A 28-year-old sumo wrestler from the sport’s fourth-tier sandanme division died early Wednesday morning due to multiple organ failure caused by the new coronavirus, the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) announced.
Shobushi, whose real name is Kiyotaka Suetake, is the first person in their 20s to die from the virus in Japan.
“I can only imagine how hard it must have been, battling illness for over a month, but like a wrestler he endured it bravely and fought the disease until the end,” JSA Chairman Hakkaku said.
“I just want him to rest peacefully now.”
Last month, the JSA announced the Takadagawa stablemaster and five of the stable’s wrestlers, including second-tier rikishi Hakuyozan, had contracted COVID-19.
BREAKING!
28 year old Shobushi from Takadagawa Stable has died of multiple organ failure after becoming infected with the coronavirus. #sumo #相撲 pic.twitter.com/XYvjQvyyd9
— Inside Sport Japan (@InsideSportJP) May 13, 2020