Akebono Tarō

Akebono Tarō was an American-born Japanese professional sumo wrestler and professional wrestler from Waimānalo, Hawaii. Joining sumo in Japan in 1988, he was trained by pioneering Hawaiian wrestler Takamiyama and rose swiftly up the rankings, reaching the top division in 1990. After two consecutive yusho or tournament championships in November 1992 and January 1993 he made history by becoming the first non-Japanese-born wrestler ever to reach yokozuna, the highest rank in sumo.

8 May 1969

Born on the same birth day (8 May): Adriaan Pelt • Barbara Howard (athlete) • Bobby Labonte • Edmund Wilson • Fernandel • Galen Rupp • Giovanni Battista Gaulli • H. Robert Horvitz • Heather Harper • Jean Giraud • Joe Bonamassa • John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan • Kemba Walker • Mary Lou Williams • Mladen Markač • Pedro Lascuráin • Sid James • Stephen Furst • William Henry Vanderbilt

Born in the same month (May 1969): Anne Heche • Eagle-Eye Cherry • Jacob Rees-Mogg • Karen Bernstein • Kim Fields • Michael Kelly (actor) • Naomi Kawase • Ryuhei Kitamura • Sabine Schmitz