Although most people don’t know much about Sumo wrestling, they might have heard about Akebono Taro at one point in time.
Such is the fame and popularity of the 11 time Sumo champion that Taro got many people interested in the relatively unknown sport for a brief period of time.
However, the Hawaii native is not just known for his exploits in Sumo but also for his participation in various combat sports like professional wrestling, kickboxing, MMA.
Hence, we here at Playersboi have written this article where we are going to tell you about Akebono’s entire life events from his childhood to his retirement days.
Besides, there are also details on Taro’s net worth, salary, family, wife, kids, age, height, record, and social media.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Chadwick Haheo Rowan aka Akebono Taro |
| Birth Date | May 8, 1969 |
| Birth Place | Waimanalo, Hawaii, U.S.A |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
| Nick Name | Bono-Kun
Bono Tiger Monster Bono Great Bonosuke |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Nationality | American-Japanese |
| Ethnicity | Asian |
| Father’s Name | Randolph Rowan |
| Mother’s Name | Janice Rowan |
| Siblings | Yes (2 brothers) |
| Education | Kaise High School
Hawaii Pacific University |
| Age | 53 years old |
| Height | 203 cm (6 ft 8 in) |
| Weight | 514 lb (233 kg) |
| Body Build | Athletic |
| Hair Colour | Unknown |
| Eye Colour | Unknown |
| Martial Status | Married |
| Wife | Christiane Reiko Kalina |
| Children | Yes (3) |
| Profession | Sumo Wrestler
Mixed Martial Artist KickBoxer Professional Wrestler |
| Championships (Sumo) | 11 |
| Records | 654-232-181 |
| Active-Years | 1988-2001 |
| Net Worth | $1.5 Million |
| Salary | $80,000 |
| Social Media | WWE Instagram |
| Merch | T-shirt |
| Last Update | July, 2022 |
Akebono Taro: Childhood and Family
On May 8, 1969, in Waimanalo, Hawaii, Chadwick Haheo Rowan, also known as Akebono Taro, was born to parents Randolph Rowan and Janice Rowan.
Akebono’s passion in sumo wrestling can be explained by the fact that Taro’s father is also of Japanese heritage.
Along with his two younger brothers, Ola Taro and an unidentified brother, Bono-chan also grew up with them. Oddly enough, Ola followed in his brother’s footsteps and briefly competed as a sumo wrestler.
Regarding his education, Akebono additionally attended Kaise High School. In addition, Taro was among the top basketball players in high school. He even attained the status of All-Star center.
The 6’8″ former wrestlers then received their degrees from Hawaii Pacific University. Even more astonishing is the fact that Taro’s exceptional basketball skills led to the offer of a full scholarship.
Career of Akebono Taro
Sumo wrestling is naturally the first thing that springs to mind when we discuss Akebono. Taro dominated the sumo scene in the 1990s because at that time, he was practically untouchable.
Akebono Taro really won 11 championships while competing at the Yokozuna rank, the highest rank in sumo wrestling. However, Takanohana, Akebono’s longtime nemesis, should also receive some of the credit for Akebono’s renown and popularity during his Sumo career.
To further explain, the audience was mesmerized by the two’s amazing battles. As a result, both wrestlers benefited from the widespread attention that their matches attracted.
Taro created history by becoming the first wrestler from a country other than Japan to achieve the Yokozuna rank, among other things. As it turned out, he not only took part in the Yokozuna rank but also co-dominated it with his competitor.
Kickboxing and the WWE
Following his 2001 retirement from Sumo wrestling, Akebono experimented with a number of different combat sports. He was unable to duplicate his Sumo form, though.
But the native of Hawaii competed in well-known leagues like K-1, Rizin Fighting Federation, NJPW, and AJPW, to name a few. But his most well-known performance was made in 2005, when he joined WWE.
To clarify, Taro engaged in conflict with The Big Show, a legendary wrestler. Additionally, it all began on March 31, 2005, when Akebono accepted Big Show’s challenge to a Sumo match.
The 6 foot 8 monsters’ victory against Big Show by throwing him out of the ring at WrestleMania 21 marked the culmination of everything.
The age of Akebono Taro Size and Weight
Akebono was born in 1969, making him 52 years old as of right now. Similarly, the native of Hawaii was born on May 8th.
As a result, according to his horoscope, he is under the sign of Taurus. Similarly, Taureans are frequently obstinate, artistic, and opulent, all of which are admirable traits.
Also Read Joe Kovacs Career
Taro is a gigantic 514 pounds (233 kg) and towers over everyone at 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m). Due to his enormous bulk, the Hawaii native dominated the Sumo game in the 1990s.
In actuality, the great Akebono was the greatest Sumo wrestler ever.
Akebono was additionally born in Waimanalo, Hawaii. He is therefore an American in terms of nationality. The Bono-Kun did, however, get Japanese citizenship in 1996.
Record
Regarding his accomplishments in sumo wrestling, Taro amazingly competed in more than 1000 battles. Incredibly, Taro triumphed in 654 of those battles while losing 232 of them and drawing 181 others.
Akebono Taro’s earnings & net worth
As of 2020, Akebono’s net worth was $1.5 million, the most of which came from his sumo and professional wrestling endeavors in the 1990s and early 2000s. The Hawaii native also spent 13 years competing professionally in combat sports.
Furthermore, Akebono used to receive an annual salary of $80,000 during his time as a Yokozuna in sumo.
Similar to today, Bono-Kun earned $80,000 in 1993 after winning a prestigious sumo match. Taro’s biggest payout, meanwhile, came when he signed on with the WWE in 2005.
Numerous accounts claim that Bono-Chan was earning hundreds of thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, the contract’s precise details are still a secret.
Akebono Taro: Spouse & Children
Speaking about his marriage to Christiane Reiko Kalina, Akebono is content in his union. In September 1998, the couple also exchanged vows. Christiane also has American and Japanese ancestry and is a teacher.
A daughter and two sons are among the other three children the couple has been blessed with. Unfortunately, not much is known about the three children.
Therefore, it appears that the former Sumo champion wants to keep his children out of the spotlight, which we completely understand.
However, Taro once had a romantic relationship with Yu Aihara, a former television personality. The couple also exchanged vows in 1996 at a spectacular ceremony in front of a large number of well-known celebrities.
A year later, though, the two decided to call off their wedding because of personal issues.
However, that should be ignored because it is the past. The wrestler currently enjoys a happy home life with his wife and three children, all of whom he adores.
Social Media Presence
WWE Instagram: 20.9 million followers
Some FAQs
What happened to Akebono?
Akenbo suffered from acute heart failure in 2017 which placed him in the coma. However, he is slowly recovering from his health problem.
What are the Popular Tvs Shows of Akebono?
Some popular TV shows of Akebono are Sumō Neko, Ikkyu San.