Movie Image

Tarô Akebono

Akebono

Bono-chan

Bono-kun

Bono Tiger

Great Bonosuke

Monster Bono

Akebono Tarō, Acting

Oahu, Hawaii, USA | 1969-05-08 | 2024-04-10

Akebono Tarō (May 8, 1969 – April 10, 2024) was an American-born Japanese professional sumo wrestler and professional wrestler from Waimānalo, Hawaii. Joining sumo in Japan in 1988, he was trained by pioneering Hawaiian 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.