Sumo: Ex-heavyweight wrestler Toyonoumi dies of illness at age 56

Kyodo -- Nov 22

Toyonoumi, who was one of the heaviest sumo wrestlers of all time, died due to an illness on Saturday, the Japan Sumo Association said. He was 56.

The Fukuoka Prefecture native, whose real name was Shinji Hamada, weighed over 200 kilograms and fought in 30 tournaments in the top makuuchi division before retiring in spring 1999. His highest rank was maegashira.