Takanohana Reflects on Intense Training Sessions and Post-Retirement Bond with Akebono

“Sweat comes out of your eyes when you practice,” said Akebono.

Akebono Taro, who became the first foreign-born yokozuna in the history of sumo wrestling, passed away earlier this month due to heart failure, and his funeral was held on the 14th. He was only 54 years old.

Born in Oahu, Hawaii, Akebono came to Japan at the age of 18 to support his family. He joined the Azumazeki stable under the former ozeki Takamisugi in 1988. He was part of a group known as the “Hana no Roku-San Kumiai (Debuting in the March 1988 tournament)” along with Wakanohana brothers and Asashiyama Oyakata (former ozeki, Kyohei).

He played a significant role in the unprecedented sumo boom in Japan, utilizing his towering height of over 2 meters and a weight of up to 233kg to overpower Japanese wrestlers with his dominant train track style from the tachiai, leaving a strong impression on sumo fans. A sports journalist at the time revealed:

“During his active career, while watching the reporters flocking to the Wakanohana brothers, I joked, ‘I guess all sumo reporters are just supporters of ‘Wakanohana,’ right?’ However, Akebono, in a way, understood his position and played the role of a ‘heel.’ Among his peers, only Takanohana considered Akebono as ‘exceptional’ and was always conscious of him. The two, who both became yokozuna, were bound by a strong friendship that surpassed mere rivalry. After Akebono’s retirement, they became true comrades who could have honest conversations.”

Before becoming sekitori (professional sumo wrestlers), the two were known to engage in legendary intense training sessions. The journalist continued,

“Akebono visited the Fujishima stable where Takanohana belonged for keiko (training). The two engaged in a duel-like training session for over an hour. It was unbelievably intense, with both ending up covered in blood. Even their stablemaster, Takanoohana (former ozeki, Takanohana’s father), couldn’t bear it and had to intervene. No wrestlers today, nor could they back then, engage in or endure the kind of training those two did.”

Even during the nationwide jungyo tours after the tournaments, the two continued to push each other. The summer tours, which included Tohoku and Hokkaido, were particularly challenging for the wrestlers due to the heat. A journalist who covered the tours revealed,

“Akebono and Takanohana trained before the group practice sessions in the indoor training hall. On one occasion, they were teaching the training to Asahiyama-oyakata (former ozeki, Kyohei), who was still an active wrestler. I couldn’t enter the training hall, but I couldn’t hear any voices other than the sound of their bodies colliding. It was an incredible scene.”

Foreign-born wrestlers always struggle with the unique sumo training regimen. Akebono, however, was different. He endured the rigorous training at the Azumazeki stable. One of the famous quotes he left from his active days was:

“Sweat pouring from the eyes is true training.”

In other words, enduring such hardships to the point of tears was what true training meant to him, driven by his desire to not lose to anyone. Takanohana once described Akebono during his active career,

“He was like a huge, unyielding rock. Tough and massive. Yet his muscles were supple, and he had a flexible body.”