In Memoriam] “Crying over crotch splitting…” Former Yokozuna Akebono’s passing reminds us of the “structure of bullying in the sumo world,” as he had revealed.

Akebono Taro, who became the first foreign-born yokozuna in history, has passed away at the age of 54.

He made his debut in the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in 1988. He gained popularity through his rivalry with fellow debutants Takanohana and Wakanohana, which led to the era where the price for a four-person masuseki (box seat) exceeded 400,000 yen.

He was one of the key figures who ignited the sumo boom, becoming the 64th yokozuna.

He had a lifetime record of 21 wins and 21 losses against Takanohana, and 18 wins and 17 losses against Wakanohana, making their rivalry evenly matched. Their fierce battles are still talked about to this day.

He won a total of 11 championships. He was known to have played basketball at a university in Hawaii, but he clashed with the coach and dropped out after three months. His large physique was recognized by the former komusubi Takamiyama, now the stablemaster Tokitsukaze, who scouted him.

He reached the rank of yokozuna in 1993 and retired in 2001. After retiring, he remained in the Japan Sumo Association as a stablemaster, but in November 2003, he retired from the association and entered the world of martial arts.

There was a time when he, who had become a professional wrestler, was asked about the bullying issues among his disciples, which had become a major problem in the sumo association at the time. Akebono said,

“When I was a wrestler, I couldn’t do the splits properly, so while practicing with my legs spread out next to the ring, other wrestlers would come and sit on me one after another. It was so painful that tears would come out. But I was told that if I couldn’t do it, I would get injured, so I did it while crying.”

He said.