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Sentoryu, First U.S. Mainland-Born Sekitori, Dies at 56

He had struggled with a lung disease in recent years.

Overview

  • He died on January 29 at a hospital in Tokyo, with the death confirmed in reports citing associates on January 30.
  • His real name was Henry Armstrong Miller, a St. Louis native who entered professional sumo from Tomozuna stable in 1988.
  • He rose to jūryō in 1994 as the first sekitori from the U.S. mainland and reached the top division in 2000, peaking at West Maegashira 12.
  • He retired after the 2003 Kyushu tournament and later pursued a career in mixed martial arts.
  • Asakayama stablemaster, the former ozeki Kaio, mourned him and recalled their close training relationship.