, watch samurai films, and draw back from crowds each time potential. He knew, nevertheless, that he needed to preserve the dignity and decorum anticipated of a yokozuna. Akebono nonetheless expressed delight in being an American, however he grew to become more and more drawn to his adopted nation; in 1996 he grew to become a Japanese citizen, formally altering his title to Akebono Tarō. Following his retirement, he remained as a coach for 2 years in his former secure earlier than starting to take part in skilled kickboxing and blended martial arts competitions. He additionally labored at instances as knowledgeable wrestler.