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Akebono's Real Name: Chad Rowan
history
Akebono (曙太郎) 本名: Chad Rowan (チャド・ローウェン)
Answer: Akebono's real name is Chad Rowan. Born in Hawaii, he became sumo's first foreign-born yokozuna in 1993.
Chadwick Ha'aheo Rowan was born on May 8, 1969, in Waimānalo, Hawaii. He joined Azumazeki stable, run by Hawaiian-born former wrestler Takamiyama, in 1988. His shikona, 曙 (Akebono), means "dawn."
Standing about 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in), he rose fast. In January 1993 he was promoted to yokozuna, sumo's highest rank, the first wrestler born outside Japan to reach it. He won 11 top-division championships, and his rivalry with the brothers Takanohana and Wakanohana drove a sumo boom in the 1990s. He became a Japanese citizen in 1996, taking the legal name 曙太郎.
After retiring in 2001, he fought in K-1 kickboxing and pro wrestling. He died on April 6, 2024; his death was widely reported by AP, NHK and others.
FAQ
Was Akebono the first foreign-born yokozuna? Yes. He was promoted in January 1993.
What does Akebono mean? 曙 means "dawn."