Tadao Yasuda death: found at home in Tokyo

Tadao Yasuda, Japanese wrestler and MMA star, found dead

By Jonathan Miller • February 10, 2026

Tadao Yasuda, 62, the Japanese sumo-turned pro wrestler and MMA competitor, was found dead at his Tokyo home; NJPW called him a “formidable force.”

Tadao Yasuda, the Japanese sumo wrestler turned professional wrestler and mixed martial artist, has died aged 62. He was reportedly found dead at his home in Tokyo today. No further details about his death have been released.

Career and achievements

Yasuda spent 13 years as a sumo wrestler, beginning the sport while still at junior high school. After retiring from sumo, he joined New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) in 1993 and made his in-ring debut against Hiroshi Hase the following year. During the 1990s he was a frequent undercard competitor on NJPW cards.

In 2000 Yasuda was sent to the United States to train in mixed martial arts, a move reported by Slam Wrestling. He won his debut bout in PRIDE Fighting Championships, which helped spark a renewed push on his return to NJPW. He reached the semifinals of the G1 Climax in 2001, and his most notable MMA victory came that New Year’s Eve, when he defeated Jerome Le Banner.

In April 2002 Yasuda won the vacant IWGP Heavyweight Championship by defeating Yuji Nagata, a reign that lasted 48 days. He later led the Makai Club stable and remained a prominent physical presence in the ring. His recorded MMA record finished at 2–4, with his final fight taking place in 2003. Yasuda retired from professional wrestling in 2011 and had reportedly been working for a security company prior to his passing.

Tributes and reaction

New Japan Pro-Wrestling remembered Yasuda as a “formidable force” in the industry. “The thoughts and deepest sympathies of all at New Japan Pro-Wrestling go to Yasuda’s family, friends and fans,” the promotion said in a statement.

Reports say tributes have begun to pour in following news of his death, reflecting his long and varied career across sumo, professional wrestling and mixed martial arts.