Akebono, a U.S.-born sumo wrestler who became the first non-Japanese grand champion, or “yokozuna,” has died of heart failure, U.S. Forces Japan announced today.

Winner of 11 championships – the 10th most in modern sumo history – Akebono was physically imposing at 2.03 meters tall and 233 kilograms. His wrestling style relied on his massive size which he used to throw his opponents out of the ring.

Born in Hawaii as Chad George Haahio Rowan, Akebono was a college basketball player and was recruited by the head of a Japanese sumo “stable”, who was also Hawaiian.

He entered the world of sumo in 1988 and rose to the top level of yokozuna in January 1993, becoming the 64th yokozuna of modern sumo. He later became a Japanese citizen and took the name Taro Akebono.

As an outsider, Akebono followed in the footsteps of even greater wrestler Konishiki, who was also from Hawaii, and was alongside fellow yokozuna Musashimaru, who hailed from American Samoa.

“During his 35 years in Japan, Akebono strengthened the cultural ties between the United States and his adopted homeland by uniting us all through sports,” US Ambassador Rahm Emanuel said in a post on social media X.

Akebono also appeared regularly as a celebrity on Japanese television and after retiring from sumo in 2001, appeared in various mixed martial arts and professional wrestling events.

“Rest in peace Mighty Akebono,” Samoa Joe, the current American AEW pro wrestling world champion, wrote in a post. “You were the epitome of a Yokozuna, both a warrior and a gentleman. A hui hui (in the return)”.

Akebono is survived by his wife, a daughter and two sons.