Akebono's wife confirmed in March 2018 that her husband had suffered acute heart failure in the incident and was in a medically induced coma for two weeks. He lost nearly 130 pounds, much of it in muscle, and could not walk as of March 2018, requiring the use of a wheelchair. He was to begin intensive physical therapy. News regarding Akebono's health has been scarce. A news article from 2 January 2019 stated that he had lost use of his legs and suffers from partial memory loss. He was unable to remember his pro-wrestling days (after retirement from Sumo) and was for a short period unable to speak without the aid of his wife.