Rambling Rican

Secret project of Inui lately ©Masato Inui

It's been a while since the airing of Sasuke 28 in Japan, however that doesn't mean that there is no more Sasuke news. Sasuke Director Masato Inui posted this gem of a snapshot on his twitter page the other day. It shows Sasuke All-Star (Mr. Sasuke) Katsumi Yamada山田勝己 seemingly doing a speech during that (horrid) celebrity room during Sasuke Rising's Japan airing. Seems Inui is editing something together that's coming up soon™. I asked him what and when (and so did everyone else LOL) and it seems it's coming up but no date has been set for airing. You know if I find out I'll let you know! We are still awaiting confirmation (and subsequent announcement) of a new Sasuke 29 that is being discussed, however in the meantime..

Shin Sedai (新世代) literally "New Generation"
(some call them the "New Stars" deriving from the Allstars)

Ryo Matachi (Cliffer #2) 又地諒, Hitoshi Kanno菅野仁志 Kouji Hashimoto橋本亘司 and 2-Time Grand Champion Yuuji Urushihara漆原裕治 (Cliffer #3) ©Hitoshi Kanno

While we are on hiatus it's fun to catch up with the world of the Sasuke competitors! During the same week of the Katsumi photo we had a few twitter conversations and photos of a get together with the New Generation. Inui posted another variation of that photo that is featured above. (I liked Kanno's version better :p although Ryo has a great one too! ) Anyway it seems that Inui met with them for something they were taping for TBS. Possibly tied to the Katsumi screenshot? Who knows at this point. What I DO like .. is that it seems Kouji is being featured along with the rest of the New Generation that he was originally a part of. Hopefully he's no longer demoted! Only time will tell. As far as I'm concerned he is still part of that group! Oh and as far as location that is the same one that Ryo posted back in December when he built the Crazy Cliffhangerクレイジークリフハンガー and tested it out on video.

New Generation star Kazuma Asa朝一眞 (in blue - bottom row center) meeting up with Sasuke fans ©aokinagano

In the absence of Asa on twitter, I was happy to see a picture of him meeting up with Sasuke fans. Long-time Sasuke Fan aokinagano whom I follow on twitter posted this photo of him meeting Asa along with a few other fans. It's nice to see get a together like this! I hope that's a trend for the future.

New baby Nagano! ©Asami Nagano

Meanwhile I can't believe I didn't mention this earlier.. We are getting a new addition to the Sasuke All-Star Family! Sasuke Legend Makoto Nagano長野誠 's wife Asami 阿紗美 posted on her Facebook back in January that she is expecting another child! As you know the couple have a 3 year old son named Kaiou 塊王. We don't know the sex of the child yet (at least it hasn't been posted) although we have a preliminary due date of July 6, 2013! Prayers for a safe term and delivery! We are anxious to meet the new chibi-Nagano! ( ^ . ^ )

Shingo's wife Eiko 英子, Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟, Makoto Nagano長野誠 (center) and Asami 阿紗美 (far right) along with friends at a Miyazaki City restaurant sending Shingo and Eiko back to Tokyo ©Shingo Yamamoto

Meanwhile I decided to dedicate this last section to Sasuke All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟 and his prolific use of Facebook.. LOL Okay.. long story short is that he posts a LOT of photos. What's funny is that I'm not even a fan of Facebook, nor do I have an account.. however I'm very happy for the Sasuke community for keeping me apprised of all things Sasuke including Shingo's ever growing library of photos! Since Shingo's retirement from the gasoline industry back in November (or was it October?) he's been doing traveling (something he never had a chance to do with the long hours at the gas stations he ran). During the past couple of months he's visited many other Sasuke competitors including the Nagano's in Miyazaki Prefecture. So by this point we knew Asami was pregnant so what do they do in their spare time with pregnant wife and toddler in tow? Why.. race boats through a steep canyon of course! LOL Of course Shingo's lack of coordination almost mowed down a family of ducks and almost rammed into a rock-face.. and another boat... but hey it's all in fun!

Shingo's New Gym! ©Shingo Yamamoto

Oh yeah.. before I forget. The big question of what will Shingo do now that he's retired at the ripe age of 38? Why open a gym of course! Shingo announced his project of opening a gym in Tokyo (I think it's in Tokyo.. have to confirm that at a later date). Above is the concept photo of the whole thing while another concept picture of what it will look like inside. Projected completion of the project is sometime between August-October, 2013. I'm so happy for him! Looking forward to more updates on that brand new venture!

Sasuke All-Stars Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟 and Toshihiro Takeda竹田敏浩 ©Toshihiro Takeda

Yeah.. okay.. uhm.. remember that Shingo is prolific with Facebook? Seems Takeda is getting into the action lately (his account is only a couple months old). Well.. difficult to explain but seems they have waaaaaaaaaay too much fun when they get together judging by the latest photos (and comments of other .. er.. photos).. seems Takeda is into posting NSFW photos of himself on Facebook.. okay.. just one.. but nekkid is still nekkid. Either way the tame one is above of Shingo and Takeda chilling at an onsen just last week in Gifu Prefecture. Shingo posted a few of his own.. oh you just have to see it later.. I'm not posting them here. If you are interested in keeping up with the ever changing world of the All-stars the links to the Facebook pages are on each of the copyrights.

Tomohiro Kawaguchi川口朋広, Masashi Hioki日置将士, 2-Time Grand Champion Yuuji Urushihara漆原裕治 (Cliffer #3) and Sasuke All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟 ©Shingo Yamamoto

Meanwhile Shingo's tour of Sasuke across Japan continues in Chiba Prefecture as these long-time friends go golfing.. oh yeah.. Shingo is an avid golfer.. I'd say more than half of his photos involve golf in some way.. just saying... Anyway Shingo posing pics with Sasuke competitors is a constant theme. Oh yeah and for those who don't remember Masashi Hioki日置将士 we know him as the lucky bastard that got Bunpei at his wedding. And of course Kawaguchi is another STQ'er!

Sasuke All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟 and New Generation Star Hitoshi Kanno菅野仁志 ©Shingo Yamamoto

And just recently he posted this photo with Kanno. He meets up with his crew a few times during the year since they all live in neighboring prefectures. I love how fellow Final Stage competitors meet up on their own. Sasuke has really become one large family! That's why I love Sasuke!

Big news came out within the past 24 hours. As has been expected but long been in the making (Lord knows this takes a long time to organize) the long awaited expansion of Sasuke into South-East Asia has officially begun! Earlier today I saw some tweets from Sasuke Director Masato Inui posting about him finding 2 articles (here and here) about an announced new tournament.

Seems that Sasuke Malaysia's hard work behind the scenes the past couple of years has managed to actually accomplish what I thought was a pretty lofty goal.. a huge Sasuke tournament with 10 countries! Over the rest of the day more articles (mostly Japanese) popped up saying about the same thing. TBS finally put out a bilingual press release with the details from their end. The English press release is here. The Malaysian Ministry of Sports also had a press release on their website.

Quite a few things were announced. First off.. I had a history/geography lesson about the tournament name. I mistakenly called it Asian when it's actually ASEAN. ASEAN stands for Association of Southeast Asian Nations. As my history lesson (and wiki) continues, ASEAN is a geo-political and economic organization of ten countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on August, 1967. The members are Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

As far as Sasuke history is concerned, we know Malaysia has already done one major event (Sasuke Malaysia 2011) with 2 smaller events (Monsoon Cup 2011 and Hari Belia 2012). Singapore managed one event Sasuke Singapore 2012. Both countries managed competitors in Sasuke Japan (Malaysia with 1 competitor in both Sasuke 27 and Sasuke (28) Rising while Singapore debuted with 2 competitors in Sasuke Rising). What is amazing with the news is that we now have 8 more countries actively being introduced into the Sasuke family.

The formal announcement was done in huge fashion as it is a big deal done between the Malaysian Ministry of Sports, ASEAN organization, TBS and Sasuke Malaysia representatives. This event was been officially endorsed by the ASEAN Secretariat and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan as part of the celebration of the 40th year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.

According to the TBS press release, the large-scale competition is to be held at Stadium Kelana Jaya in Malaysia (at least it's the proposed site) in late November 2013. The SASUKE ASEAN OPEN CUP 2013 competition is timed to coincide with the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports also to be held in the Malaysian capital during the same period. This will mark the first time Sasuke will actually be held inside a 25,000 capacity stadium!

I'm excited about this event! Just like Ninja Warrior Europe including a bunch of countries and spreading the Sasuke gospel to a larger audience, this will be a cool addition to the Sasuke family. With strong ties to TBS and the original Sasuke Japan (which is my favorite) I'm happy to see the legacy of Sasuke continuing into the future. I hope the United States takes note and rejoins the Sasuke family by actually caring about the Japanese parent show Sasuke. One can hope with the addition of 2 huge international tournaments all tied to Sasuke, that the USA will actually rethink their strategy and current position in Sasuke history.

In the end I am happy with the expansion of Sasuke further into South East Asia and I'm really looking forward to more information, details, associated competitions, etc. as they are organized and announced. I'm sure there is a LOT of work ahead but with their passion and caring for the original Sasuke Japan firmly in their own history (unlike ANW) I'm more at ease knowing they will make us die-hard Sasuke fans proud. As I get more information I'll post as usual.

Sasuke viewing part in Ottawa, Canada ©Ted/Scott/Matt

March is a very special month here on Rambling Rican. March marks the anniversary of this blog! I can't believe it.. FIVE years have gone by since I started this blog! I would never have dreamed how much impact Sasuke would have been in my life. How many lives it has touched. How many people have come together as a result! I've met truly extraordinary people through the internet and this passion of mine: Sasuke. The above photo is very special to me. I got it last month but I didn't post about it until now (Sorry! Health was a bit wonky.. same as usual so no worries). It was from a Sasuke fan in Ottawa, Canada. What I find amazing about this picture is that so many people are there in the photo! It was a fan get-together so they can watch their copy of Sasuke Rising!

Here's the back story. One of the guys found SASUKE years ago with his dad and spread the ~~gospel~~.. er.. love of Sasuke with his friends. Every year since a huge gang of people get together, and everyone cooks Asian or Asian-inspired dishes for a big potluck while they watch Sasuke on the big screen; everything from fried rice to garlic bok choy, spring rolls to pad thai! Then they all watch the broadcast while they drink Sapporo and Hakutsuru - it's a blast! The first broadcast they watched was SASUKE 23 ... and there were just three of them on the couch for five hours. This year, they got 17 people out - and it keeps getting bigger! Everyone is itching for SASUKE 29...

Now the funny part.. I.. didn't.. read.. the.. sign.. LOL!!!!!!!! I just assumed it was Sasuke viewing in Ottawa.. I've been told before they were getting together in January to do this and so when I got the mail I was going "aww that's cute!".. I mean.. I read the middle.. Sasuke.. I even read the last line.. from Ottawa.. but I DIDN'T read the TOP LINE.. LMFAO... I'm such an idiot.. Now the "Hi Arsenette" sign is almost a Sasuke meme.. First used by Matt Iseman then onwards to fans on vacation in Japan. Each time I was rendered speechless! Still though, I was floored.. again.. After I composed myself from the embarrassment of not noticing my own name and the endless teasing from my husband reminding me how much of a flake I've become.. I was in tears. THIS is what Sasuke Fandom is. Sharing a niche passion with each other! They look like they are having a blast! And I couldn't believe they took the time to say hi to me.. from 450+ miles away! As the sender said.. the power of social media is amazing. This long-time Rambling Rican reader managed to spread his love for Sasuke to an ever growing community in a country that doesn't even HAVE Ninja Warrior. To think that I was even remotely involved in that group in another country as a result of this blog is.. amazing. 5 years ago I was searching through the net for anything about Sasuke and found bits and pieces and a fragmented community. Now.. we've come from all corners of the globe to celebrate how wonderful this show really is and stand with a united voice. I'm happy in the 5 years Rambling Rican has existed that so many fans have come to enjoy Sasuke... and spread that love into their communities to be manifested into wonderful displays of friendship.

Sasuke 29 Official Announcement!

Tonight we got confirmation for what we've been hearing brewing for the past couple of months. A new Sasuke tournament is returning! Director Masato Inui 乾雅人 is returning to direct another tournament. Returning to numbers after a break calling it Sasuke Rising, Sasuke 29 is officially slated for "Summer". At this early date we are still not sure when it will be recording in Japan. That said, it's good to confirm a few things. TBS created a page for Sasuke 29 on their website. The tournament name IS "Sasuke 29". There was quite a bit of confusion when Sasuke Rising title came out for Sasuke 28. They are not using Sasuke Rising for this but will be returning to "Sasuke". If history repeats they will just call it Sasuke 2013 in all of the saddle-cloths. TBS website officially calls it Sasuke 29 so all is good!

Yoshiyuki Okuyama奥山義行, Ryo Matachi (Cliffer #2) 又地諒, Kouji Hashimoto橋本亘司, Yuuji Urushihara漆原裕治 (Cliffer #3) and Kenji Takahashi高橋賢次 ©Kouji Hashimoto

Invites for this tourney will be different than last time. You may remember I was angry with a few notable veterans, like Finalists "Kongu" Kenji Takahashi高橋賢次 and Yoshiyuki Okuyama奥山義行 not being invited to the show in Sasuke 28. I hope that doesn't happen again. Fans like myself want to see our favorites return! No new information as to how they are going to sort this out. Once I find that part out I'll post it as well. All the current information is being updated on the TBS Page.

Sasuke Champions!

Sasuke All Star Kazuhiko Akiyama秋山和彦, 2-Time Grand Champion Yuuji Urushihara漆原裕治 (Cliffer #3) and Sasuke All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 ©Yuuji Urushihara

I also hope the Sasuke All-Stars will make a return. Even if their presence and focus of the show is different than in the past. They don't have to be the focus of the show. However, they should be invited again. Ratings showed people were angry with the forced retirement so I hope they get to decide when THEY want to leave the show. For those All-Stars who want to return (like Shingo, Takeda and Nagano who've publicly stated they want to return) I hope they are allowed to do so. Fans want to see them! Either way, details to come later on their website as to how they are going to handle the entries.

One MAJOR point of note that is both interesting and exciting. Sasuke 29 will be the Japanese Qualifier for the Sasuke ASEAN Open Cup in November in Malaysia (that's actually friggin' exciting news!!). I'm really happy they are going to be a part of this! This also elevates the competition at the Sasuke ASEAN Open Cup to have Japan in there too!!! Ooooooh if I find out more details on the other country qualifiers you better believe I'll post on it!

One final note. We know USA is not going to participate in the Sasuke ASEAN Open Cup (which celebrates South East Asia friendship with Japan). NO idea how or if Americans will participate in Sasuke 29. Given that NBC boycotted Sasuke Rising, it is entirely possible NBC is not interested in the Japanese franchise anymore now that they have ANW. For now I'm treating ANW5 as a separate event. If that information changes I'll post it, but for right now NBC has made no announcement on ever sending Americans to Japan ever again.

Edit 4/1/13 - Edited Maguro Festival participation
Edit 4/2/13 - Edited Application information for Japan Qualifiers.

Maguro Festival 2013 Poster ©ichiki-kushikino city

The 22nd Annual Maguro Festival 第22回串木野まぐろフェスティバル will take place the end of this month in Kagoshima Prefecture on Sunday April 28 and Monday April 29, 2013 in the city of Ichiki-Kushikino. This of course happens during Golden Week in Japan. This is a local Tuna event for the port city of Kushikino. It's pretty much a county fair including games for kids, music, food and other activities for the whole family.

All-StarToshihiro Takeda竹田敏浩, All-StarShingo Yamamoto山本進悟, All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 and Mister Sasuke All-StarKatsumi Yamada山田勝己 ©Konpiramal

(Photo from the 2011 Maguro Festival)

The past few years the company Nagano works for, Takasui Corp. has participated in the event (since they also use this fishing port) and they have Nagano design and build a Sasuke set where he could demonstrate his skills along with a few of his friends to the local crowd. More information can be found at the city website. No word on exactly which All-stars will be participating this year during the 2 day event. (Edit: Seems at least Shingo Yamamoto will be returning per Facebook comment)

Sasuke 29 Official Announcement!

As you know already, Sasuke 29 has been officially announced to be taking place this summer. Plans are underway (but not yet released) to have a large qualifier to participate in Sasuke 29. I managed to get some clarification on it and I received a tweet from Sasuke Director Masato Inui:

Inui Tweet
players are exempt from qualifying proven. 200 will participate in the qualifying round after the application documents

I asked if the All-Stars were going to Sasuke 29 and he mentioned he wasn't sure. Then we read from Shingo Yamamoto's Facebook page that he was training hard for Sasuke qualifications (So was Takeda) and so I asked if any of the New Generation Stars (Yuuji, Ryo, Kanno and Asa) would be forced to re-qualify and he said no (with the tweet above). That's good! I'm happy they are rewarding their great showing in Sasuke Rising. Currently, it is unknown if the qualifier will be in the same style as the Sasuke 13 Trials that was previously televised on TBS back in 2003. I asked if this will be televised but as of now we don't know. Also, as was announced earlier, Sasuke 29 will double as a qualifier for the November inaugural Sasuke ASEAN Open Cup taking place in Malaysia.

Edit: Since the post yesterday the update on the trials has been done on the TBS website with more application news. Remember.. this is ONLY for Japan qualifying for Sasuke 29.

【募集条件】
中学生以上の男性（今回は女性の方の参加はご遠慮頂きます）
※18歳以下の方は保護者の承認が必要です
【選考日程】
（1）エントリー受付
2013年4月19日（金）23：59まで
下記応募フォームに必要事項を明記の上、エントリーをして下さい。
※選考の上予選会に参加して頂く方のみ、予選会の詳細についてご連絡いたします。
（2）予選会
○ 緑山スタジオ上段広場（神奈川県横浜市青葉区）
4月27日（土）、28日（日）予定

Application closes in a couple short weeks: April 19, 2013. The qualifiers are going to be held at Midoriyama Studios (where they tape Sasuke) on April 27 and April 28, 2013. Women are asked not to apply.. Anyone under the age of 18 now needs a guardian. The only problem I see is the first post above.. That's the SAME WEEKEND AS MAGURO FESTIVAL... Stay tuned.

After the inexplicable absence of American Ninja Warrior from Sasuke Rising (Sasuke 28) that taped in November and aired in December, 2012 on TBS Japan we still don't know if the Japanese "Ninja Warrior" will ever return to the States. That said ANW5 is well underway. Matt Iseman tweeted the dates for the 4 Regional Tryouts. Venice Beach (California) April 5-6, 2013. Baltimore, Maryland April 19-20, 2013. Miami, Florida May 4-5, 2013. Denver, Colorado May 19-20, 2013. The finals are still in Las Vegas, Nevada June 10-17, 2013. All of this airs on NBC and the new Esquire TV channel at a later date during the summer.

All-StarShingo Yamamoto山本進悟

As I mentioned before, the Trials for Sasuke 29 in Japan were this weekend! At the site of the original Sasuke (Midoriyama Studios) there was a 2 day qualifying event (Saturday, April 27 and Sunday April 28) comprised of Interview and running of a course. There were 200 people chosen to be part of this event (out of at least a couple thousand as it usually is with every application process). They were blessed with gorgeous weather!

The course itself was a modified first stage you would see in Sasuke. I appreciated that they finally had a real event. It's been a few years since they have done something like this. Heck.. the last time I saw an event like this was waaaaaaaay back in 2008. Sure we can say that the Sasuke 27 trials were like that but TBS never aired that event.. I'm still waiting to see it even though it was promised.. /cries

We won't know the results until the broadcast as all decisions are made by TBS behind closed doors. I'm not going to bother worrying about that.. however.. I WANT THIS MERCHANDISE!!!!!! Ooooh nice towel and shirt.. me wants it precious!! /cries I hate that they don't sell Sasuke merchandise outside of Japan.. They'd make a LOT of money if they allowed international shipping.

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 and All Star Kazuhiko Akiyama秋山和彦 (left) with Nagano's son Kaiou 塊王 with All-StarShingo Yamamoto山本進悟 (right)

Also this weekend is the 22nd Annual Maguro Festival 第22回串木野まぐろフェスティバル in Kagoshima, Japan (Sunday, April 28 and Monday, April 29). I was a bit upset about the timing (of trials in particular). This event is the same weekend every year for 22 years. In the past TBS has sent a television crew to Kagoshima to record the events and broadcast it on Navi. Since Rising, TBS has ignored this event. What made it worse this time around was that Trials for Sasuke 29 were the same weekend forcing the All-stars to split allegiances. Nagano couldn't go even if he wanted to (he's contractually bound to the Festival and even his PICTURE was on the official Festival Poster..). Nagano and Akiyama did NOT do trials making fans fear that they are not shut out of Sasuke 29. I hope this is NOT the case. I haven't had luck in clarifying the confusion behind this. Yamada and Takeda competed in Trials but chose to back out of the Maguro Festival (where they originally were confirmed to be participating). Shingo was the ONLY one to do both events. As you noticed in the first photo you had Shingo at Trials on Saturday. He took a flight immediately afterwards and arrived in Kagoshima the same night where Nagano and Akiyama were waiting for him (and where this dinner picture was taken). I commend Shingo for being supporting of both events. I'm still upset that TBS did not give consideration to the All-stars when it came to Trials. For many fans around the world and in Japan.. Sasuke = All-stars. TBS can hate Monster 9 all they want but if they want ratings they will need to understand that the fans don't care about internal politics. To us Sasuke is not Sasuke without the participation of the All-stars. I hope to see them in Sasuke 29 where they belong. I'll post about the festival in a few days when I get more pictures.

All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟 , All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 and All Star Kazuhiko Akiyama秋山和彦 (left) (with Nagano's son Kaiou 塊王 hidden on the right) ©Shingo Yamamoto

As is tradition here on Rambling Rican, I'm writing about the Maguro Festival again! I've mentioned I'd be doing this before and this year didn't disappoint with the amount of photos I was able to get within just a day or two! For those who aren't familiar with this at all, the 22nd Annual Maguro Festival 第22回串木野まぐろフェスティバル took place in Kagoshima Prefecture on Sunday, April 28 and Monday April 29 2013 in the city of Ichiki-Kushikino. This of course happens during Golden Week in Japan. This is a local Tuna event for the port city of Kushikino. It's pretty much a county fair including games for kids, music, food and other activities for the whole family. The past few years the company Nagano works for, Takasui Corp. has participated in the event (since they also use this fishing port) and they have Nagano design (as he's famously done in the past.. fresh from a hospital stay) and build a Sasuke set where he could demonstrate his skills along with a few of his friends to the local crowd. More information can be found at the city website.

Front entrance of the Festival ©minerallabo

The first year I knew of it's existence was during the Sasuke Mania days. My first blog on the event was part of the now defunct Sasuke Maniac episodes that ran during May, 2008. TBS ran 2 episodes on the festival alone. (Part 1 and Part 2) The following year 2009 was a lot quieter as Sasuke Maniac had gone off the air. Thanks to Ube I was able to get photos of the event. We did however get video for the first time on Youtube of their individual runs. In 2010 we had less pictures but another set of Youtube videos. In 2011 we had more photos than usual but less video. In 2012 we had more photos than usual but no video.

Sasuke Corner ©minerallabo

As you remember my rant from the past blog post, this year's event was marred by the unnecessary complication of Sasuke Trials being the same weekend. We were expecting most of the Sasuke All-stars, however thanks to TBS' screw-up the Maguro Festival roster was cut in half. This photo above mentioned the 3 expected after the dust settled. All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 (who is the host of this Sasuke event as it's course is sponsored by the company he works for), All-Star Kazuhiko Akiyama秋山和彦 and All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟. Luckily unlike last year where Shingo had to cancel last minute but after the posters were printed, they had enough time to have the correct roster for this event. Takeda and Yamada both backed out since the Trials for Sasuke were the same weekend. I've already ranted enough about TBS ignoring this event for the first time in 6 years.. but... I'll be good. For the record, never in the history of the Maguro Festival have all 6 Sasuke All-Stars been in this event in Kagoshima at the same time.

Sasuke corner ©creaddition

With the posters printed and everyone arriving just in time, that left us with 3 All-stars for this event. True to his word, Shingo took a flight immediately after Trials and arrived in Kagoshima the same night where Nagano and Akiyama were waiting for him. The following 2 days waited 4 Sasuke demonstrations. Sunday and Monday at 11 am and again at 2:30 pm at that location.

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 ©kinaco.chesuto

This year we were blessed with exorbitant amount of photos! I was so happy! Looking exhausted (at least to me) was Nagano already sporting the tan since he does live in the South (technically West Japan but it looks south to me on the map.. LOL).

All Star Kazuhiko Akiyama秋山和彦 ©kinaco.chesuto

Akiyama and his ever-changing hair showed up smiling! Glad to see Akiyama flying clear across the country (he lives way up north (or far East Japan if you want to get technical) in Hokkaidō北海道.. and the northern end to boot)

All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟 ©kinaco.chesuto

Shingo (he lives in the middle in Tokyo東京) was all smiles doing yeoman's work of doing BOTH Sasuke Trials and Maguro Festival. He gets mad respect from me! He does take great photos though.. LOL he's such a goof!

Sasuke Corner ©minerallabo

Ya'll who are totally into this sorta thing can psychoanalyze the upgraded course for this year. I'm just happy they were blessed with GORGEOUS weather this year. Last year was rainy, cold and dreary and this year was all sun and actually a touch hot.

©minerallabo

Just a reminder.. the pond that sits under the obstacles actually has live fish.. yes.. real. There is a heavily coveted lottery to get a chance to get their kid to catch one of them to take it home. I find it all cool and amusing but I'm sure PETA would have a fit if we tried something like this in our country.. ahahahhahahaha

All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟 ©creaddition

I'm not even going to try to figure out when some of these photos were taken. I am told though that the event was very well attended (again, a relief from last year) and Sasuke Corner is more popular than ever.

All Star Kazuhiko Akiyama秋山和彦 ©creaddition

Just as Nagano is famous with his black pants and black tank-top, Akiyama is just as famous for his red pants. As you can tell from the photo.. it's actually pretty hot that day with everyone trying to keep cool with sun hats and umbrellas.

Sasuke Corner ©creaddition

They love their flags don't they? LOL Anyway I see a ring.. so they have the Circle Slider (サークルスライダー) which actually is one of my favorite obstacles.

All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟 ©minerallabo

The Lamp Grasper (ランプグラスパー), known as the Globe Grasp in English broadcasts is still in Maguro Festival. Notice.. there fish under him..

All Star Kazuhiko Akiyama秋山和彦 ©minerallabo

Akiyama standing on a log/pole that will be used later for kids to play with to try to balance across the pond.

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 with his son Kaiou 塊王 ©kotetu

As a reminder, current chibi-Nagano is 3 years old! His 4th birthday is coming up quickly in June. Father and son will welcome a new sibling in July.

All Star Kazuhiko Akiyama秋山和彦 ©kotetu

Hmm so it seems Akiyama wore the red Sasuke Rising shirt on day .. 2? while he wore the black All-stars shirt for day 1.. or do I have that reversed? LOL

All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟 ©kotetu

I see Salmon Ladder (サーモンラダー) rungs while Shingo is being interviewed at the feet of the Warped Wall (actual name in Japanese Soritatsu Kabe (そり立つ壁)).

All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟 ©kotetu

Aww Shingo's body language is screaming sleep right now. He's had one loooooooong weekend. Hang in there Shingo.. almost done!

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 ©kotetu

Nagano also hoping for some sleep as well.. LOL He's been stressed out over the whole ordeal of losing half his roster at the last moment just before sending stuff to the printers.. which is an organizer's nightmare..

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 ©kotetu

Poor guy.. he really does look tired but he's still smiling through it all! Btw this looks like an awesome kids course to play around! I would have loved to have access to that growing up..

All Star Kazuhiko Akiyama秋山和彦 ©kotetu

Akiyama spending time with the kids during the end of the demonstration. Gotta train that ninja army somehow! LOL

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 ©kotetu

This part always cracks me up. As was the case in all the years Nagano is up at the top waiting to catch people and haul them up the wall. In 2011 we got a video of him just about falling down from there trying to get a kid up there.

All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟 ©kotetu

Dear Shingo.. I want your SASUKE Towel.. signed Rambling Rican. /sigh I wonder why TBS refuses to sell this overseas? Seriously.. we'd totally buy this.. in a heartbeat!

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 ©ridomikisaoooo

A great photo of the Warped Wall clears that the All-stars make happen by sheer brute force! LOL

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 ©kotetu

Remember that log? Nagano is helping out a kid balance on it to get her across the pond. Sure.. hold her hand.. yeah..

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 ©kotetu

Nagano just about taking a header.. again.. ahahahahha Man that has to be tiring to do that twice a day for 2 days. Still cool they do this though. For people like me, there's no way in hell we'd get up there on our own!

All Star Kazuhiko Akiyama秋山和彦 ©kinaco.chesuto

Aaah they have monkeybars up across the top as well. I didn't notice that until now.

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 ©kotetu

Because I can. What I find amusing is that I wasn't the one that took this picture.. but it sure would be one I would if given the chance! LOL

All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟 ©kotetu

Ooooooooooh Hello MASSIVE Farmer's tan.. Shingo is burnt! No wonder he looks tired.. he's burn to a crisp! And he's been doing timed obstacles for 3 days straight out in the sun!

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 ©kotetu

Take a drink.. Descente gear!

All Star Kazuhiko Akiyama秋山和彦 ©kotetu

Hah! They got Akiyama up there too. Good.. Nagano needed help doing that. It's not like they can enlist Shingo to do that.. he has a history of dislocations!

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 ©kotetu

Nagano muscling another kid up to the top of the Warped Wall! With a smile! That.. has to be tiring..

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 ©kotetu

Nagano taking a breather from a perched position high above the obstacle course he designed and built.

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 ©kotetu

Of note in the sea of photos.. seems Nagano upgraded (again) the course.. check which obstacle he upgraded.... Yes.. that's what you think it is.. Crazy Cliffhanger(クレイジークリフハンガー) from Sasuke Rising (or Sasuke 28).

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 with his son Kaiou 塊王 (hidden), All Star Kazuhiko Akiyama秋山和彦 and All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟 ©kotetu

LOL I love this picture of Shingo being goofy leaning over like that. Anyway, Shingo had posted on his Facebook that during Day 1 he got within 1 second of beating Nagano for fastest time on the course (they usually have time attacks). So we have confirmation of both defeating it.

All Star Kazuhiko Akiyama秋山和彦 ©kotetu

Unsure if we know about Akiyama though. He did run the course but we don't have any results during this weekend.

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 ©sokushinkai

LOL Nagano and his lack of microphone holding skills still amazes me even years later.

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 ©sokushinkai

I see Shingo behind the kid is in the water again (with the fish) while Nagano balances on the side of the tank. Looks like Akiyama is at the entrance of the pond to the right of Nagano (look for the red pants).

All Star Kazuhiko Akiyama秋山和彦 ©Makoto Nagano

Akiyama about to do the Warped Wall as a sea of people cram in tight to get a look during one of the demonstrations.

All Star Kazuhiko Akiyama秋山和彦 and All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟©Makoto Nagano

Shingo taking a moment to rest while there's much talking going on by a local personality I don't know.

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 and All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟 ©Mizuho

LOL Looks like whoever is talking it taking forever because both Shingo and Nagano (and yeah I see Akiyama's head behind Nagano) look bored (or annoyed) out of their minds. I'm happy to get at least ONE Nagano annoyed™ look.. ahahhahaha

All Star Kazuhiko Akiyama秋山和彦 ©Mizuho

Despite Nagano and Akiyama not being at trials we're told Nagano, Shingo and Takeda will be heading to Sasuke. Notably absent from that list are Yamada and Akiyama.. No idea why they will not be there. I gave up on Bunpei ever coming back to Sasuke sadly.... I hope as the taping date gets closer that TBS decides to invite them ALL back. Lord knows for many fans (not just international fans) Sasuke is not Sasuke without ALL of the All-stars.

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 with his son Kaiou 塊王, All Star Kazuhiko Akiyama秋山和彦 and All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟 ©Makoto Nagano

LOL I LOVE this picture!!!!!! Check out the posing from both Kaiou and Shingo.. ahahahah Man that boy is picking up bad habits from his adopted uncles. ( ^ . ^ )

Thanks to everyone involved for providing photos. Seems with the gorgeous weather people were able to freely take great photos and post them online for everyone to see. They seem to get better every year! If I get more I'll add another blog entry. No word yet on videos. In the meantime the next thing on the event is Sasuke 29 (sometime this summer). Followed by Sasuke ASEAN Open Cup later in the year in November!

Sasuke 29 Official Airdate!

As was noted in my previous blog about the official announcement back in March, Sasuke 29 was to air "this summer". Lost in Ube found a proposed airdate for Sasuke 29 to be Thursday, June 27th. Thanks to Ube to posted the "TV Guides" for June that indeed had the date and proposed time for Sasuke 29's airing in Japan.

(One of the television guides in Japan for the month of June, 2013) ©LostInUbe

According to the television listings for June that Ube found, The next SASUKE (tentatively titled SASUKE RISING 2013 Natsu) will air on June 27, 2013 19:00 to 21:54 JST on TBS.

"Sasuke 29"

SASUKEライジング2013夏

(Sasuke Rising 2013 Summer)
Thursday, June 27, 2013
19:00 JST(7:00 PM local time in Japan)

Station: TBS (Japan)

6:00 AM (Eastern Standard Time) (THURSDAY Morning)
3:00 AM (Pacific Standard Time) (THURSDAY Morning)

Additional time conversion

All-Star Toshihiro Takeda竹田敏浩, All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟, All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 and Mister Sasuke All-Star Katsumi Yamada山田勝己 ©Konpiramal

(Photo from the 2011 Maguro Festival)

As of now I believe only 3 of the All-stars will be returning to Sasuke this time around. Yamada (pictured above) is officially retired (again) and will not be competing in Sasuke 29. I am assuming Akiyama is as well and we haven't seen Bunpei in a few years. So for Sasuke 29 it is expected to see Takeda, Nagano and Shingo. While I'm upset I won't see all 6 compete, I am happy they are returning. The ratings for Sasuke Rising (28) the last time showed emphatically a lot of people just stopped watching the show when the All-stars were forced retired. I'm happy to see them back.

As of now actually a shorter show. Just over 2 1/2 hour broadcast range. Since the date at least was correct we can assume that the time frame is about right. We know already that the show still has to be taped then will be edited down so the exact timing won't be known for another couple of weeks when the full schedule comes out on the TBS online schedule page. In the past it has fluctuated in minutes (both starting and ending) so I won't update until the actual schedule comes out (the week of the event). We also don't know what is the date and time for Sasuke Navi (Sasuke preview show) which historically airs at least the same day if not a couple days before the tournament. We also don't know if there will be any specials before Sasuke 29's tournament airing.

Masashi Hioki日置将士, 2-Time Grand Champion Yuuji Urushihara漆原裕治 (Cliffer #3), Yuuichi Okada 岡田祐一, with a very blond Ryo Matachi 又地諒 (Cliffer #2) and Hitoshi Kanno菅野仁志 ©Hitoshi Kanno

Btw for those unfamiliar with 2 STQ'ers of those above. Hioki is the one that I said way back as the "lucky bastard that got Bunpei Shiratori to give a toast at his wedding". While the guy in the middle named Okada was the guy that had his wife wind up the home-made Rolling Escargot by tying a rope to their mini-van! If you don't know the other 3.. then you haven't watched the show! I love the photos the New Generation put out on twitter when they are being goofy!

For the international viewers it is now a foregone conclusion that Sasuke is no longer worldwide. This.. makes me furious. Since G4TV is no longer in existence, Esquire has announced only ANW (and not Ninja Warrior) will be aired on it's station when it finally debuts in the USA. Coupled with that is the fact that NBC has boycotted Sasuke 28 and now 29. Since G4TV was the station that edited and produced the Ninja Warrior format and now they are gone, it is still unclear if Sasuke will ever be sold worldwide. No one outside of Japan has seen Sasuke Rising. :( For those of us who watch this live as usual, a reminder to new viewers, TBS does not do repeats so if you plan on getting up early on Thursday morning start making your plans now since it's a weekday morning for us in the Western Hemisphere. All streaming information will always be handled by SMF and will not be posted on this site.

Sasuke Legend Makoto Nagano長野誠 with new son Taiou 太皇 ©Makoto Nagano

We welcome a new addition to the Sasuke All-Star Family! As many of you have been wondering, we've been in Nagano baby watch for a few months now. I'm very happy to say that his new son arrived! Born on Sunday, June 16, 2013. His name is Taiou (たいおう) with his name in kanji as 太皇 Which means Great Emperor. As you know the couple have a 4 year old son named Kaiou 塊王. You may recall that his brother Kaiou also has King in the name in hiragana but chose a different kanji to have more of a mystical meaning. Seems the Nagano's are into monarchies!

Proud mother Asami 阿紗美 with her new baby boy Taiou 太皇 ©Makoto Nagano

Sasuke Legend Makoto Nagano長野誠's wife Asami 阿紗美 posted on her Facebook back in January that she is expecting another child. Over the past couple of weeks there were a few health scares with the baby. Taiou came a bit premature (Due date was in July) but is a strong baby to be allowed to be outside of the incubator.

Nagano baby Taiou 太皇 ©Makoto Nagano

He weighed 2442 grams (about 5.4 lbs) and pretty tall at 45.5 centimeters (about 18 inches) which is very tall for a preemie. I'm so thankful that despite some scares that mother and son are doing just fine and are expecting a full recovery! I'm so happy that they were able to share photos so soon after the birth. Welcome Taiou to the worldwide Sasuke family!

Sasuke Legend Makoto Nagano長野誠 posing in front of the Star Line in Sasuke 29 ©Makoto Nagano

It's almost here!!!!!! As you noticed from the Sasuke 29 air-date blog that I put up for you guys, Sasuke Navi (the preview show) is in 2 days! Sasuke 29 tournament is on Thursday, June 27 which is less than 6 days from now! The times (and conversion table) are on that page. If you want to watch live with us just join SMF for more details and/or follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Sasuke All-Star Bunpei Shiratori白鳥文平 (left) (sorry, unknown person) and Sasuke Veteran Shunsuke Nagasaki長崎峻侑 ©Shunsuke Nagasaki

Ever since photos and reports of who was going to be competing in Sasuke 29 kept trickling in piece by piece, I've been getting really excited. While Bunpei has not returned to Sasuke as a competitor (I'm still sad about that).. another Sasuke Favorite from the past is! Yes.. that's Shunsuke Nagasaki all grown up on the right. Verifying again with the official TBS roster of all 100 competitors (in order with saddle cloths) he did indeed compete! I can't wait to see him again! Not since Sasuke 19 has Shun competed. Btw thanks again to Ube for doing the painstakingly hard word of translating the kanji on the names for all 100 competitors! As many know.. Kanji has multiple pronunciations and it's not even remotely easy if you are not familiar already with how people pronounce certain names (like the All-stars, New Generation and other vets we have come to recognize over the years).

All-Star Toshihiro Takeda竹田敏浩 and All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 meeting up at the airport ©Makoto Nagano

We also get 3 of 6 All-stars competing in Sasuke! While I'm not happy all 6 have not returned together (and in all honesty the chances of that happening ever again are slim to none), I AM happy that TBS listened and allowed those All-stars that wanted to return. In fact, I'm ELATED they have returned. I feared that TBS would go ahead and deny them the ability to return after their forced retirement in Sasuke 28. For ONCE I'm happy for low ratings for Sasuke. The ratings outright plummeted after the last of the All-stars competed in Stage 1 as if to say "no thank you" for their retirement. Thank you Japan viewers for saving them!

All-Star Toshihiro Takeda竹田敏浩, All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 and ... Ccccccombo breaker Hiromichi Sato佐藤弘道 ©Makoto Nagano

LOL I would have been a lot happier if it was Shingo in this picture.. but nooooooo.. it's Mr. Fake Smile himself.. gaaaaaah.. oh well I can't have everything.. it was still my confirming pic that Takeda returned! Go Team All-stars.. yeah... man he destroys the picture.. LOL In all fairness it was nice seeing him back even if it's for me to make fun of his plastic smile. It was a nice reminder that a LOT of familiar faces from the past have made a return to the tournament.

Official Sasuke 29 Commercial - Subtitled in English ©TBS

Anyway TBS released a commercial last week and was nice enough to put a nice HD version on the TBS PR Youtube page. To my surprise within the past day TBS then put an English subtitled version on their own official Sasuke Rising page! Also checking my blog I can't believe I haven't written about this website... anyway.. HERE IT IS. On there is a few interviews from Sasuke 28, including some runs not shown on the broadcast ALL subtitled in English! I'm very happy to see TBS finally realize how popular Sasuke is worldwide!

Well.. I know where Torisawa is going to eat this time time.. not that I had any real doubts.. anyway, this is the ^Long Jump ロングジャンプ

The video is quite specific. Showing the new obstacles to Sasuke and not afraid to show spoilers. Even if they are in the 3rd stage. I know reading on SMF it shocked a lot of (new) people how clear they were but honestly, that's been the same with every tournament. I honestly don't care. Go back to my previous posts on the commercials.. TBS has been consistent. How many times were we spoiled someone won or someone failed deep in the tournament before the tournament actually aired? Yeah.. see? no different. Sasuke viewing vets know that if they don't want to be spoiled.. don't watch the commercials. (or read my blog when I write about it!) LOL

This is called the ^Hedgehogヘッジホッグ

I chose to caption the TBS subtitled version so I don't get the questions of "wtf am I reading?".. now I know! Yes! Thank you TBS! I also know the names of the new obstacles thanks to an article Ube found (and translated) for us.

The Hedgehog midway through construction

That explains a cryptic photo I got from Inui earlier in the month! LOL I couldn't make heads or tails out of it.. now seeing the Hedgehog in action I see what it is! Wow.. I would have never guessed it was this. Interesting being trolled by the director showing me a pic of a new obstacle midway through construction. LOL He's evil.

2-Time Grand Champion Yuuji Urushihara漆原裕治 (Cliffer #3)

Awwww.. Yuuji in tears. My guess is that he got selected to represent Japan in Sasuke Asean Open Cup later this year in Malaysia. If he wasn't then TBS should be ashamed of itself to not send the 2-time champion.. but honestly.. I think he was. Especially seeing that the people he was crying to (Kanno and Ryo) were both smiling and patting him on the side at the every end of this shot.

Modified *Log Gripロググリップ

Splashed across the screen is the event I just mentioned (and wrote back in February when it was first announced). Sasuke ASEAN Open Cup 2013 is a multi-nation event which would mark the first time Sasuke was ever staged inside of a stadium. Sasuke 29 also doubled as the qualifier for the Japan Team at that event to be held later this year.

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠

Making a solo appearance in Sasuke as his wife was about to give birth to this newest son. Just a week after taping Sasuke, his wife Asami gave birth to a beautiful boy named Taiou. A bit premature but son and mother are doing just fine!

Jump Hang Kaiジャンプハング改 is back

And.. it won't be this guy.. LOL I actually like this version of the Jump Hang honestly. I guess he didn't read the memo that despite what the kids say on the forums.. you chose a side.. and commit. It's too far apart to grab both sides at once..

Aaaaaaand someone clears the Crazy Cliffhangerクレイジークリフハンガー

This single shot has sparked a lot of curiosity. Who is it.. zomg who is it.. Guys.. it's called a teaser for a reason.. TUNE IN ON THURSDAY TO FIND OUT! And no, I don't think it's a tester.

Cross Sliderクロススライダー is back

And I swore this was Asa when it first showed because the quality of the video was mediocre (thanks anyway though since we wouldn't have seen it otherwise so early), but once we got the TBS list and the HD video.. we know who it is. well.. don't actually since I don't recognize the name.

And the single more polarizing obstacle returns! The Backstreamバックストリーム

I find it amusing that when they mention who's going to defend the nation's honor they show a steady progression of people failing or barely surviving.. LOL You know.. if it were me.. I'd be drowning..

And.. someone who barely can swim

Poor guy is trying.. go whoever you are!!! Defend your honor! He looks cold... wasn't it like in the 50's-60's that night? It wasn't exactly warm..

Aah.. we get to see someone ON the Vertical Limitバーティカルリミット

Same dude with orange shorts doing well on the Vertical Limit. uuuuuugh my fingers hurt looking at it..

Someone getting pwned on the Swap Salmon Ladderスワップサーモンラダー

And because Cocky Takeda™ a few tourneys ago declared no one would fail the Salmon Ladder.. Sasuke 29 reveals that yes.. someone does get pwned by the Salmon Ladder. And no I don't think this is him.. Just saying it's funny with that in my head and I see this.

Let's see that again from a different angle! The Craaaaaaaaaaazy Cliffhanger got pwned. And by dude in orange shorts and hair. Now granted that doesn't help (well.. except for the hair) since everyone is now bringing a change of clothes thanks to have a SWIMMING obstacle in stage 2.

My favorite final of all time returns!

Ooooh how I missed thee.. Look at that gorgeous final stage.. I see.. spider walls... yes.. the same set up as Sasuke 17's final.. just.. taller.. sniff.. isn't it beautiful?

And if you didn't know already.. Sasuke 29 airs in just 6 days! Ya'll wanna wake up early to watch! It's going to be epic! Oh and that's 7pm JAPAN local time.. we have to wake up before dawn here in the USA to watch it. In the meantime Sasuke Navi is just 2 days way.. weeeeeeeee Oh and if anyone is interested.. I did an anticipation video featuring the original non-subtitled version of the Commercial on YouTube.

Next was a series of videos all showing Sasuke 29 before the tournament with a few testers. All the videos (including interviews with Mr. Sasuke and Sasuke Producer Kikuno) are there (sorry, not subtitled/translated).

Jump Hang Kaiジャンプハング改

*Log Gripロググリップ

^Long Jump ロングジャンプ

Ni Ren Soritatsu Kabe 2連そり立つ壁 (Double Warped Wall)

And yes they seem to have recycled the start line. This is the new name of the show. Delineates the rise from the Monster 9 bankruptcy and a new beginning. This is still Sasuke 29 but get used to that background from here on out. This is the post-Higuchi era.

A quick look of Stage 3 during the daytime. Looks strange to me without seeing it shrouded in darkness and illuminated in artificial light.

This is the Long Jump ロングジャンプ which scary enough is the first obstacle! Ooooooh I see many fails.. and yuck.. the pits are already.. yeah..

Side view of the Long Jump. It's distance is 4.5 meters which is about 14.8 feet (for male competitors) and 3.5 meters which is about 11.4 feet (for female) competitors.

A nice photo on twitter of how that run looks like to an audience member.

Dunno who the chick is but she's first on the video.

not surprised..

Body made it over but one foot didn't and that's all it takes to take you out.

And.. that's.. a dude right?

Yeah that's a dude. The distance was much further away.

Next is glasses dude.

Yep.. down he goes.

Some guy they didn't bother with a close up.

And with distance! Made it!

Now to the modified Log Grip

How modified? It has training wheels now! (Go Wakkyワッキー!)

Now it's ~~Sonic the~~ Hedgehog Time!

ooooooooh barely made it but he made it!

Buuuuuuut he failed the Jump Hang Kai

And we get a face shot of him smiling! Thanks for the video!

All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠

What is nice about the Sasuke Rising Youtube page is that they are adding a lot of behind the scenes videos. Interviews with Sasuke Veterans and even now they are adding Sasuke 29 interviews almost daily! ALL SUBTITLED IN ENGLISH!

God I love his wife Asami. She cracks the whip at home! She's merciless! mwahahahahhaha

Poor guy is reduced to humiliation when recounting his wife view of his latest efforts in Sasuke!

because I can..

While I have fun with choosing the right image to pick I got distracted by the background again.. notice Mr. Sasuke on the right there? Yeah. He is there but not as a competitor. He's here to cheer on his protege. Right now he's being interviewed as well.

A truer statement has not been uttered! ( ^ . ^ )

All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟

Ah yes now we are graced with the goofball of the Sasuke All-stars.. it's Shingo!

I was VERY happy to see this line. Quite a few people have been saying if they lost their title. NO they have not. I'm very happy he wants to keep it. As far as I'm concerned.. Once an All-Star ALWAYS an All-star.

So regular guy got his wish and he's actually way down in #36 position.

This video was all over the place with the cuts. While trying to omit jump cuts they changed to random preparation around Midoriyama. That said.. I see Yoshiyuki Okuyama奥山義行 on the right!

Lofty goals grasshopper!

Meanwhile TBS is adoring his very animated way of speaking.. and kept repeating the "buttocks" line along with his .. visual.. of what buttocks looks like! LOL

And for good measure the THROWING THEMSELVES at Sasuke's course animation. ahahhaaha

/sigh I wish it were the simple sweetie. We would LOVE to try it.. but TBS no longer invites foreigners and here in America.. NBC doesn't care! They think ANW is more important than Sasuke. Trust me Shingo.. we want to go and try..

2-Time Grand Champion Yuuji Urushihara漆原裕治 (Cliffer #3)

And now we get to see.. wait.. I recognize someone from the back.. Sorry Yuuji.. I do this all the time.. I stare at background activity!

Wait.. the 2 dudes squatting.. I know them!

LOL! That's Nagano on the left and Takeda on that right.. I mean over Yuuji's shoulder on the right of the screen.. LOL those are the All-stars warming up.

Yep.. that's them alright. Takeda has a unique body type.. I actually can recognize that swagger from the back.. do.. I need help? LOL

Oh for the love of everything holy.. wtf does Hiromichi Sato want with the All-stars?

Aahahahaha notice they are not really.. uhm.. paying attention to him! GO ALL-STARS! Ehem..

Meanwhile Yuuji publicly dissing TBS for ignoring Kouji Hashimoto from the New Generation lineup.. GO YUUJI!

Anyway I'm super stoked for next week! We finally get to see FOUR of UNCLI try to get to this final! I've never seen Four of the Five compete at the same time! I'm going to be giddy! I'm so happy Keita is finally going!!!!! Either way I'll blog about Navi when I get the footage to screencap. See you on Sunday morning! Oh and in other news, seems TBS is trying to tackle the music copyright issues of the past by introducing new music that is written specifically for Sasuke. I have mixed feelings on it. I like that it could be one step closer to finally getting a DVD/Bluray release of Sasuke.. I'm still partial to the previous music used in all the other Sasuke tournaments. We'll see. We don't know what it sounds like... and it's not like anyone in the USA even watched the straight-to-video Adam's Family Reunion to even know what his music sounds like.

American Ninja Warrior (5) Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada

Meanwhile this weekend is Finals week for ANW5. The big news out of that is that some Sasuke Stars will be in attendance! Who? We'll just have to wait and see! I'll do a blog post when the weekend is over and I have proper photos to share. IT'S SASUKE WEEK BABY!

Title for Navi - Sasuke Rising: 放送直前スペシャル
(housou chokuzen special) {Chokuzen is "immediately before"}

It's that time again! This is Sasuke Navi 「SASUKE」ナビ- which this time is a half hour special promoting Sasuke Rising (better known to us as Sasuke 29!). For those who continue to be confused by the new name, the name delineates the rise from the Monster 9 Bankruptcy. Anything past that point is considered to be "Rising" but continues in the same numbering as before. So this tournament is the 29th tournament. Previous Sasuke Navi's can always be found on my site (Sasuke Navi 28, Sasuke Navi 27, Sasuke Navi 26, Sasuke Navi 25, Sasuke Navi 24, Sasuke Navi 23, Sasuke Navi 22 and Sasuke Navi 21). Massive thanks to several people from SMF for helping us with the paid service (WIST) and to anshinritsumei and blt (from SMF) for hosting a stream for the community. Everyone watching online at that time is what makes this experience so fun! Btw.. mental note I'm going to take my time with these blogs.. I don't want to get sick. LOL Luckily there is a 4 day break between Navi and the tournament itself.

As you can tell of late that THERE IS A TOURNAMENT COMING! This is the special everyone was waiting for and it's finally here! The tournament preview show starts By repeating most of the events that happened in Sasuke 28. In fact it was a little alarming that the show was cut from 50 minutes in the past to 30 minutes this time and spent 8 minutes of it rehashing Sasuke 28. I chose to heavily edit down what was shown in the beginning because it was also covered in the commercial and of course over the course of my Sasuke 28 blogs in great detail.

A reminder that Sasuke 29 also doubled as the Japan qualifier for the in Sasuke Asean Open Cup later this year in Malaysia. Seems they had a special section where they reran a few people with the Japan flag? or is that different? or just an addition to the end of the regular course? We will find out during the broadcast I guess.

Okay, we see a fail on the new hedgehog by a numbered person. I'm sure the kids on SMF will be compariting the footage and posting abotu that later. I'm just going to run through unless they name them at the beginning. I don't have the brain power today LOL

Wait.. someone FAILING the Backstream? You hear the klaxon blaring.. I shudder.. I can't swim. I'm (almost) relieved that someone else has the same issues. Shame though. I wish there wasn't a swimming event in Sasuke. But I don't fault them for trying different things.

And there's that clear on the Crazy Cliffhanger that has everyone abuzz.. is it a tester.. is it a competitor.. who could it be? He has orange pants! I'll wait until Thursday to find out.

Ouch.. someone passing the Hedgehog only to "Yamada" off the side..

That's right.. he's baaaaaaaack.. Sasuke Veteran Shunsuke Nagasaki長崎峻侑

New Generation Star Hitoshi Kanno菅野仁志

Someone who did swimming lessons! Judging by the high pitch breathing.. that has to be Yuuji.. besides.. his hair is not flaming orange so that automatically takes Ryo out of the running.

Dramatic running alongside a river. Then they cued up the title (that I placed on top of this entry) after this shot.

Wait.. you can BUY a Yukata at the local 711 in Japan?

And we are back! Let's go back to Sasuke 1 to show the history of this event.

This is the 16th year of the event.

A bunch of clips of the Thrill of Victory..

And the agony of defeat... God TBS loves this shot of Mr. Sasuke crying..

Now let's go back to Sasuke 28.

And this is the part where I omit a lot since it was all stock footage already covered in this blog.

Where we relive the failures of the Sasuke All Stars starting with Kazuhiko Akiyama秋山和彦

and Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟 (as a graphic showing all 5 that competed failed stage 1)

and (Mr. Sasuke) Katsumi Yamada山田勝己

And reliving Yamada's final speech that TBS put on their website translated into English.

and finally Akiyama's speech that brought him to tears.

So TBS reminding us that 3 officially retired from Sasuke (even if they didn't initiate themselves but I'm digressing right?). From left to right it's Yamada, Shingo and Akiyama's names being retired. Notice that Takeda did a defiant speech that he's not done and Nagano's speech was outright cut from the broadcast.

Then they cut to the list of the Sasuke Shin Sedai (新世代) literally "New Generation" stars and their defeat of the 1st stage.

Now a synopsis of the 2nd stage of Sasuke 28

Backstreamバックストリーム

2-Time Grand Champion Yuuji Urushihara漆原裕治 (Cliffer #3)

They had a small fluff piece on him and reminded us that he wasn't a strong swimmer.

LOL and they relive when Yuuji was complaining about the freezing coming out of the water.

Yuuji says he hates the water. "That's why I don't fall at Sasuke. Can't stand being in the water..."

Hmm seems to disclose location but I can't read kanji off a jpeg LOL

So yep.. that was him going for swimming lessons.

Smooth stroke under water

Seems he has trained to stay underwater for 25 meters (which is more than twice the distance of the backstream)

Hopefully that helps him tackle the obstacle faster this time.

meanwhile.. they are showing utterly going BACKWARDS in the backstream.

They might have increased the current in the water?

Whoever this poor soul is.. he's hearing the klaxon and stops...

Now to the 3rd stage (yes... still rehashing Sasuke 28)

Crazy Cliffhangerクレイジークリフハンガー

They had a montage of fails off the old versions of the Cliffhangers - with Shingo

Taiwan's Lee En Chiリー・エンチ

Yoshiyuki Okuyama奥山義行

and in Sasuke28 we saw Yuuji fail

and Kanno

and Asa

Time for the Kazuma Asa朝一眞 fluff piece.

Nice not seeing box girl interrupt the shot right?

His first attempt was in Sasuke 21

He got back in Sasuke 27 and passed the first stage.

In 28 he finally made it to the 3rd stage for the first time.

Where the Crazy Cliffhanger took him out

Interview about what happened in the 3rd stage

Showing him training on the backwards jump

and misses..

Gets up and tries again..

and misses again..

Goes to Shizuoka Prefecture to try at Shinya Kishimoto岸本真弥's home..

and fails there too..

Next to .. I think this is Sky park in Tokyo? (Nagasawa's house)

and finally succeeds.

Then.. not sure.. looks like he is balancing his body under a table and going back and forth

More cliffhanger training in a rock climbing place

And he's back for Sasuke 29 with the same kanji from last year that got him to the 3rd stage:

魂：meaning spirit or soul, so his back is meant to read "The spirit of Sasuke" or "The soul of Sasuke"

Now to Sasuke 23 Finalist Hitoshi Kanno菅野仁志

Who still doesn't really have a job.. he cleans floors at a pachinko bar

and as a hobby designs silver jewelry

Kanno's girlfriend ~~Shoko~~ Emiko (笑子）

Kanno also failed the Crazy Cliffhanger

Dude did he say that he won't marry her or get a job until he wins?
Edit: YES! He wants to propose at the top of the Final Stage tower..

please say that I heard that wrong..
Edit: No.. I didn't..

oh good Lord I think he did.. someone please correct me.. and wtf that girl is a chameleon as well.

And now that the drama is over we head forward in time or back depending on your perspective.. to Sasuke Trials which occurred over a weekend in April.

yes.. the same weekend of Maguro Festival but I'm not bitter or anything..

At the site of the original Sasuke (Midoriyama Studios) there was a 2 day qualifying event comprised of Interview and running of a course. There were 200 people chosen to be part of this event (out of at least a couple thousand as it usually is with every application process).

They showed a couple clears (no names though)

Not sure how many cleared the course over all

One seems awfully familiar though..

Oh I know him!

Yusuke Morimoto森本裕介

I see he has an official Sasuke All-stars shirt (cough.. hanging on the left)

Okay he trains at a rock climbing facility

Scratch that.. he works at a Rock climbing facility

Incoming fluff piece

Not quite sure what it is they are talking about

Oh yeah.. I remember now.. he's the Yamada fanboy

Oh did you see the picture above his door frame? All-star baby!

And TBS using the sepia tint to simulate watching Nagano win Sasuke 17..

Seems he has a mock set up in his back yard

We first met him in Sasuke 18 when he was 15 (as the thousands of 15 year olds send hate mail to Comcast for the age limit on ANW..)

There he failed on the Jumping Spider

Sasuke 19 he returned

And failed on the pretty sweet lookin' Half Pipe Attack

TBS is ignoring the fact that he competed 3 more times after that and they cut 2 of his runs.. LOL

Oh yeah and in Sasuke 27 he actually made it to the 2nd stage but we won't rehash that either LOL

So.. they just highlighted him.. he's going to clear dammit!

Oh yeah back to the start-line for Trials

And we know who that was during trials..

Yep that's Sasuke All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟

Who has been in every single Sasuke ever made. Here's him rocking the short shorts in Sasuke 1 waaaaaay back in 1997

And because they showed it twice already let's see that again from last tourney

And TBS reminding you that you said you were retiring (even though he was forced..)

But goofy Shingo saying he wanted to come back and try again

So here he is in qualifying!

a few hours before he went to fly out to Maguro Festival LOL

Hey it makes it all more dramatic for TBS so good job Shingo!

That's the balance bridge I think

And he clears it

Fast forward to his clearing!

His time was 1 minute and 3 seconds

He hopes that's good enough because he's going on a plane in like 2 hours.. LOL

So we all know he retired from the gas station shop so why are we in an auto repair shop?

That's because he can't sit still.. LOL ~~Actually he's doing a side job~~ waiting for his gym to open he started working as a mechanic.

So if you remember him training his buttocks.. here is a close up!

and because this is Shingo we are talking about.. LOL he collapses on the floor

But wait there's more.. he's doing more exercise..

Push harder! CLOSER! CLOSER!!

HIS NOSE HIT THE LENS!!!!!!

Seriously you guys need to stop with that..

Ya'll have some serious issues.. you know that right?

PART TWO

PART ONE OF NAVI HERE

And we are back! Off to Stage 1 of Sasuke 29!!! Yes! We are going to show runs that will be cut from the broadcast! LOL

And now a pan of the first stage with the loooooong run up

Looks daunting LOL

This is the ^Long Jump ロングジャンプ

Side view of the Long Jump. It's distance is 4.5 meters which is about 14.8 feet (for male competitors) and 3.5 meters which is about 11.4 feet (for female) competitors.

and.. we have a modified *Log Gripロググリップ

and a side view of the slope

In the past the log only had holes

and even with friggin' BARS.. this dude decides he doesn't need them...

and is thrown off for his stupidity..

Now it's ~~Sonic the~~ Hedgehog Time!

This is called the ^Hedgehogヘッジホッグ

This obstacle rotates as you try to run across

and pray you don't get hung up on the poles and throw you off

like this guy...

so now they do a montage of thrill of victory

and agony of defeat

missed with a "PSYCHE" moment where this guy thought he cleared...

only to fall off the side and into the water..

Awww they are going to cut her? Oh well..

~~Mika Izumi~~ er.. Mika Watanabe渡邉美香

Hey.. Mom.. pat me on the head too?

Anywho for those who didn't remember her, back in 2003 she was in Kunoichi's final!

and off she goes runnin'

Yes! Clear on the Long Jump!

oh.. making love to Sasuke Spray..

taking a long time to set up..

clear though so that's good

Full stop on this too..

working her way through finally..

leaaaaaning but made it through!

complete stop on this too..

She got it!

nooooooo.. lets go.. and foot hits the water..

Mika Watanabe渡邉美香 - Death by Jump Hang Kai

Oh.. I don't know the daughter's name but they finally showed it!

Her son is so cute too! She's got adorable kids!

Another female

she's.. massaging her breasts on television.. yeah lady.. only the Kanto region is seeing this.. on a Sunday afternoon.. probably after church..

so boob lady clears the Long Jump

and is carefully eyeballing the hedgehog

but going a little too slow...

LOL but she's hanging on to dear life!!

omg is she going to try to ride it back up the other side? I have to give her props for trying!

but she falls in. Rika Kawamura 川村りか- Death by Hedgehog

aww are they showing ALL of the ladies during navi??

Lovely karate fighter 美人空手家
Hikaru Nakajima 中島ひかる

wow they fast forwarded her so she got to the Jump Hang Kai too! That's cool!

Aww but she couldn't hang on.

Hikaru Nakajima 中島ひかる - Death by Jump Hang Kai

oh .. a dude oh wow I didn't recognize him at first! He hasn't been in Sasuke in 12 tournaments!

Masaaki Kobayashi小林正明

K they started him on the hedgehog

Oh he jumped on the left!

but couldn't hang on..

Masaaki Kobayashi小林正明 - Death by Jump Hang Kai

and now we pause to stare at Mr. Sasuke's ass..

Hellooooooo Kitty..

and we are back from commercial.. as we contemplated at the meaning of his buttocks.. Mister Sasuke All-Star Katsumi Yamada山田勝己

as we relive the failure in Sasuke 28

and relived his speech where he retired officially (again)

we see that he came to Sasuke anyway!

but what's this? he's training people! (channeling Ube.. that can't be good)..

So Yamada is training 4 guys.. guess this is the next set of assassins?

WAIT! I CALL FRAUD!!!!!!!!

wait no.. didn't he obliterate his course after Sasuke 28????

oh you liiiiiied...

one of these things is not like the other..

I'm sure the diehard Ninja Warrior fans are freaking out that 3/4 are consuming alcohol right now.. I'm cackling.

weird moment but smart to show how the position of the rolling escargot is ... flat against it.. however.. it's not in this tournament!

Yamada's group, btw, is called "黒虎," or "Black Tiger."

Yousuke Watanabe 渡辺陽介

Koshige Yamamoto 山本浩茂

Satoma Okada 岡田知磨

Keishi Mizukawa 水川圭史

Yamada's group "黒虎," or "Black Tiger."

Former K-1 fighter and Muay Thai champion - Kouzou Takeda 武田幸三

Pro Wrestler - Minowaman ミノワマン

Swimmer (4th place at the Sydney Olympics) - Tomoko Hagiwara 萩原智子

Pro Boxer - Ryo Miyazaki 宮崎亮（24）

reminder that before Sasuke 28 TBS sold Ninja Warrior to 157 countries.. now.. not so sure since there isn't a Ninja Warrior version anymore now that Comcast abandoned it..

Japan picks it's team for the Sasuke Asean Open Cup later this year in Malaysia

Press conference from back in the spring

flash back to Nagano going up the mast of his ship

and training... I wonder if they will send him too?

now cue the painful looking training shots.. Kannnnnnnnooooooo

Shiiiiinnnnnngooooooo

morimoto..

Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuji

KONGO KONGO KONGO

Assssssaaaaaaaa

Ryyyooooooooooooo

4 musketeers!

Oh that's Masashi Hioki日置将士 with his wife and child

aww one of the kids made daddy on top of the final stage tower

Kenji Takahashi高橋賢次

Aww his daugher Ain 愛夢 is getting so big!

SEE YOU ON THURSDAY!!!!!!

Oh snap.. Friggin' Star Blazers reboot is on? Screw that I'm keeping the channel on!

Sasuke spoilerific review ;) Warning.. incoming blog of Sasuke 29.. if you don’t want to know.. you have been warned :D (Just remember.. the USA Broadcast of this.. will be.. well probably never honestly. Yes.. you read that right.. Now with the death of G4 official and NBC not giving a damn about Sasuke Japan (especially after boycotting Sasuke 28 AND Sasuke 29..).. we may never see Sasuke Rising on US television (or any overseas country for that matter unless everyone buys the original 3 hour broadcast from TBS). For a preview of this event.. Please see SASUKE Rising (29) NAVI a half hour review of Sasuke Rising with fluff pieces of all the major players in the upcoming Sasuke and even a couple of runs that were cut from the official broadcast!

UBE'S Sorta-LIVE-BLOG FOR SASUKE 29 IS HERE !

(Massive thanks to TBS for posting the names of all 100 competitors! Thanks to Ube for his help on the names in English!!)

Here we go! Sasuke One... now almost a full 16 years ago.. A project spin off from Kinniku Banzuke back in 1997. One could argue that Sasuke became a lot more famous than it's parent show Banzuke.

Now in 157 country.. wait.. there USED to be in 157 countries. You can count USA out of that.. and without "Ninja Warrior" edited we are down to just 1 showing Sasuke now.. and that's Japan.

As stated.. NBC has never shown Sasuke.. only believes ANW is the only show worth airing..

Sasuke Singapore debuted last year and hasn't been heard from since..

Sasuke Malaysia a full 2 years ago and nothing since...

No wait we have heard from them.. now they run a huge event (Sasuke Asean Open Cup) in Malaysia scheduled for November, 2013

In anticipation, Japan held a 2 day audition/trials ..

back in April, 2013

at the Midoriyama Studios

which happens to be a television studio lot...

which is flat as an ironing board.. not a damn mountain...

like the morons in G4 thought..

because they don't know how to read...

but it's funny now because the Japanese make fun of them...

which is probably why we will never see Ninja Warrior again.. oh wait that was Shingo!

So now that the list of all the competitors who ran the Sasuke Trials course was read (even though we haven't seen the competition.. C'mon official Youtube Channel!)

now we get the gag reel featuring this tournament's worst

humiliating..

agonizing..

frustrating...

astonishing...

and awesome feats...

Cue dramatic music!!

Oh HOT Damn.....

what the.. wait.. huh?

wow.. nekkid procession...

to think.. this majesty of topless men are all shorter than me...

sorry.. broke the mystique there didn't I? giggles..

See???? Thanks to Gigarator for that :)

Plenty of popcorn ya'll!

Ooooooooh revamped graphic.. Inui threw a flag behind it! mwahahahahha

and then shattered glass with the Japan flag under there...

Okay I like that!

Oh and again: For those who continue to be confused by the new name, the name delineates the rise from the Monster 9 Bankruptcy. Anything past that point is considered to be "Rising" but continues in the same numbering as before. So this tournament is the 29th tournament.

Time to pay the bills while we do a fly by!

.. we have a room... but it has less people.. grumble.. I want a flag though..

Returning from Sasuke 28's "room"

~~Ms. Pouty Lips and Mr. Car Salesman~~....

Nana Katase 片瀬那奈 and Jay Kabira 川平慈英

This time she doesn't have that fugly frilled disaster around her neck.

Returning also is the older woman on the left: Takejo Aki あき竹城 - Actress

With new people (to me of course): Teruyuki Tsuchida 土田晃之 - Actor and Karen Michibata 道端カレン - Actress

Oooooh the guy mentioned Chie Tanabe田邊智恵 (which most people know her by her married name Chie Nishimura 西村智恵 from Kunoichi) who still stands as the ONLY woman ever to to clear Sasuke's first stage (back in Sasuke 2).

aaaaaand we are off! First stage everyone!

Fly by of first stage! No snail!

and the addition of the Japanese Flag at the end of the Stage to signify the connection with Sasuke ASEAN Open Cup.

Returning Sasuke "Don't call me a Rookie" Announcer - Tomohiro Ishii 石井大裕

And because #1 sucked.. Here's #2!

Comedian Hamaka-n 芸人（ハマカーン)

Kenji Hamatani 浜谷健司

This is the ^Long Jump ロングジャンプ

and the modified *Log Gripロググリップ

This is called the ^Hedgehogヘッジホッグ

which he clears barely..

aaaand he takes a step back before going into the Jump Hang Kaiジャンプハング改

and noooooooooo

Comedian Kenji Hamatani 浜谷健司 - Death by Jump Hang Kai

and we get reaction shots from the comedians in the front row (Wakky on the left)

Rikishaw driver 人力車の車夫
Yuusuke Kosugi 小杉雄介

dooooooh faceplant..

Just as it was explained in Navi, It's distance is 4.5 meters which is about 14.8 feet (for male competitors) and ~~3.5~~ 3.3 meters which is about 11.4 feet (for female) competitors. (edited from Navi numbers)

Yuusuke Kosugi 小杉雄介 - Death by Long Jump

Pro double dutch player プロダブルダッチプレーヤー
MASA (I'll get full kanji later.. this wasn't on the list in TBS)

clears Long Jump with ease

has a private moment with Sasuke Spray

no issues with the Log Grip

oooooooh ~~Sonic the~~ Hedgehog ate him..

Shinya and Kanno trying to out-buff each other.. who can stretch their sleeves more?

Yeah.. you're taller but I win.. totally..

Yep and this was totally in the commercial..

MASA - Death by Hedgehog

and what painful stunt does he have planned for us this time?

It's Katsuhide Torisawa鳥澤克 breaking a bat with his neck!

At least he isn't bleeding this time!

aaaaaaand faceplant! (We've seen the commercials on this)

Wakky having way too much fun with it LOL

that's gotta hurt!

Katsuhide Torisawa鳥澤克 - Death by Long Jump

Comedian (King Kong) 芸人（キングコング）
Yuuta Kajiwara 梶原雄太

Sorry lunched.. clear on the first 3 obstacles.. LOL

aaaaand he got the cargo neeeeeeeeeeeet...

Nooooo let go..

I see he has fans! LOL Asa, Kouji, Yuuji, Shingo and Hioki

LOL the epic head throwback is just funny

Did they actually expect better? LOL

Yuuta Kajiwara 梶原雄太 - Death by Jump Hang Kai

Former K-1 fighter and Muay Thai champion 元K-1ファイター、元ムエタイ王者
Kouzou Takeda 武田幸三

doooooooh foot came down..

awwww he's depressed...

Kouji, Yuuji and Hioki

They follow him across the runway..

LOL Yuuji's expression is priceless.. bleh..

meanwhile Kouji is impersonating a fish!

oh.. oh.. Yuuji's going to smile...

wait.. no camera is on him.. he has to do something..

Ahahahahhahahaahh nice save!!

Kouzou Takeda 武田幸三 - Death by Long Jump

Pro Bodyboarder プロボディーボーダー

Hayato Enokido 榎戸崇人

.. is that a girl?

I can't tell .. distance seems ... short?..

but the long poles are up on the log grip..

so it's a guy?

Hayato Enokido 榎戸崇人 - Death by Log Grip

The first Mr. Japan 初代ミスタージャパン
Takayuki Suzuki 鈴木貴之

Announcer is having waaaaaay too much fun with him LOL

clear.. so I guess the other person was dude after all.. LOL

Sorry.. back to the model..

Clear on the log grip

Clear on the Hedgehog!

whooooooooah bessy.. stops on the trampoline..

and he backs up..

Geronimooooooo...

Takayuki Suzuki 鈴木貴之 - Death by Jump Hang Kai

Prepare to Fast forward!

Former model and female boxer 現役モデル女子プロボクサー
Tomomi Takano 高野人母美- Death by Jump Hang Kai

Dancer, Actor ダンサー、俳優
Yusuke Onuki 大貫勇輔

... is he trying to mate with it? Yusuke Onuki 大貫勇輔 - Death by Hedgehog

.. another person trying to mate with it..

Male synchronized swimmer 男子シンクロ
Naoki Sakamoto 坂本直紀 - Death by Hedgehog

LOL he takes time to pose!

Singing group SOLIDEMO member 歌手 SOLIDEMOメンバー
Keiichi Sawaki 佐脇慧一

Keiichi Sawaki 佐脇慧一 - Death by Time up on the Double Warped Wall

Acrobat アクロバットパフォーマー
Kazutaka Yoshino 吉野和剛

Kazutaka Yoshino 吉野和剛 - Death by Hedgehog

Buddhist altar shop worker 仏壇屋
Kazunari Ookubo 大久保和也

Kazunari Ookubo 大久保和也 - Death by Hedgehog

He lost his shoe!!!!!

Spin-tart is back..

Pro Figure Skater プロフィギュアスケーター
Rina Sayama 澤山璃奈

Good.. she's not an embarrassment by failing in the first obstacle.

Yes they adjust the Log Grip for women as well

which apparently didn't help..

there.. a side view..

I'm told real boobs float...

I'm doing reaaally well not captioning all my thoughts...

Rina Sayama 澤山璃奈 - Death by Log Grip

Pro Wrestler プロレスラー
Minowaman ミノワマン

oooooh leaning back..

yeah.. too much momentum kicking in that it pushed him backwards..

Minowaman ミノワマン - Death by Long Jump

Oh they are not happy.. seems he's up next

Replaying it a lot but you get a good look at the run up and how they moved the audience to the right of the camera now.

epic splash back

Comedian (Dangan Jackie) 芸人（弾丸ジャッキー）
Orakio オラキオ

cleared Long Jump!

Onwards to Log Grip at it's proper length

onwards to the Hedgehog.. with trepidation

Yep.. saw that in slow motion..

LOL he knew he was going to fall so he corkscrewed his exit

His partner laughs at the corkscrew

Orakio オラキオ - Death by Hedgehog

Mainichi Newspaper worker毎日新聞
Motohiro Mizoo 溝尾元洋 - Death by Long Jump

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Permit Personnel 厚生労働省認可団体職員
Seiichi Endo 遠藤清一

Seiichi Endo 遠藤清一 - Death by Hedgehog

Oh hello there Shingo..

PART TWO

(Part 1)

UBE'S Sorta-LIVE-BLOG FOR SASUKE 29 IS HERE !

(Massive thanks to TBS for posting the names of all 100 competitors! Thanks to Ube for his help on the names in English!!)

Yay our first All-star of the day!

Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟

Shingo rocking the apathetic look™ even 16 years ago!

TBS reminding us that he is a TWO time Finalist! (this one being in Sasuke 3)

and his last one back in Sasuke 7 where he dislocated his shoulder.. oooooouch..

His last appearance was supposed to be his LAST appearance..

and because he OPENLY said he was retiring, TBS has to go through the shenanigans on camera to get him back into the show. Nevermind that it was THEIR idea to force retire them anyway.. Devil's in the details here..

We know he retired from the gasoline industry so he's now working here! (as thousands of fans search Google maps for this location...)

He's working here in addition to waiting for his gym to open. The man can't keep still!

So here he is.. a few hours before he went to fly out to Maguro Festival LOL

Competing again in Sasuke Trials to correct the mistake of saying on camera that he retired (even though he didn't want to...)

TBS wants you to go through PAIN boy... PAIN! CAN YOU FEEL IT!??!

while he shows us HOW he was training his buttocks..

but of course this is still Shingo so we have to have a goofy crack up during a serious training session. LOL

So while I'm still royally pissed he had to do the dog and pony show to get back here...

I'm elated that he not only showed up..

but he can legitimately tell TBS to go eff themselves.. he earned his way back.

Once and All-star.. always an All-Star..

Sasuke All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟

Raise your hand if you're Sure!

.. you know I would have screamed if he failed here...

strong grip on the Log Grip!

Not a problem.. phew..

You know.. I'm not so confident about this...

FARK!!!!!!! I don't want a commercial in the middle of his run.. (I should know better though..)

Okay THIS is how you do commercial bumps.. they are showing PAST information.. not spoiling new information. THANK YOU INUI!

through the power of television Shingo went back in time...

Okay.. I'm taking a deep breath.. you KNOW he's going to screw this up in the most epic way..

OMG HE CLEARED.. I can breathe now..

wait no I can't.. he's going to kill me you know..

YES! FEET!!! WHERE ARE YOUR FEET!?!?!?

YES! High and dry.. okay.. breathing...

YES! He didn't screw this up!!

Okay I'm confident now.. he hasn't failed the wall in ages... Oh yeah.. this is the.. Ni Ren Soritatsu Kabe 2連そり立つ壁

What I call the Double Warped Wall making it's return

Shingo pole dancing to the 2nd wall

Not a problem! Oh btw hubby demanded to know if he had a hat on...

and I had to tell him.. "New era.. new rules babe!" He wasn't happy. Now he has to come up with another Shingo Rule..

Tarzan Ropeターザンロープ (yes.. it's its own obstacle..)

Geez.. he has HERDS of time!

And he's going to need it.. he's pretty low..

Rope Ladderロープラダー Yes.. I STILL incorrectly call the Rope Wall

Feet getting tangled but he still has plenty of time!!!

and slowly walking across and gently hitting the red button!!

YYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right baby I'm back!

And because the crowd doesn't trust Shingo until the smoke is visible...

Ryo, Yuuji and Kouji all approve of this message!

Arashida who's soon to run, Hioki who has the best expressions, Kenji rocking the Akiyama red, Shinya thinking he won the guns contest, Kanno who has a fangirl, Ryo who wishes he had muscles, Yuuji who wishes he had a lower register of voice and Kouji who is shocked TBS hasn't cut him out of this picture yet..

Shingo celebrating like it's 1999!!

36 people down and ONE CLEAR BABY!

LOL he's still doing fist pumps!

and waving hands!

Meanwhile we finally see the appearance of the other 2 All-Stars today relegated to the crowd now since they are trying to keep them a bit more lowkey. I'm okay with that so long as they are still there.

Some fist pump action from Takeda

Meanwhile Nagano is cackling at the Shingo celebration

Oh Takeda better not go there.. he better not complain about the celebration..

Then again he could just retaliate for Shingo's remark about the Kanzenseiha celebration from a couple of years ago.. buuuut he didn't.. opportunity lost.. it was right there man..

I mean Takeda would have been justified...

HOLY CRAP I DID IT! DID YOU SEE THAT???

Sasuke All-Star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟 - FIRST STAGE CLEAR!

Wait.. the clear music for Shingo is STILL GOING.. but we get to hear that Sasuke 24 Finalist Kouji Hashimoto橋本亘司 has been reinstated into the Shin Sedai (announced on the start line).. after much bitching from yours truly.. however, he wasn't promoted in any of the run up to Sasuke.. so he must have failed again..

wait.. what? He PASSED but got Fast Forwarded?

Hamada City, Shimane prefecture Sports Instructor 島根県浜田市体育協会体操指導員

Sasuke 24 Finalist Kouji Hashimoto橋本亘司 - FIRST STAGE CLEAR

Okay.. it's official.. TBS HATES Kouji Hashimoto.. this is what.. the 2nd or 3rd time he's had a Fast forwarded clear? I wonder who's cornflakes he pissed on..

Okay.. pretty lady that can literally kick your face in if you say anything bad about her..

actually I think she's quite pretty. I guess he hits more than gets hit back!

Shootboxer シュートボクシング
Rena レーナ

See? This is a perfect opportunity to openly campaign (again) about bringing back KUNOICHI

provided she doesn't fail here..

Noe she didn't! See??

okay hang on hold that thought..

See? She's good! BRING BACK KUNOICHI!!!!!!!!

I like her outfit a lot! Proving that you can still be pretty and not have to dress like a slut for TBS to show you on television. GO GIRL!

Awww but still.. she did good! She at least got her hand on the cargo net!

Rena レーナ - Death by Jump Hang Kai

BRING BACK KUNOICHI!!!

Prepare to fast forward!

Security Guard 警備員
Sumito Namba 難波澄人 - Death by Long Jump

Comedian (Twintell) 芸人（ツインテル）
Takeo Seto 勢登健雄 - Death by Long Jump

his comic partner is upset

This is about as close as you get to seeing Ayako Miyake back on Sasuke for now.. from the same troupe she's in.. and back for his 8th trip to Sasuke after a long absence.

Actor, performer 俳優、パフォーマー
Tomoyuki知幸 - Death by Time up on the Double Warped Wall

Mister Sasuke All-Star Katsumi Yamada山田勝己

Oh boy here we go. For those who missed Navi (Shame on you I blogged on it) Yamada is back arrogantly declaring himself to be a Master since "Coach" is just "someone who just talks".. yeah.. you read that right. I'm face-palming along with you..

Here are his chosen disciples! All 4 of them...

wait.. Takeda was there?

LOL Takeda WAS there wondering if those words of encouragement were for him! Yay his collar isn't up (see white shirt)! GO TAKEDA!

(Mister Sasuke) ミスター SASUKE

Katsumi Yamada山田勝己 .. Gundam?

As was seen in Navi you had a group of 4 guys who were trained Wimp Lo Style..

wait.. they REBUILT it?

No.. it's not rebuilt.. I see rust everywhere..

They made additions to the front lawn.. TBS LIED.. I call FRAUD... he didn't take it down.. just tore down some already falling parts but left the rest intact.. Bulldozer was a lie...

So yeah.. Yamada's.... Gundam.. So they assemble into a giant robot?? (LOL Ube agrees) No wait wait.. Gundams are robots.. so they have no souls and you have to crawl inside them to pilot them? Ew...

Yamada's group, btw, is called "黒虎," or "Black Tiger."

So.. anyone wanna place bets? Nah me neither.. no wait I'd win this one.. dammit..

actually this is going to be painful to watch.. I call refrigerator break™

SEGA Attendant SEGAの接客
Koshige Yamamoto 山本浩茂

Yeah.. Koshige Yamamoto 山本浩茂 - Death by Jump Hang Kai

Hey he gets to run along the course...

going to be a long (or short depending on your point of view) day at the ~~office~~ dojo

and he walks back muttering to himself to see if his next assassin can do the job..

Nope.. well it got a little better.. but he was trained.. in the same wall that hasn't gotten Katsumi up either..

Wholesale market employee 卸売市場従業員
Yousuke Watanabe 渡辺陽介 - Death by Time up on Double Warped Wall

Cheering him on..

Yeah let's hold that in.. NEXT!

yeah.. things got a whole lot worse for Yamada..

Mover 引越し業
Satoma Okada 岡田知磨 - Death by Long Jump.. yes.. the first obstacle

Dude that was epic.. not even I did that.. like.. ever..

Surely the last dude can do it?

Er.. nope..

Architect 住宅設計士
Keishi Mizukawa 水川圭史 - Death by Long Jump

yeah.. never declare yourself capable of teaching others master.. COACHES also were experienced.. so there you go for defaming the "Coach" name.

and.. doing what a coach does.. talking to them..

how about making them go through trials.. you know.. like everyone else was forced to? Yeah.. my point exactly. What a waste riding on Yamada's name alone. Go back to where you came from and earn your way back.

Preparing to fast forward again!

Gekitetsu member バンドマン撃鉄
Joji Amano 天野ジョージ - Death by Jump Hang Kai

Taxi driver タクシードライバー
Hiroki Shimoda 下田大気

Entertainer 芸人
Yutaka Onedari おねだり豊

Wait.. his claim to fame is racing against a woman?

Yutaka Onedari おねだり豊 - Death by Hedgehog

So after all that.. 55 people down and 2 clears!

Yay! Lee!!!

PART THREE

(Part 1) (Part 2)

UBE'S Sorta-LIVE-BLOG FOR SASUKE 29 IS HERE !

(Massive thanks to TBS for posting the names of all 100 competitors! Thanks to Ube for his help on the names in English!!)

And we are back! Just a reminder that 55 have gone and 2 have cleared! (Shingo and Kouji)

Yay! THANK YOU TBS FOR BRINGING HIM BACK!
Ooooooooooh.. they introduced him as the Taiwanese Representative for (Sasuke Asean Open Cup) in Malaysia later this year!!!!!! That's awesome! Congratulations!

Lee En Chiリー・エンチ

and because there are so many versions of his name and this one is the one I kept for this long.. then it's going to stay! Taiwan's Lee En Chiリー・エンチ

He's also a returning Sasuke Finalist. This was him in Sasuke 24

He's also a celebrity in his country of Taiwan!

Where he regularly appears in local television shows.

He also suffered the disappointment of a flukey end in Sasuke 27

and was eated by the ~~Cannonball Run~~ Spin Bridge in Sasuke 28

And we are back in Sasuke 29 to show he easily cleared the Long Jump!

cleared the Log Grip

Taking his time....

really taking his time...

Phew! Easy clear on the Hedgehog

Taking his time again eying up Jump Hang Kai

WOW that's high..

No kidding that's high he wasn't playin!

Just quietly going along clearing obstacle after obstacle.

Easy clear on the first wall

Also pole dancing..

Easy clear on the 2nd wall

A little short on time.. depends on how high he catches it..

Holy moses THAT is how you catch the wall..

Utter relief on his face. Hopefully the asshats back in Taiwan can stop sending him death threats..

Quietly touching the red button stopping the timer.

Almost no celebration. He's extremely subdued this tournament.

Oh cool he brought a fanclub!

Kongo getting into the cheering action as well

interesting response LOL

Nagano noticed something

which is causing a great deal of discussion

LOL they yelling at Shingo for something?

Yuuji feeling left out

Kouji not giving a damn now that TBS is actually showing him.. omg Okuyama is shown as well.. Hot Damn this is Sasuke 29.. the TBS apology tour!

Kanno getting jiggy with Hioki as Mr. Sasuke is pissed beyond recognition that someone else cleared and his assassins didn't.

Wow he's more relieved than celebrating

Taiwan's Lee En Chiリー・エンチ back in the 2nd stage baby! We got 3 folks!

See now I'm curious wtf they are saying. usually I say some glib comment or make up some bromance or something. or noticing that Takeda is playing with his tongue...

Nagano eagerly discussing something

while some old lady eavesdrops.. LOL

Gets a "meh" from Takeda LOL while Nagano gives me the stink-eye

Taiwan's Lee En Chiリー・エンチ - FIRST STAGE CLEAR!

Prepare to fast forward.. yes again.. wait wtf. MORE FAST FORWARD CLEARS?

Pro MTB Rider プロMTBライダー
Daisuke Morikami守上大輔

(that's 4 clears)

Next clear is Vocational school student 専門学生
Taiga Hoshikawa 星川大我

(that's 5 clears)

Maritime Self-Defense Force Member 海上自衛隊
Hidekazu Inoue 井上英和

(that's 6 clears)

Sorry sweetie.. the commercial spoiled your 2nd stage run.. LOL

Wow.. another clear.. Stuntman スタントマン
Hiromasa Katakabe 片伯部浩正

(that makes 7)

Hauling up the rope to make 8 clears

Medical student 医大生
Toshiharu Takami 高見俊治

Oh I know him too! Izakaya manager 居酒屋店店長
Terukazu Ishikawa石川輝一.

And that my friends makes it a massacre.. 67 people down.. 9 clears with all the favorites to go!

Hey it's Shingo's Golfing buddy! (and no I'm not kidding)

awwww Ryo helping Hioki's wife show their daughter Daddy staring in a game show

She's only 2 years old awwwwww
wife Mayumi 真弓 and daughter Miyuna心結菜

Masashi Hioki日置将士 (for those who have followed my blog he's an STQ'er)

Here is a huge bunch of fellow STQ'ers.. (Sasuke Trial Qualifiers)

Just a few are Kouji, Kanno, Kawaguchi, Hioki, Yuuji, Nomura, Keita, Ryo, Kobayashi, Keitaro, Okada, Yahagi, Ryoma to name a few

and even more, Yuuji, Ryo, Yahagi, Kanno, Shinya, Tajima, Okada, Ryoma to name a few. A very close bunch of trials competitors that have gone through hell just to get on this show over a period of YEARS.

Masashi Hioki日置将士 - Electronics Shop Employee

Seeing him inside the store selling to some ladies

He actually has a garage.. oh yeah he doesn't live in Tokyo that's why LOL (he lives in neighboring Chiba千葉県 Prefecture)

Wow this is taking me back.. For those with good memories .. we saw him briefly in Sasuke Trials during one of my very early blogs - Summer, 2008 for Sasuke 21 - He was in the group that represented the All-Stars - his was Bunpei

he unfortunately did not get out of that group. He missed the ring (middle)

HA! I spotted an error.. this was from 2009.. Poor guy was also in the Sasuke 22 Trials where he got to the final only to miss the final jump!

And for those who have followed my blog long enough.. you know Hioki more for THIS picture more than anything.. GOD that's a gorgeous dress..

A moment for All-Star Bunpei Shiratori白鳥文平 please.. BRING HIM BACK!!!!

Now do you know who Hioki is? "Lucky bastard who got Bunpei to give a toast at his wedding".

and his poor GERONIMOOOOOOOOO fall in Sasuke 25

and the kids had NO idea what was the apparatus that his wife was holding. (It's a television antennae for your roof..)

Meanwile back at the bromance going on

While leader Yuuji is not amused by..

Masashi Hioki日置将士

WOW that was a huge jump!

easy clear on the Log Grip

SAFE across the Hedgehog

hit the brakes before the Jump Hang..

HE CAUGHT IT!.. wait.. on the left?

Holy crap he's clearing it on the left.. usually people that go this way fail..

Of course without seeing most of the clears we don't know if anyone else has done this.

.. equipment failure as he has to tie back on his kneepad...

phew.. clear on the first wall

Pole dancing..

I HATE WHEN THEY DO THIS....

Fine.. he cleared..

look at your time dork!

WOW that's low..

most of his body on the wall as the time firmly in red...

His heartbeat must be over 200 right now..

HAAULING across..

Did I make it? Did I make it??

YYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

Kanno screaming his head off.. Yuuji looking in horror as his golf buddy is about to time out.. Hioki's wife Mayumi is about to break her daughter's back..

Then elation!! Much hopping up and down..

Wife using daughter to shield her crying face

what is her name?? (Quoting a Ube line - child strangely unaffected)

Meanwhile Hioki is in disbelief seeing how close he was to blowing his best chance at clearing stage one. We got 10 clears folks and we are still in the 70's!!

Someone hands over a towel

That was Yuuji who apparently must have used it as well with the rest of the STQ'ers..

Yuuji in the verge of tears and Kanno is already crying.. Shinya is wiping tears as well

Ryo is the sick bastard (must be related to Takeda) for making fun of Kanno for openly weeping on camera

Kanno blaming Yuuji so Ryo is now laughing at him too

But.. that was epic man.. epic! (meanwhile Yuuji tweeted that he was embarrassed they used this shot on all the commercials) and that marks me and utterly wrong in thinking this was when he was named to the ASEAN Open Cup.

Yuuji patting the girls head while she gives a death look.. "I'm not a dog you bastard.. touch me again I'll bite your face off"..

replay of where it all went wrong... ooooh so wrong.. of course blowing over 5 seconds just walking on the wall didn't help either..

Masashi Hioki日置将士 - FIRST STAGE CLEAR

Now comes the PDA moment of 2013.

Awwww she actually wants to go to daddy. I guess she's used to seeing him lose his marbles on a regular basis.

I love this guy. He's soooooooo atypical Japanese. Emotions right out in the open. Polar opposite of Okuyama who's clinically dead.

sweetie.. you are dropping our daughter..

sorry.. take her back..

Shinya: So.. do you think I have the bigger guns?

Hioki: Of course you do!

Shinya: I love you man!

Kanno: but you said we were friends..

Ryo: Sorry man. you totally got replaced..

LOL Now he's going for hugs anywhere he can take it.. Mr. PDA himself Kongo!

Prepare to fast forward.. WHAT.. AGAIN???

Sorry we saw him already didn't we? yeah in Navi!

Masaaki Kobayashi小林正明 - Death by Jump Hang Kai.. twice!

and next.. NNNnooooooooooooooooooooooooo no no no...

FARK! Tokyo Waterworks employee 東京都水道局
Keita Tomino富野恵太 (Cliffer #4) - Death by Jump Hang Kai

Oh well I hope he returns! I'm happy he finally made it.

Elementary school teacher 小学校教諭
Makoto Nanbu 南部誠 - Death by Jump hang Kai

Awwwwwwwwww he failed as well...

Car mechanic 自動車整備
Yuuji Washimi鷲見裕二 - Death by Hedgehog

Hang oooonnnnn (I was hoping someone was strong enough to go all they way around and back up the Hedgehog.. LOL)

Marketplace delivery man 市場での配達仕分け業
Kyosuke Maeda 前田京介 - Death by Hedgehog

Rafting guide ラフティングガイド
Masashi Toyoda 豊田将士 - Death by Jump Hang Kai

And next with a hype from Navi it's Morimoto!

PART FOUR

(Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3)

UBE'S Sorta-LIVE-BLOG FOR SASUKE 29 IS HERE !

(Massive thanks to TBS for posting the names of all 100 competitors! Thanks to Ube for his help on the names in English!!)

And next with a hype from Navi it's Yusuke Morimoto森本裕介

Condensed version from Navi - University student 大学生 who works at a rock climbing place

And you too can get a signed Sasuke All-Star shirt at Maguro Festival!

OMG Sasuke BOOTLEG! I WANT IT!!!

C'MON TBS.. we've been waiting for YEARS for an official release of Sasuke on Bluray or DVD

Oh.. that's right.. he's a Yamada fan. Years ago.

He has his own mock set up at home

And we're back! Off he goes!

Clear on the Long Jump

Clear on the Log Grip

wiping the sand off his hands while waiting for an opening on the Hedgehog

oh.. slight footcatch but cleared!

Taking a few to compose himself before the Jump Hang Kai

Nice Catch!

Doing great across the cargo net for a clear

Easy clear on low wall

pole dancing

and clear on the higher wall

Plenty of time left as he hits the Tarzan Rope!

Wow.. VERY low....

Working hard to make up the distance

A huge smile as he knows he has cleared again!

pre-celebration!

Emphatic BOTH hands to touch the timer (since in trials (his run shown on Navi) he ran past it thinking he didn't touch it)

Yusuke Morimoto森本裕介 - FIRST STAGE CLEAR!

Yessir that's 79 people down and 11 clears now!

Nagano and Asa showing their support!

Lemon soda?

LOL the replay on the celebration before the end.

Oh and for the record.. he's not new.. this is his 4th time at Sasuke.

Recap of the clears:

Sasuke All-star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟

Sasuke 24 Finalist Kouji Hashimoto橋本亘司

Taiwan's Lee En Chiリー・エンチ

Daisuke Morikami守上大輔

Taiga Hoshikawa 星川大我

Hidekazu Inoue 井上英和

More clears:

Hiromasa Katakabe 片伯部浩正

Toshiharu Takami 高見俊治

Terukazu Ishikawa石川輝一

Masashi Hioki日置将士

and

Yusuke Morimoto森本裕介

Okay.. back to studio. Okay for the record IF they HAVE to do this at all (Personally I don't like it since it doesn't serve any purpose since clearly no one here has ever watched the show..) then it's better to do between stages or in interim like this. We no longer have "box girl" so I'm happy for that.

Well since we Fast forwarded through another Kouji run.. he jumped to the left and cleared also.

Dude is right.. Hioki is a lucky man.. check out the hot chick he married

And yes.. He also shared a moment for All-Star Bunpei Shiratori白鳥文平.. BRING HIM BACK!!!!

After this commercial break we got a swimmer!

a boxer!

a gymnast!

A ~~camera whore~~ cccccombo breaker celebutard!

And a legend!

Good! No spoilers on the commercial bumps. Here's Shingo

And Lee

And Shingo again! I approve!

We're back in stage one after a detour we could have done without..

Shift change!

Veteran announcer Keisuke Hatsuta初田啓介 is back ya'll!

Reminder now that they just magically cut #80 from the show! LOL

Swimmer (4th place at the Sydney Olympics) 水泳選手（シドニー五輪200m背4位）
Tomoko Hagiwara 萩原智子

See TBS? We have enough women to run a Kunoichi! BRING BACK KUNOICHI!

Clear on the Log Grip

LOL She's crawling between obstacles

and doesn't seem happy about it either LOL

Taking time picking her spot for the Hedgehog

And she cleared it!

Noooooooo too much sideways momentum and she Yamada's off the side!

She aaaalmost had it!

Omg I'm so happy there was a water hazard where she was.. this could have been painful!

She's sooooooo frustrated!

But quickly finds humor and does the backstroke.. her main discipline

Tomoko Hagiwara 萩原智子 - Death by Hedgehog

Pro Boxer プロボクサー

Ryo Miyazaki 宮崎亮

Clear on Long Jump

Clear on Log Grip

Oh.. having trouble on Hedgehog

aaaaalmost...

Clear!

Oh.. but out on the Jump Hang Kai

Yeah.. must hit the + sign dead in the middle

LOL He lost his shoe!

Ryo Miyazaki 宮崎亮 - Death by Jump Hang Kai

LOL Reporter tells him where his shoe was and he retrieves it

Former Gymnast 元体操選手
Daisuke Nakano 中野大輔

As a gymnast if he failed this I would have reamed him for it..

Clear on log grip

He's also fussing with the not-so one size fits all knee pads

And elbow pads..

clear on the Hedgehog

GERONIMOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Yeah.. makes NO sense whatsover.. at least that might shut up the SMF kids who thought someone should try this.. IT'S TOO FAR APART IDIOT!

He brought a cheering squad of kids

and most of them are going wtf as well

Let's see that again.. at least he touched one of the sides...

Daisuke Nakano 中野大輔 - Death by ~~stupidity~~ Jump Hang Kai

LOL he's embarrassed.. even with that explanation..

And he's back!
Comedian 芸人
Kinnikun Nakayamaなかやまきんに君

Nice clear on the Long Jump

Clear on Log Grip

Taking his time on the Hedgehog

aaaaaand clear!

YES! He got the Jump Hang Kai

I'm so happy he remembered to put his underwear on this time..

Time for some Sasuke Spray

.. seriously making love to Sasuke Spray

Clear on the low wall

Pole dancing

.. what's the hold up?

wasted 20 seconds on the wall..

and paying for it dearly now that he has less than 20 before fussing even more with the tarzan rope

He could have done what Yuuji did before.. just take the rope and jump letting it rip off the platform LOL

yeah.. this was unfortunately inevitable

Wakky knows what that feels like though..

I'm sure he's replaying the scene on the wall over and over in his head.. Those 10 seconds just fussing cost him the stage clear

Kinnikun Nakayamaなかやまきんに君 - Death by Time up on Rope ~~Wall~~ Ladder

Despite the disappointment, this should give him more confidence that he's on the right track for training. Just less fussing and more decisiveness and he's got this!

Comedian (Penalty) 芸人（ペナルティ）

Wakky ワッキー who we keep saying is the current champion of Genoijin Sportsman #1 since another Celebrity tourney hasn't been made!

And our reminder as to why Wakky empathized with Kinnikun.. he himself also timed out on the Rope ~~Wall~~ Ladder in Sasuke 28!

So he did a LOT of training

to build stamina more than anything else.

still don't like the carved out "is it a beard or a goatee?" thing..

Wakky ワッキーreminding us that he is a comedian after all

Nice clear on the Long Jump

clear on the Log Grip

Taking time before getting on the Hedgehog that's been annihilating people all day

Clear!

Taking a moment to collect himself before the Jump Hang Kai

And he got it! Hey.. can you go along the outside?

And he's through!

A VERY QUICK application of Sasuke Spray to his feet

and up he goes!

pole dancing

okay I'm not adverse to this.. he did a small run (not coming to a complete stop) before doing the full run up to the wall

LOL he's HAULING up the wall..

C'mon.. c'mon.. you can do this..

DAMN! VERY low...

He's making up the time though.. C'mon!!!!!!!!!!

LUNGING forward..

YEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Asa screaming support at the lunge

And finally celebration at the clear!

He's ecstatic!

86 have competed and we have 12 clears!

And the reminder he is a comedian after all who's known for the faces

.. oh yeah.. Sato is here isn't he...

Wakky ワッキー - FIRST STAGE CLEAR

PART FIVE

(Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3)(Part 4)

UBE'S Sorta-LIVE-BLOG FOR SASUKE 29 IS HERE !

(Massive thanks to TBS for posting the names of all 100 competitors! Thanks to Ube for his help on the names in English!!)

NO! THEY ARE FAST FORWARDING KONGO!?!?!?!?

Dammit... Oh well he did clear the First stage though..

I always find his runs very entertaining! ( > . < )

Deliveryman 運送業
Kenji Takahashi高橋賢次 - FIRST STAGE CLEAR!

Awwww him too???

A very quiet demeanor but still KICKING ASS at his age.. I mean really. .he's SUPER consistently good!!

Sports gym trainer スポーツジムトレーナー
Yoshiyuki Okuyama奥山義行 - FIRST STAGE CLEAR!

Sports gym trainer スポーツジムトレーナー
Yuuya Kadono 上遠野裕也 - FIRST STAGE CLEAR!

OH!!!!!!! Another UNCLI cleared!!!!!!! Most don't recognize him with hair and without glasses! LOL

YES! YES! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For the record folks.. we had 4/5 UNCLI members today! OMG he's 21 now?? When did that happen? I'm getting old...

University student (Keio University) 大学生（慶応義塾大学）
Keitaro Yamamoto山本桂太朗 (Cliffer #5) - FIRST STAGE CLEAR!

wait.. WHAT?? HE GOT DIGESTED!?!!??!? WE WAITED SIX YEARS TO SEE HIM!!!!!!

SIX YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Serious Wtf.. That's okay sweetie we are VERY happy to see you return AND clear even if TBS is less than impressed!

Gymnastics club coach体操クラブコーチ
Shunsuke Nagasaki長崎峻侑

SEE YAMADA? He's a COACH and he cleared! Coach +1 vs. Master -5

OH for the love of everything holy.. you Fastforwarded Kongo and Shun to see this joke? Who's he sleeping with to get so much airtime?

Oh wait he sleeps with her.. LMFAO on the Takeda faces waiting for his turn after Sato.. Hmm.. the fact that he's already at the start line ready means Takeda doesn't have confidence in him either.. ahahahahhaha

Yeah.. we are going to see his full run.. after digesting fan favorites.. oh yeah.. 93 down with 17 clears...

and here for your combo-breaking pleasure.. it's the plastic smile that makes my skin crawl..

Talento タレント
Hiromichi Sato佐藤弘道

I actually spit my water onto the keyboard when I saw this....

Seriously.. you actually fast forwarded.. to see.. this.. /facepalm

Sato's wife (whom I giggle they never show her age) is Kumiko 久美子 with younger son Yuya 友哉

when the heck did he turn 12 years old? Omg time is flying by too fast..

SNORT.. TAKEDA CHEEEEEEEEEESING...

Okay I take it all back. Inui is evil. He showed his run so we can see Evil Takeda™ cheesing at Sato totally whiffing..

Dude that quick screenshot was worth it's weight in GOLD!

Son is stunned that cheesing Takeda is getting in his way of seeing his dad kissing sand.

Seriously.. this is why we call him Combo breaker.. we had a string of clears... then.. this..

Hiromichi Sato佐藤弘道 - Death by ~~karma~~ Long Jump

Meanwhile while they fish Sato's plastic smile out of the sandpit we got All-stars!

Strange seeing him not in orange pants these days but happy he's back!

LOL the cheesing has started.. is he still laughing at Sato? I mean.. I am.. just saying..

LOL No Shingo making snide remarks again :)

Dude.. I totally passed the First stage and like.. half the country did too you know..

Nagano loved that comment too. Btw that's the chart for who's left in the tournament's first stage. New Generation book-ended by the All-stars remain.

and because we have no new footage of what he's doing these days let's crack out the video tape! When he was a firefighter!

Then most recently a helicopter rescue squad.. of which he's not doing these days either!

The man that still holds the 3rd stage appearance record

but as TBS painfully reminds us...

The only All-star never to have competed in the final stage....

And after a 2 year absence he returned only to fluke the Rolling Escargot landing..

Yes.. it was just.. painful to watch..

Though it was THIS defiant comment that sparked the return of the All-stars! mwahahahhahaha

TBS showing the Final stage out of reach.. those bastards.. :p

looong intro

Well he's still wearing his Fire fighting shirt that you can buy off a website.. if you live in Japan..

ah.. the smell of freshly waxed eyebrows in the morning..

Once and All-star.. always an All-Star..

Sasuke All-Star Toshihiro Takeda竹田敏浩

.. because I can

Dude can run....

And an easy clear on the Long Jump

What on Earth is the log on his pants?? From this screenshot, quality and bend.. it looks like a Llama wearing a sombrero... Ole?

sorry got distracted by the tattoo on Takeda's ass to notice he's on the Log Grip.. with an iron grip.. LOL

Yep.. easy clear on the Log Grip

Taking his time between silly grins to eye up the hedgehog

too slow..

almost there...

WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

NOOOOOOOOOO GET UP! GET UP! GET UP!!!!!

Why the HELL are you channeling Shingo for???

Dude broke the Hedgehog!

Oooooooh..

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH

Nagano is totally going through my emotions right now...

Shingo.. I'm watching Shingo!

Oh damn it's Takeda.. (LOL on Kanno trying not to smile.. BITE THAT LIP!)

Meanwhile all the women are feeling it internally.. Check out the chick holding her chest and Kanno's girlfriend using a towel. LOL ooooooooooooh Nagano's shirt is a special edition Descente Sasuke shirt? ME WANTS IT PRECIOUS...

~~Shingo~~ Takeda feeling sheepish right now .. he knows he's going to get ridiculed by Shingo.. LOL

Please forgive me? I was being cocky again...

okay.. let's see that again.. wow.. waaaaaaaay right from the start..

which gave him zero room for error..

and moving a bit slow did not allow him to get out of the way fast enough..

the lunge trying to get out of the way caused waaaaay too much momentum

and threw him right off the platform

he tried valiantly to stay up there..

groans.... /bangsheadonwall

ah okay he only broke the hedgehog by dislodging the outer case.. so it's a metal rod underneath.

Dude you totally have to pay for that... you broke it.. you own it..

Sasuke All-Star Toshihiro Takeda竹田敏浩 - Death by Hedgehog

Meanwhile Asa found the hidden stash of Mexican jumping beans..

hopefully Asa didn't use all of his energy before his run...

The same kanji from last year that got him to the 3rd stage (hey if it ain't broke..): 魂：meaning spirit or soul, so his back is meant to read "The spirit of Sasuke" or "The soul of Sasuke"

Tree Trimmer (technically tree craftsman) 植木職人

Kazuma Asa朝一眞

Sasuke 27 marked the first time he FINALLY cleared the First Stage

In the previous Sasuke, Sasuke 28 he made it to the Crazy Cliffhanger in the 3rd stage

SHOW ME PAAAAAAAAAIN.. TBS WANTS PAAAAAAAAAAIN...

LOL on the Camera crew taking the pics/video (see mirror)

He worked on strengthening his body and fingers

and more fingers...

It didn't work Asa.. you need both hands to hide nipples.. even boys have two..

Shin Sedai (新世代) literally "New Generation"

Kazuma Asa朝一眞

Still plenty left in the tank!

Wasting no time on the Log Grip

very little wait on the Hedgehog

flies through it!

almost no set up for the Jump Hang Kai either!

did I explain how fast he is through this?

Didn't even slow down for the first wall at all!

Jumps the pole

flies up the wall!

HOLY MOSES LOOK AT THE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bah.. very low.. but seriously.. he can take a nap on the wall ...

ahahahah he was totally gunning for it.. look at him look at the clock..

runs across to make it with 30 seconds left!!!!

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! no one is even CLOSE to that time!

An EMPHATIC Rebel Yell!

Yay! It's nice to see Spazzy back! He was quite subdued in 28. Oh yeah.. 96 competed and 18 clears!!!

looking at the time

probably staring at Takeda right now

aaaaaaaaah to be 10 years younger again...

Nagano approves of this message

Asa fanclub™

of which Ryo is a part of as well LOL

TBS trying to get him to do more as he exits stage left.. LOL wow look at that time..

yeah.. no more emphatic celebration LOL

Sister Sayuri さゆり

Kazuma Asa朝一眞 - FIRST STAGE CLEAR!

OMG THEY ARE FAST FORWARDING THEM TOO??

Shin Sedai (新世代) literally "New Generation"

Hitoshi Kanno菅野仁志 - FIRST STAGE CLEAR!

LOL Ryo's super saiyan hair finally toned down to a burnt orange.

Though I am really surprised they aren't doing more for them.. aren't they the new replacements?

Shin Sedai (新世代) literally "New Generation"

Ryo Matachi (Cliffer #2)

k so that's 3/5 cliffers and they are 2/4 so far in Sasuke 29

WAIT HIM TOO????? You are FAST FORWARDING YOUR STAR???

Geez.. I guess being 2-time champion means nothing these days to TBS.

Shin Sedai (新世代) literally "New Generation"

2-Time Grand Champion Yuuji Urushihara漆原裕治 (Cliffer #3)

so that's 4/5 of UNCLI competed and 3/4 today. Not bad!

Okay.. that was #99.. just one more.. we got Nagano next..

PART SIX

(Part 1)(Part 2) (Part 3)(Part 4)(Part 5)

UBE'S Sorta-LIVE-BLOG FOR SASUKE 29 IS HERE !

(Massive thanks to TBS for posting the names of all 100 competitors! Thanks to Ube for his help on the names in English!!)

YAY! It's Nagano time! Oooooh even better.. ritual caning™

Kaiou: Hey.. what are we doing?

(L-R) Nagano, Takeda, Mr. Sasuke, Kaiou 塊王 (Nagano's son) and Shingo

Surrounded by All-Stars and his (then) youngest son (actually he's 4 years old not 3)

Kaiou: Hey.. can someone help my daddy? He's fallen and he can't get up..

Takeda winding up!

Kaiou: Uhm.. Mr. Takeda.. what are you doing?

WHACK! And no .. Nagano barely flinches..

Kaiou: Daddy are you okay?

Kaiou is here with daddy because Makoto's wife Asami was just about to give birth to their second child (who was born a week later)

Kaiou: I'm going to tell Mom you hit him in her absence!

Personally I missed this from the previous Sasuke's.. hopefully this trend continues. He usually does much better when whacked!

Kaiou: I promise you Mr. Takeda.. she will be most displeased at your actions today

veeery slowly Nagano starts to move..

Makoto: That's okay kiddo.. I'm still kickin'..

Makoto: Don't tell Mom okay? I'll treat you later to some ice cream.

Kaiou: You.. sure about that?

Makoto: yeah.. gimme five!

Kaiou: Double scoops and we got a deal!

Makoto: Right on! Double scoops it is!

Kaiou: and THAT my friends is how I roll..

Yes.. this is an actual McDonald's Commercial

Kaiou: Hey! Driver.. get me off this stage I want a better view over there.

Shingo: Yes Master Kaiou Sir!..

Seemingly gaining necklaces every tournament..

Yep.. time to hike up dem pants!

TBS reminding us that he was the 2nd person to ever be crowned Champion

Recently (Sasuke 24) he has been screwing up a bit.

Sasuke 25 also down in the First Stage

26 again making it 3 times in a row..

And 28.. wait.. what happened to 27 when he made the 3rd Stage? LOL Conveeeeeeenient

As the New Generation craps a collective brick

And he gets yelled at by his wife for giving up..

Gosh this place is gorgeous...

I love the coast.. sorry.. having geography envy right now..

Nagano on his new boat showing he's still in shape

Getting more footage that undoubtedly will be reused for years to come :)

God the weather they got there is gorgeous.. The view ain't bad either :)

because I can..

Meanwhile back in Sasuke 29 and still feeling the sting in his back from Takeda's whack...

Nagano going through the normal emotions he usually does.. nervousness and doubt. All-stars are 1 for 2 today with him up next..

Taking the time to actually look down the runway properly

sees the long run up and distance between the end of the platform and the start of the sand pit

" omg it's further than I thought.." (Paraphrase of course)

As a reminder.. if you were sleeping the past hour.. You missed 99 people and we have yes.. you read that right.. 21 clears! (Not going to beat the record today)

Raise your hand if you're Sure!

God this guy is a basket case LOL

Once and All-star.. always an All-Star..

Sasuke Legend Makoto Nagano長野誠

Moving those short legs like crazy! Remember.. he can actually match Takeda's speed!

GERONI....

wtf... he's.. sideways??

Phew.. okay he landed with plenty of space but that was ugly..

OMG NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

He's friggin' hurt.. dammit I KNEW it didn't look right...

K.. cleared log grip by miracle..

Omg.......

This.. is sooooo.. not.. happening..

This.. is just not fair..

Gingerly getting set up for the Hedgehog that took out Takeda

calmly walking across it..

and cleared..

I.. do not have high hopes for this now...

REAAAAAAALLY low...

Smart man.. Keep those legs up.. he's soooo friggin' close to the water

omg clear..

Dude is a friggin' iron man..

.. yeah I don't see him passing this...

k he managed the first wall..

but. he's feeling it now..

Anyone ever pull a hamstring can empathize right now...

pole dancing

He.... he has no hope on this..

Sure looks taller today..

Digging deep.. he knows he doesn't have juice for the rest.. but he's going up this wall or die trying..

dooooooooooooooh.. right at the tip of his fingers

oh.. and he's going to try again!

Everyone holding their breath

Asa trying to pass his Mexican jumping beans to Nagano telepathically

And.. yeah..

Yuuji verifying the time.. he knows this is over.. just waiting for the clock to run out

Kaiou in the arms of .. I think that's Nagano's brother (I need to verify that)

and dude knows it..

Even Chibi Nagano knows what he's watching

Wakky looking intently before the jump

camera pans quickly to the left to show the rest of the group having a heart attack. Lee looks like he's going to die right now and Takeda about to drop all of his gear..

They can't believe he's out in the same obstacle from last time

worse that they know he's hurt.. and badly....

but.. he's trying to muster enough strength to try again..

probably so his wife won't yell at him for quitting like he did last time..

ouch not even close...

omg he's going for it again? You can see how much pain this dude's in!

block it out.. one more time... block it out..

and the timer goes off but he's nowhere near the top

and it's over.. OMG what a shame! He was soooo ready for this..

he just collapses..

Kaiou clearly concerned

actually trying to get to him..

omg he's in pain..

He's having a hard time just sitting there..

yeah.. hammy..

trying to stretch it out..

OMG THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING TO WATCH

I'm sure he's looking up as if to say "why do you hate me right now...."

replay on how he got injured.. he just totally threw everything he had to get across that gap..

He's FLYING across...

but mid-air he felt it..

and with full momentum he's literally being thrown sideways now..

but he jumped so hard that the momentum alone threw him across the gap

and almost face first into the sand pit

another angle so we can see it better

all the momentum on that right leg...

and.. pulll.......

ouch.. and he's starting to contort midair..

completely out of control trying to wrangle himself mid-flight

and almost face first..

family and friends holding the sign

that's always been there for him for the past 12 years

and true to form.. he's smiling now..

God I love this guy.. true sportsman

I'm sure if I didn't do that my wife would have yelled at me!

She's at home about to deliver our baby and omg if I phoned this in I would have been in a heap of trouble..

Get well bud! Come back in Sasuke 30 and kick some serious ass!!

Oh yeah.. seems redundant now..

Sasuke All-Star Makoto Nagano長野誠 - Death by Time up on Double Warped Wall (*Injury)

Recap of the clears:

Sasuke All-star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟

Sasuke 24 Finalist Kouji Hashimoto橋本亘司

Taiwan's Lee En Chiリー・エンチ

Daisuke Morikami守上大輔

Taiga Hoshikawa 星川大我

Hidekazu Inoue 井上英和

Hiromasa Katakabe 片伯部浩正

More clears:

Toshiharu Takami 高見俊治

Terukazu Ishikawa石川輝一

Masashi Hioki日置将士

Yusuke Morimoto森本裕介

Wakky ワッキー

Kenji Takahashi高橋賢次

Yoshiyuki Okuyama奥山義行

And more clears for the total of 21:

Yuuya Kadono 上遠野裕也

Keitaro Yamamoto山本桂太朗 (Cliffer #5)

Sasuke 17 Finalist Shunsuke Nagasaki長崎峻侑

Then New Generation:

Kazuma Asa朝一眞

Hitoshi Kanno菅野仁志

Ryo Matachi (Cliffer #2)

2-Time Grand Champion Yuuji Urushihara漆原裕治 (Cliffer #3)

Now that that's over with.. back to the room..

nothing of importance other than talking about Asa.

Next up.. The Second Stage for 21 competitors!

PART SEVEN

(Part 1)(Part 2) (Part 3)(Part 4)(Part 5)(Part 6)

UBE'S Sorta-LIVE-BLOG FOR SASUKE 29 IS HERE !

(Massive thanks to TBS for posting the names of all 100 competitors! Thanks to Ube for his help on the names in English!!)

Okay! Second Stage.. and I'm not happy about it because having seeing this live as it aired on TBS.. and knowing what happened.. I'm still furious. So I'll do my best to not burn the internet with my fury right now. I don't have the energy to even bother faking not seeing this.. Right now I'm trying not to rip someone a new one..

① Cross Sliderクロススライダー

Note those 2 padded things.. you have to prop your body like a cross (thus the name)

slide down and land on this mat at the end of the moat

From here you get the ② Swap Salmon Ladderスワップサーモンラダー

As you go up the rungs (jumping from one set of rings to the other) the notches above pop out.

That also explains why you couldn't just "Keita" up the higher rungs..

because they would have not been exposed yet without landing on the opposite rungs to trigger the mechanism.

③ *Unstable Bridgeアンステーブルブリッジ

Note that it's "modified".. they nerfed this one to only have the first plank (the easy one with 4 chains). I'd be shocked if anyone missed this... Personally this is a "joke" obstacle. It was clear they just ran out of room and couldn't figure out another thing to add here.

④ Spider Walkスパイダーウォーク

Also an older obstacle.. personally I like this obstacle.

.. here is my object of fury..

⑤ Backstreamバックストリーム

The one everyone is talking about worldwide.. not just USA.. not just Japan.. yes.. you have to swim through it.. no other way around it. TBS just telling people to go eff themselves if people can't swim. So based on this alone I expect a bicycle for Sasuke 30 because clearly the new crew wants to turn Sasuke into a Triathlon..

⑥ Passing Wallパッシングウォール

Note that the middle wall opens sideways...

Outside of 2 MAJOR tweaks this is the same Second Stage as last year. Both "tweaks" will become apparently almost immediately as we start. One you can see right now.. the TIME.. we went from 135 seconds down to 90 seconds. Lemme explain in detail.. That is a cut of 45 seconds.. Yeah.. If you need a reminder.. the 3 clears from Sasuke 28 were at MOST 27 seconds (Kanno), 25 seconds (Asa) and 13 seconds (Yuuji). SO WHY THE HELL DID YOU CUT 45 SECONDS?

Pre requisite interviews..
Sasuke All-star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟

Taiwan's Lee En Chiリー・エンチ

Masashi Hioki日置将士

Yusuke Morimoto森本裕介

Kazuma Asa朝一眞

Hitoshi Kanno菅野仁志

Ryo Matachi (Cliffer #2)

2-Time Grand Champion Yuuji Urushihara漆原裕治 (Cliffer #3)

.. here we go.. 100 people competed in Stage 1 and we have 21 clears.

First ~~victim~~ in order of clear is 2-Time Sasuke Finalist
Sasuke All-star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟

and for the love of everything holy HE DID NOT LOSE HIS TITLE..

NONE of the All-stars lost their titles.. geez.. anyway.. back to the 2nd Stage.

Clear on the Cross Slider and having wobbly issues going between the floating mats

as a reminder.. this is floating on water so you have to be a wee bit careful

okay on the Swap Salmon Ladder

First transition is clean

next transition is clean

3rd clean

and we are done

I never did like how they took out the 2nd board. This has 4 chains holding it up.. but I digress

I have bigger things to hate about the 2nd stage to care about this right now..

Spider Walk which he's done a billion times..

but first Dracula needs to brush his teeth..

Through the magic of television Shingo goes back in time..

.. okay.. here we go.. (btw.. notice the time.. yeah.. wtf..)

he goes in..

he's feeling out the current..

he says this is bullshit and balks at it..

He turns around and goes back to the beginning..

Because he is not going to drown in a friggin' game show.

For those who don't understand the importance of this..

HE IS A FRIGGIN' SURFER. HE CAN SWIM..

Next on is Kouji who ALSO is a surfer so when he sees Shingo put up the white flag and he is openly shocked... I agree.. this is bullshit..

Sorry for cursing kids.. I feel that strongly about this..

Eiko is surprised.. she KNOWS he's a good swimmer.. (and she says it) She's been present at the surfing competitions he enters... c'mon

Shingo's wife Eiko 英子 distressed over the situation.

Shingo cannot believe what is happening. When you face a rip tide.. you go around it.. there's no place to go here!

Now TBS trying to cover their asses by saying that he should go under the water since they created a conveyor system.

"supposedly" you get a current pushing you forward if you go under the water..

But clearly you see a WALL of water stopping you midway.. the closer to get to the JET of water coming at you the more it just stops you.

So the idea that if you just go under the water you clear is clearly.. yeah.. Bullshit..

HE is a good swimmer.. he even mentions something was up with the current and wasn't going to subject himself to it.

Sasuke All-star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟 - Death by almost literal drowning.

okay okay I'll be good.. Sasuke All-star Shingo Yamamoto山本進悟 - Death by Time up on bullshit "obstacle".. that better? SWIMMING IS NOT AN OBSTACLE IT IS A DISCIPLINE. A worthy sport on to it's own. It does not belong in Sasuke. For 16 years if you touched the water you were disqualified.

Btw.. you see it too right? IT'S A FIRE HOSE..
Hubby wants credit for seeing this and thinking of this skit on the movie UHF - "YOU GET TO DRINK FROM THE FIRE HOSE!"

Next ~~Victim~~.. is newly reinstated New Generation Sasuke 24 Finalist Kouji Hashimoto橋本亘司

Who is also a COACH.. HEAR THAT YAMADA? Anyway he's moved back down to Shimane to teach little kids gymnastics.

Clear on the Cross Slider

transition in the Swap Salmon Ladder

other side

turning around on other side

and clear

Joke of a Unstable Bridge

doing well on the Spider Walk

.. here we go... (remember.. he's a surfer.. used to strong currents.. he can swim..)

doing exactly as they said to do.. go DOWN...

what happens? Pops right back off from the force of hitting the wall..

Yeah.. they see it too.. Kongo cannot BELIEVE what he just saw.. There is shock running through the competitors right now..

LOOK AT THIS THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT CONVEYOR?

W.. T.. FFFFFFFFFFF...

WHAT Stream? WHAT CONVEYOR?? I SEE A WALL!!!

He's pushing as hard as he can..

AND HE'S GOING BACKWARDS!!!!

He keeps trying to dive under it but keeps popping back up.. at one point he's trying to get some air!!!!!!!!

Wakky can't believe he's watching this.. Kouji can swim.. what does that tell someone who can't swim as strong?

Clearly frustrated.. he also wondered what was wrong with the backstream.. he literally said he considered himself a VERY strong swimmer..

Sasuke 24 Finalist Kouji Hashimoto橋本亘司 - Death by Bullshit..

Next ~~Victim~~ .. oh yeah.. the THIRD FINALIST IN A ROW..
Sasuke 24 Finalist Taiwan's Lee En Chiリー・エンチ

The only ones in Taiwan not sending him death threats.. (and YES I am dead serious about this)

Here we go.. I just cackle at that timer.. who the hell thought cutting 45 seconds from the timer was a brilliant idea?

Clear on the Cross Slider..

Transition good on the Swap Salmon Ladder

Continuing on the other side

and other side

and top

trying to go as fast as he can without being forced into a careless mistake

Spider walk with no issues

.. here we go.. a full 25 seconds..

DIVING under as best he could..

on TOP of the fire hose..

GETTING PUSHED BACK...

within inches of the damn exit.. and he's going backwards..

EVERYONE IS IN DISBELIEF!!!

EVERYONE GETTING UP

LOOKING AROUND.. TRYING TO SEE WHY THIS IS HAPPENING..

ASA IS SCREAMING RIGHT NOW..

LOOK AT THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FINALLY he miraculously managed to get ONE HAND on the support beam and PULLS himself out of the JET of water.. so help me if they disqualified him for doing this I would have quit watching Sasuke and taken down my damn blog.

Slides down with literally no time left to tackle the walls..

He's exhausted from fighting the RIPTIDE for almost 20 seconds.. he times out on the first wall.

I'm with you!

Wakky is clearly showing his displeasure.. he's shaking his head and yelling at how unfair this is.

He's physically spent.. THIS is just wrong.. it's so wrong I'm shaking I'm so furious..

Taiwan's Lee En Chiリー・エンチ - Death by Injustice

More victims.. this guy dives deep in to try go under it.

Daisuke Morikami守上大輔 - Death by BRICK WALL

Another one! Seriously.. ANOTHER ONE..

Taiga Hoshikawa 星川大我 - Death by BRICK WALL

replay from the commercials.. Hidekazu Inoue 井上英和 - Death by Cross Slider

Hiromasa Katakabe 片伯部浩正 - Death by Swap Salmon Ladder

and apparently they changed the rules again.. now you can't readjust if you miss a side.. since when?

apparently now.. Toshiharu Takami 高見俊治 - Death by Disqualification on Swap Salmon Ladder on rule that only applied now and never before...

ISHIKAWA TRIED TO GO AROUND THE FIRE HOSE!! See? He couldn't go around it either!
Terukazu Ishikawa石川輝一 - Death by BRICK WALL

oh boy.. next victim is already looking panicked..

yeah.. 9 people and 0 clears.. YOU THINK? /facepalm

Masashi Hioki日置将士

I'm to the point I can't even see the screen I'm so angry..

literally this is probably the first time I see his full run..

I literally was seething right now..

I didn't even care to see more...

I have not been THIS angry at Sasuke.. ever.. I do mean it.. EVER..

There's a difference between stupid things that happen like Ryo squeezing under the wall that is over a FOOT off the ground..

and there's a difference when you see this crap happening..

Did he run out of time? of course he did. Did he waste too much time on the Unstable bridge? Of course he did..

but it angers me there's zero room for error. He is NOT a strong swimmer. We can clearly see that..

But when you cut 45 seconds off a clock for no apparently reason and add a JET of water so strong that it sends experienced swimmers back..

You get THIS reaction.. Kongo getting a migraine.. Kouji feeling empathy and Yuuji crapping a brick. Yuuji isn't a strong swimmer.. so how is that supposed to help his confidence?

I feel bad for Hioki and the other poor souls before him.

and his poor wife Mayumi that saw this happen when it shouldn't have happened.

Masashi Hioki日置将士 - Death by Time up.. doesn't matter where at this point.

He can't even breathe..

PART EIGHT

(Part 1)(Part 2) (Part 3)(Part 4)(Part 5)(Part 6)(Part 7)

UBE'S Sorta-LIVE-BLOG FOR SASUKE 29 IS HERE !

(Massive thanks to TBS for posting the names of all 100 competitors! Thanks to Ube for his help on the names in English!!)

And we are back with Morimoto after a good night's sleep and a whole day to calm down.. well.. a weekend but I'm digressing already..

Yusuke Morimoto森本裕介

TBS seriously is in love with him! There's nothing wrong with that ( ^ . ^ )

I say that because they had a longer fluff piece on him than anyone else on Navi and a LOT here in Sasuke 29's tourney coverage.

He trains a lot at home and surprisingly they didn't show him idolizing Yamada during this piece here.

I still hate you Backstream...

TBS getting dramatic with the fire.. Luckily it's far enough away that you won't get torched..

Yusuke Morimoto森本裕介 on his 2nd trip down the 2nd Stage and 6th Sasuke overall apparently. (I thought it was 4 but either way he's not "new")

Many know him because the first time he competed he was 15 years old.. a fact fans remember since G4/NBC/Comcast still has that stupid age restriction..

K clear on the Circle Slider and onto the Swap Salmon Ladder

moving smoothly between the rungs

up and over

and complete.

across the joke of an obstacle..

now to the Spider Walk

.. and here we go.. something I"m already noticing and will mention later..

Diving about midway down

manages to catch the support on the first try

getting out of the tank

Sliding down the chute for the walls

having all sorts of trouble sliding all over the place

what's up with the cut outs.. they think they are at a food shop?

I'm "meh" about this obstacle...

He's got 4 seconds to lift this thing..

.... he ditches the lifting and takes advantage of the one foot gap..

LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMBO....

He's happy he got through...

Wakky can't believe what he just saw..

Asa is .. shocked..

Dude.. wtf...

Keitaro is cheering.. Kouji is just cheesing.. Asa is just walking around in a circle disgusted..

Yeah.. they can't be shocked since this has happened before..

As frustrated as everyone is.. (And I am).. the obstacle has a one foot gap. I can't fault Morimoto (or anyone else) for taking advantage of it when the time runs out. It's there.. it's cheap.. but it's legal.

They (TBS) needs to fix it though. They need to bring down the wall back to it's original height just barely off the floor.

Just like it was before Levi got his foot stuck under it.

(Foot catch incident) Levi Meeuwenbergリーヴァイ・ミューエンバーグ completing the Wall Lifting ウォールリフティング in Sasuke 20. Monster 9 was so freaked out about this and thinking that the USA is a litigious society that they raised the wall after that to avoid future lawsuits. And for the record Levi did NOT complain. It was just M9 trying to do a CYA.

So despite my frustration of how he cleared. He did legitimately clear. The gap was there and he took advantage as others have done in the past. If there was any rule breaking he would not have been awarded the clear. They have disqualified people before (including All-stars) for other infractions, however they didn't this time. So it's legit even if you (and I) think it's cheap. Complain about the gap.. bitch to TBS.. but don't transfer your hate to the person using the gap.

His parents (I assume) are elated at the clear

Awwww I love it! His parents are totally into PDA!

Okay not heavy overt PDA like Kongo but I'll totally take it!

Morimoto still trying to get his breath.

Finally taking a second to look at how close he was to actually failing.. 0.81 seconds..

He can't believe he cleared.

Meanwhile Asa who is obviously not happy about how he cleared it is soon to compete.

There's still a murmur in the crowd

while Asa is trying to compose himself and not try to look the way he feels right now.

Morimoto still trying to catch his breath as the reporter chick is yelling for him.

Yusuke Morimoto森本裕介 - SECOND STAGE CLEAR!

Seriously trying to catch his breath. He looks like he's going to throw up!

Morimoto Parents still doing high fives. AWWWWWWW ( ^ . ^ )

So who else will be getting out of the Second Stage?

What possible injustices can continue?

Who will make the Japanese team for Sasuke ASEAN Open Cup?

Will anyone get to the tower?

.. This is a commercial for .. body wipes? So .. yeah.. moving on..

FARK! I forgot about the news break.. at least it was short this time..

And we are back.. TBS fidgeting with the water hose (more on that later) got 1 clear!

Next is the only known hairy chested man in all of Japan..

Wakky ワッキー

Clear on the Cross Slider and clear on the first jump of the Swap Salmon Ladder

Clear on the other side

Diagonal.. so he's disqualified..

Nevermind.. he fell..

Yeah he couldn't recover even if he wanted to (he wouldn't have been allowed)

Scream of utter frustration

Wakky ワッキー - Death by Swap Salmon Ladder

12 have competed in the 2nd Stage but only 1 clear!

Damn Skippy the Beast has arrived! I'm surprised he wasn't fast-forwarded (/sarcasm)

Make way for the KONG EXPRESS!

Kenji Takahashi高橋賢次

Awww they are showing him when he was just 6 years old with his mother! (I don't know her name..)

To my knowledge Kong Express is still a 1 man delivery company.

When you have him you don't need anyone else! LOL

A reminder to the new TBS crew.. Kongo has been in the 3rd stage 5 times (wait.. isn't it 6 times??) Oh hell he's been cut from the show so many times we don't even know anymore..

This is him with hair! As a reminder and many people forget this.. Kongo has NEVER failed the 2nd Stage.. Ever.. So if he's in the 2nd stage expect him to clear or the world will end.

Sasuke 24 was his only final where he had the unfortunate incident of him getting the lead line tangled with the Rope causing him to come to a grinding halt. He talks about it candidly.

Kongo making it clear to TBS that it was a mistake to not invite him the last time..

Off we go on the Cross Slider

Clear on that as he jumps across to the first transition of the Swap Salmon Ladder

he's motoring through this spending very little time turning around each time

clear on the 2nd to last transition

and clear on the Swap Salmon Ladder

the joke of an obstacle.. clear..

onwards to the Spider Walk

LOL Go under? NOT ON YOUR LIFE!

Kenji going into Beastmode!

water does look.. different.. (more on that later..)

still must be difficult to breathe with a fire hose on your face I don't care if they turned it down..

grabbed support beam on the first shot and hauling himself up and out of the water

Flying down the chute taking his goggles off

Willing the walls up

tearing the walls apart..

and lifting the last wall

even though it landed on his back.. ouch..

that look like it hurt.. but he continues on

and slams the button to clear again!

watching the last moments

waiting for the timer

Asa knows that if a near flawless run still only affords 5 seconds of error.. he's going to have a bear of a time..

Still.. it instills hope to the rest of those to go that it can be done.. if flawless..

Takahashi Familycam™

I don't know his mother's name though

Kongo starts to strip!

And go bonkers!

and this is why I love him..

Who says the Japanese are always so quiet and proper?

One stupid elbow pad gone...

And another left to go!

Dude.. is a beast!

Kenji defying TBS by powering through the top of the backstream with pure force

The water though has been adjusted (yes.. midway through the competition) but still this is an impressive run. He is by far the strongest swimmer in the 2nd Stage hands down.

Youtube video confirming what we've been seeing (thanks scnoi for finding it).. Top is Shingo Yamamoto. Middle is Kouji Hashimoto. Those were the first 2 competitors.. notice.. the strength of the water. Yeah.. Now.. bottom... Kenji's run you just saw. By now they've adjusted the fire hose to not be "as" strong. Even the strength lowered, the hose is still much stronger than last year. My biggest frustration is how they didn't give anyone a re-run after manipulating the tank's water flow. Those who went earlier were penalized for "testing" their equipment for them during the competition. It is obvious that TBS was crapping a collective brick when their favorites were drowning but they couldn't do anything about the time. They clearly were manipulating the water without telling anyone.. it took someone in Japan to do an HD comparison video to finally put to rest the argument that the backstream was "fair". It wasn't. Period. What makes it worse.. is that it looks like the person who was doing EXACTLY what they were supposed to was Kouji and he had the strongest stream. So I'm now being led to believe watching the video that the stream was adjusted according to who was on the platform.. the only adjustments (in the first stage) were done according to age and gender. I've NEVER seen something like this. Which is why this has to go. It's like taking rungs out of the Salmon Ladder or spacing the jump in the Cliffhanger between competitors. Even playing field was supposed to be a given. Now if you put a proper "obstacle" you don't have these problems.

Anyway, Sasuke Veteran and overall BEAST! Kenji Takahashi高橋賢次 - SECOND STAGE CLEAR!

Poor guy is still hyperventilating..

............ see the water.. it's back up again.. what makes it worse is that it is obvious that even though he's a World Championship Sprinter.. he's not a good swimmer.