Hawaii-Born Sumo Champion Akebono Dies in Japan

Hawaiian-born Akebono, Japan's top Sumo wrestler, takes part in a ceremony in the ring prior to competition in Vancouver, Canada, on June 6, 1998. Chuck Stoody/The Canadian Press via AP

TOKYO—Hawaii-born Akebono, one of the greats of sumo wrestling and a former grand champion, has died. He was 54.

Akebono was the first foreign-born wrestler to reach the level of “yokozuna”—or grand champion—in Japan.