Tadao Yasuda, a Japanese rikishi and professional wrestler who competed in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, died on February 8, 2026, at age 62.
Born in Tokyo on October 9, 1963, he made his professional sumo debut in 1979 under the shikona Takanofuji Tadao and reached the rank of komusubi. After retiring from sumo in 1992, he turned to professional wrestling and competed from 1994 to 2011, becoming a one-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion in NJPW.
He also fought in mixed martial arts from 2001 to 2003 and recorded a notable win over Jérôme Le Banner.
Tadao Yasuda (安田 忠夫, Yasuda Tadao; October 9, 1963 – February 8, 2026) was a Japanese sumo wrestler (rikishi), professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Known as the “Debt King”, he competed in sumo from 1979 to 1992 under the shikona of Takanofuji Tadao (孝乃富士 忠雄), achieving the rank of komusubi. After his retirement from sumo, he turned to professional wrestling, in which he competed from 1994 to 2011, most notably in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he was a one-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion. He also fought in mixed martial arts from 2001 to 2003, holding a notable win over Jérôme Le Banner.