Akebono was raised in Hawaii and became the first foreign-born sumo star to reach the level of "yokozuna," or grand champion Charlotte Phillipp is a Weekend Writer-Reporter at PEOPLE. She has been ...

Akebono's vaunted strength and his behavior at the top of the world of sumo made even the most seasoned ... leaving no grand champion in the sport. It was the same time when Takanohana was ...

Akebono became the first non-Japanese-born wrestler to ever reach the grand champion status of Yokozuna, the highest rank in sumo. The world is mourning the loss of Akebono Taro, one of Hawaii’s ...

In 2008, seven years after retiring from sumo, he returned to the islands to promote a worldwide wrestling event and said his ...