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Sunday, May 18, 2008

Sasuke Maniac - May 18/19


Sasuke Maniac - A 1/2 hour show that runs every Sunday night (into Monday) on TBS in Japan featuring Monster 9 events. Today is part 2 of the Maguro Festival (Maguro = Tuna for those of you at home) that Nagano helped coordinate (at least his company's (Takasui) section). Part one is covered here by me and here by Ube. This week's Ube post can be found here. I returned to my trusty program to watch Japanese TV and enjoyed news and documentaries I can’t understand. :)

Title shot of Sasuke Maniac for this week! Part 2 of Maguro Festival - showing Day 1 of a shirtless Akiyama pwning the Shin-Cliffhanger.

A shirtless Kazuhiko Akiyama pwning the Shin-Cliffhanger in style..

Starting a little later than the last couple times the show started around 12:20 pm my time in the east coast USA. I was trying to use Cam Studio but it didn’t want to cooperate so I said .. screw it :p

The area in the Maguro Festival that had the Sasuke course. God I love the crazy animations they put in their posters.

Today is Sasuke 20 in the USA.. hope G4 doesn’t screw it up.. /sigh.. I’m almost afraid to figure out how much they are going to cut.. /cry… happy thoughts.. happy thoughts.. Anyway.. looking forward to seeing Shingo outside of Sasuke!

Dude.. you wouldn't BELIEVE the traffic.. Shingo Yamamoto making it late to the Maguro Festival.. still... iirc this is the very first off-Sasuke appearance... ever!

Today is supposed to be the 2nd part of the Festival.. they showed Shingo last week so I hope they show Bunpei. As I mentioned in last week's blog.. Nagano wasn't sure if either of them were going to be able to make it.

(Nagano: Dangit.. I can never get off of doing some sort of administration.. 2 +2 equals..) Oh wait.. Yamada, Takeda and Akiyama spots Yamamoto in the distance.

Ew.. that freaky bobblehead commercial again.. the freaky marionettes… Yay they started! Okay.. title is of Akiyama clearing the Shin-Cliffhanger in style without a shirt to a wowed crowd! They show the area where they are having the festival and talk to the guys for a while.

Duuuuuuuude.. everyone already lined up to greet Yamamoto.

Finally they show Shingo Yamamoto arriving to the second day of the Maguro Festival (he lives in Tokyo).. apparently late since the guys were already there from the day before.

Herro! Sorry sorry.. just got here! (Shingo waves to the his friends as the crowd looks on)

As Shingo arrives the guys who are lined up either to do registration or get ready for autographs.. or.. just set there because they can.. see him coming in from the distance. He walks over and high-fives everyone.

Shingo high-fives everyone as Nagano grabs his hand at the end (Dude.. you are soooooo gonna pay :p Thanks for comin' man..)

They do the prerequisite interviews and such with Shingo and the guys talking about.. er.. iono.. Read Ube's blog.. I'm here for the scenery :p

Shingo hanging around just talking to interviewer.

Looks like they are recapping some of Day One's highlights... if that crazy lady wasn't embarrassed before.. TBS is going to show her again to show how really schizoid this nutjob is...

Crazy psycho-hosebeast (who wants to marry Nagano) juuuuuust before she goes mental.. taking picture with Nagano (L) and Takeda (R) (see part 1 of the blog to understand this picture more..)

Next they go through this long intro of this guy who's apparently REALLY into Sasuke and has mailed countless letters and videos and stuff to TBS about wanting to participate. Video of him in Muscle Park.. I guess he didn't fare well in the prelims.. so I guess they are going to give him a chance here at the Festival in front of cameras and the All-stars.

Some guy who is serious about Sasuke doing the meditation under waterfall thing.. is he whiter than the water?

He's doing pretty good considering the Pipe Slider doesn't .. glide.. it's sorta pipe.. grinder.. have to get the stupid pole to slide a little bit.. then hop over the connections where they meet up with other poles..

Dude that sucks! Toshihiro laughing at Mr. training-under-waterfall-guy's death by Shin-Cliffhanger.

Poor guy doesn't make it past the Shin-Cliffhanger and Toshihiro thinks that's just the bomb.. Next is a bunch of other people failing in the exact same spot (to the delight of the All-Stars who think all of this is a hoot!)

Meeting of the minds.. sorta.. "er.. what do you want to do?" "Iono"...

Looks like the guys are deliberating over something.. Iono.. I guess they are deciding what to do next.. OH! Ube says they are deciding that they are going to make this into a time-trial on TOP of trying to one-up each other.. boys will be boys..

Meeting of the minds.. sorta.. part deux.. "okay.. race then?" "er.. sure.. "

LOL I love Ube's Maguro Festival Mock-SASUKE Obstacle Course of Doom and Destruction title for this event.. They go through the introductions as each of them climbs waaaaaaaaaay up high to wave to the crowd as their name is called.

Toshihiro waving at the crowd as he's being introduced for the All-Star rumble... wait.. Ube had a better idea.. Maguro Festival Mock-SASUKE Obstacle Course of Doom and Destruction!

Okay this is really freaky.. they are not being supported by anything.. OH and I'm afraid of heights.. so help me no one better fall.. oh crap.. Akiyama who's practically blind has serious cojones to be the first going up there.. he seems to be having a ball :) Nice to see him smiling :) (My picture came out blurry for his part so it's not shown).

Dude that's a long-ass name.. Maguro Festival Mock-SASUKE Obstacle Course of Doom and Destruction.. wtf is that? Shingo laughing as he's introduced to the crowd.

Shingo seems to be having an attack of the giggles as he wimps out and doesn't do the whole up-the-friggin'-pole-to-say-hello thing.. Toshihiro was next.. or was the other way around.. oh I don't care.. I think Mr. SASUKE Spray.. er.. Yamada was next.. Nagano's intro of course is the longest and he just teeters in the wind.. oy.. going to throw up...

Nagano being introduced to the crowd.. Dude's like barely stable up there.. I don't want to look..

Kazuhiko Akiyama is the first to go on the Maguro Festival Mock-SASUKE Obstacle Course of Doom and Destruction! The course starts at the pipe.. grinder.. er.. Pipe Slider.. then around the corner as they climb up to the Jumping Bars.. then around the corner to a mock Jump Hang where they catch the pole and go around to the Shin-Cliffhanger where they hop down and finish. Not entirely sure if there is a finish line.. I guess when they hop down?

Okie dokie.. Now for this stupid trampoline... Akiyama's first up in the Maguro Festival Mock-SASUKE Obstacle Course of Doom and Destruction!

He's doing great! Goes through the course - Pipe Slider.. around corner.. Jumping Bars.. around corner Trampoline to the psedu Jump Hang.. pole thing.. climb pole to get to Shin-Cliffhanger. C'mon.. just like yesterday.. up.. and oveeeeeeerrrrrr.. gah.. down he goes.. he's just in a fit of laughter!

Akiyma: I sooooooo had that yesterday.. I guess I can't do it with my shirt on!

As Akiyama is the first to get pwned by the Shin-Cliffhanger everyone just laughs with him. We all know he beat it yesterday.. but.. awww well.. he did a great run up to that point. He's in giggling fits in the mat as everyone around him is laughing and cheering.

Akiyama: Dude.. the tip of my fingers.. gah.. I had it .. I HAD it.. LOL

Akiyama gets the prerequisite interview afterwards.. he's still giggling from his defeat. At least they are having fun :)

Akiyama: Yeah.. we all know I was the first to defeat it yesterday.. and I was bad-ass lookin' too :P We all know I have style.. yeah.. I pwn :)

Next is Shingo Yamamoto's turn. He's giggling even before he starts! Okay.. he's off! Doing a little faster than Akiyama.. stupid pipe grind..

Yamamoto rocking the Pipe.. grinder..

He's doing well going up the Jumping Bars.. then.. turns.. a sharp left.. er.. uh.. he's totally bypassing the Jump Hang.. LOL!!!!!!

Okay.. to Shin Cliff-hanger..

Nagano is sooooooo not going to let him slide.. he screams at Yamamoto to go back and redo the last section...

Nagano: Hey MORON.. you cut the course in half! Cheater!!!

Shingo just giggles his way back to the part he screwed up and goes for the Jump Hang.. pole.. thingie..

Yamamoto: Doh.. this is embarrasing! Who's the one that's blind???

Shingo does the Jump Hang on a tilt so he can cut off time.. LOL I love this guy but he is soooooo not graceful! LOL I call it to "Shingo" the course.. you know.. to scrap your way through the course as ugly as you can.. completed.. but still leaving body parts all over the course.. right leg under a bar.. fingers still hanging on to another pole.. his hair trapped beneath something.. his spleen attached to some other obstacle.. and his remaining finger touching the red button LOL Nobody ever said he was the fastest, strongest, smoothest, or graceful.. he's all sheer willpower!

Ah yes.. I see Yamamoto is "Shingo'ing" his way through the course.. again..

Anyway back to this competition.. He gets to the cliffhanger and .. DOWN he goes.. then again.. in a hysterical fit of laughter!

Yamamoto: This is so not fair.. I had no training on this stupid thing.. I can't believe to totally botched this course!!

What follows next is a myriad of shots of everyone in laughing fits. Apparently the combination of him being a dufus and going the wrong way and then albatrossing the Cliffhanger was just way too much fun for everyone watching.. and everyone involved LOL

Duuuude that was funny! (Nagano cracking up in the foreground while Takeda is clapping Shingo's misfortune in the background)

Lot of pictures of everyone laughing.. doubling over in laughter.. clapping.. outright gasping for air in a fit of giggles.. I'm laughing at home myself!

Akiyama is happy he's not the only one who botched the Shin Cliffhanger!

Prerequisite interview of the loser.. Shingo is still laughing.. I mean.. CACKLING in laughter.. he's probably embarrassed out of his mind .. but still it's all in good fun.

Yamamoto: Did you see that?? Holy crap!

Meanwhile back at the starting gate.. Yamada looks like he's going to his funeral.. All goes tense as Mr. SASUKE Katsumi Yamada gets ready for his run.. Meanwhile I can almost FEEL Ube grinning going "what is he going to botch and bitch this time?" Sorry Ube.. I'm channeling you too.. I'm thinking he'll at least get to the Cliffhanger.. if not taking his sweet time...

Yamada: So help me.. if I fail this stupid thing I'm friggin' retiring for real..

Yamada can't possibly go slower can he? He is taking his time.. methodical the man is.. granted.. the part he's messed up in the last couple Sasuke's.. is coming right up.. Doesn't have walls though.. he should be fine..

Concentrate... Concentrate.. can't have these yahoos have all the fun..

Dudes taking his time.. I mean seriously taking his time but he's not making a single mistake.. Then inexplicably.. he stops.. looks like he's talking to Nagano or something.. he's wasting time as he prepares mentally to tackle the Cliffhanger..

Yamada: Crap.. I have to do this now.. right? Can't I just pose for a second? I AM Mr. SASUKE after all.. I'm all about image..

He's still swinging.. no wait.. there was no commercial.. wait for it.. still swinging.. he's going to jump.. oh come on already.. you are going to fall ... just get it over with!

Yamada gets ready to Jump the second span.. okay.. he's swinging around alot.. it's like 7-8 seconds long..

HOLY FRIGGIN' CRAP! HE ACTUALLY DID IT! WOW.. I think everyone is in a collective stage of shock! I'm gawking at the screen.. wow..

Sweet Moses.. Yamada FRIGGIN' DID IT! He actually beat the Cliffhanger and clocked!

Yep.. everyone is in a total state of shock! Then the all erupt in applause as even Mr. SASUKE himself is a bit surprised as how well he did! He looks almost embarrassed! If that's even possible....

WOW!!! Just.. WOW!!! Akiyama and Yamamoto are utterly amazed as Yamada pwned the Shin-Cliffhanger!


More pictures of everyone in shock.. I'm still sitting here going .. aww man.. he's going to be unbearable.. he's coming back to Sasuke 21 with a VENGEANCE now!

HOLY FRIGGIN' CRAP! (Takeda background and Nagano foreground)

Nagano looks the most surprised out of all of them LOL!! That's just sweet! I'm sure he had a bet or something.. c'mon.. who didn't?!?!

YEAH! Takeda and Nagano clapping Mr. SASUKE's success!

Katsumi now all smiles after his run talks to the interviewer and just sucks up all the love from the audience who is still in shock as to what just transpired.

Katsumi sheepishly acknowledging the crowd I secretly wonder if he was utterly worried about today.. he's been really serious the past couple of days.. he can finally relax now.

Seems like they are interviewing everyone now about how they are going to do (Meaning Takeda and Nagano). Oh! Yamada's winning time 50''91 (Just under a minute).

Big smile from Yamada who's quite pleased with himself as Akiyama and Yamamoto look on.

Takeda is next in the starting blocks. If I know my little spikey boy wonder.. he's not going to take this lying down.. he's a friggin' competitor.. I'm getting shades of Sasuke 11.. or was it 13 where he was interviewed at the end of his Stage 1 blistering run as to whether or not he was going for the best time.. "A little" :D Yep.. he ain't competitive or nothing..

Nagano: Awww crap.. that means I have to beat the stupid thing.. great.. thanks a lot Mr. SASUKE.. dangit.. that means I lost my bet too...

Toshihiro.. dude.. he's got a totally determined look on his face... as soon as the signal is given.. he's BLOWING through the course...

Takeda starts his run on the Pipe Slider as Nagano is already giving him tips on how to hold the bar.. er.. Nagano... dude.. he already knows :p

Someone set his pants on fire.. he's FLYING!!!!!!! He's blowing Yamada's run out of the water.. heck.. everyone else up to this point.. dude.. look at his time!!!!!!!!

Takeda PWNING the course.. check out his time!!!

Clears first 3 obstacles.. on to the Cliffhanger.. won't mean jack if you don't pass this dude..

Takeda on a mission.. I will not lose.. I will not lose.. I must have best time..

I think he only swung on it once.. was it? He's FLYING through the Shin Cliffhanger.. up up and???

Takeda is next to pwn the Shin-Cliffhanger as he does it in RECORD time..

WHOOT! He made it! Wow.. he's got the best time.. by more than twice!!!!! WOW (Yamada must be pissed LOL)


Takeda dismounting the course 30 seconds faster that Yamada...

Now follows a display of bravado I haven't seen in a long time. Takeda is mighty pleased with himself LOL He's pumping fists and screaming and hollering as he finishes with an awesome time!

Takeda: WHO DA MAN?!?!... YEEEHAW!

LOL that hotdog is still parading around as everyone is amazed at how easy he made that course look!

Nagano: Aww crap.. freakin' hotdog had to show me up.. alright.. alright.. I got your number..

Meanwhile.. Nagano must be feeling even more pressure.. I mean.. he designed this course after all.. LOL Wow.. I don't want to be feeling what Nagano is feeling now...

Yamada (center): Well damn.. that just pisses me off... way to go hot shot! (Yamamoto (L) .. looks like Takeda (R) getting ready to see Nagano try to outdo him)

Yamada still from the high of beating the course.. irregardless of time.. is still pretty satisfied and actually smiling after Takeda kicks his butt...

Nagano: Son of a ... fine.. okay.. blazing fast.. no pressure or anything.. nah.. why are they calling my name so loudly.. and like a friggin' prize fight..

Now of course Nagano has to compete.. yeah.. his name is called.. NAGANO MAKOTOOOOOOOOOOOOO.. I mean.. it sounds like he's being introduced in a coliseum!

Nagano hauling his puny butt accross the course as fast as he possibly can...

He's giggling in the beginning but as soon as the time starts.. his smile dissapears and starts to FLY through the course...

Showing more of the course so all of you at home can see what the course looked like.. this is right after the Pipe Slider.. you turn right.. and start climbing..

Everything looking good so far.. seems like he's doing better already.. not sure.. I'm sure somene at home is paying attention to how fast they are tackling each section.. I look forward to that :)

Nagano climbing to get to the top of the Jumping Bars.

Still doing well as the crowd at this point is chanting Na-ga-no.. Na-ga-no... he's not slowing down for anything at this point.

Nagano across the Jumping bars..

Still going strong.. c'mon.. beat Yamada LOL So help me I'll swallow a canary if he falls off the Cliffhanger LOL

Nagano went around.. did the jump hang (Behind him) to the pole.. then immediately climbing across to get to the Shin Cliff Hanger.

About to get on the Cliffhanger.. Dude is totally up to corner.. I don't think you can get away with that in the real one.. actually .. I think you can.. hmm.. I can smell the comparison tapes...

Nagano going as far as his hands can get to get across the Shin Cliff hanger.. because he'll be damned if Takeda beats him...

YES! He made it.. LOL and TBS took down his time.. we are now getting he's neck and neck with Takeda to build some suspense.. bastards..

Nagano pwns the cliffhanger.. and if you noticed.. they are not showing his time....

He's almost done.. I'm sure a huge weight lifted as he dismounts and can't see his time.. did I beat him? I'm sure he's thinking that right now..

Nagano dismounts the cliffhanger to get to the end to stop the time which right now is withheld from the audience...

Okay.. time for TBS to build suspense.. no one can see the time.. they know he was close.. so.. what's going to happen? They are going to drag it out that's what..

Holy crap this is close! Wtf is up with the suspense? Takeda and Nagano are freaking out to figure out who's first..

Everyone going through fits of laughter as they all wait to find out who won the pissing match between friends!

Tension builds as Akiyama and Yamamoto wait to hear who wins today!

Waiting.. waiting.. Takeda's time was 20''87.. what would Nagano's time be? Could he beat that time??

And the winner of the Maguro Festival Mock-SASUKE Obstacle Course of Doom and Destruction is... TAKEDA!!!!!!! Nagano can't take it and starts to fall over in laughter!

21"20!!!! Nagano was short! Toshihiro Takeda wins!!!!! Pandemonium has insued! Nagano drops to the ground!

Takeda enjoys the moment while Nagano collapses in defeat! LOL

We're talking real wrath of God type of things.. like real Old testament stuff here.. Rivers and seas boiling.. Cats and Dogs.. living together.. Mass Hysteria! Sorry.. got carried away here with Ghostbusters :p

Nagano can't take it and drops to the ground in a fit of giggles.

This is hysterical.. Poor Nagano can't BELIEVE his misfortune by losing by .37 of a second!!!!! You have GOT to be kidding me!

Takeda: HAIL TO THE KING BABY!

Meanwhile Toshihiro is prancing around like the new King of the World LOL. I don't remember him being THIS outgoing LOL. It's just a fun thing to see :)

Slow-mo of Nagano collapsing in the nets

Nagano having kittens.. LOL

They keep showing Nagano drop to the ground in hysterical fits as Toshihiro is dancing and flexing to the crowd! LOL

Takeda prancing around like a peacock after his win!

Meanwhile they change to talking to the guys (after the festival) and apparently they are thinking of Bunpei still recovering at home.. Speaking of Bunpei Shiratori..

Meanwhile we are walking up a small road in a tiny mountain town in Chiba, Japan...

We take a trip to see his house that has become famous and called the Shiratori Shrine thanks to the 19+ obstacles he has put in his backyard.

Where we see Bunpei Shiratori cleaning up his shrine to Sasuke.

A very somber looking Bunpei is speaking something I cannot understand.. wish someone translated it for me so I can put it here :(

A very solemn Bunpei missing both Sasuke 20 and the Maguro Festival due to a serious back injury.

Nice to see him running around again. The last video of him back in March, 2008 from his home he was sitting down in a rocking chair.. I seriously hope he's back by Sasuke 21.. I pray for his health! WE MISS YOU BUNPEI!!!!!!

Bunpei getting his strength up jogging in the local park.

Back at the festival the guys are getting gifts.. apparently Toshihiro broke open his and showed everyone LOL. Each has freshly frozen chunks of Maguro.. wow.. don't even want to know the market value on that sucker..

Takeda (bottom): So.. I wasn't supposed to open my prezzie now? I just totally took off the protective strip.. oops..

The last bit was something funny both Ube and I saw.. Enjoy! Dunno what's up for next week so if this is it for a while have a great summer!

Nagano being interviewed at the end of the Festival.. note the sequence of pictures coming up..

Perplexed Nagano thinking of something smart to say while this little girl just noticed a television camera!!!

Hey Mom!! I'm on TV!!!! Little girl is showing up Nagano in his interview LOL

And that's it folks! Sorry it took me so long.. I had waaaaaaaaaay too much fun with these pictures this week! Had to sift through 436 pictures.. As usuall.. my previous Sasuke related posts can always be accessed through the tags under Sasuke or Sasuke Mania ;)

12 comments:

pamwax said...

Great jiob Elsie>>>

tricia said...

So glad you have a trigger finger and get great pictures! An excellent job again. Love the commentary.

Rufus said...

Can I just say that your blog is the only thing providing me with the will to live?? After the hideous G4 broadcast last night, I was really to call in sick to work. But just knowing that Bunpei is alive and well warms my heart, and seeing the rest of the All Stars in such good spirits makes me happy too. NEVER STOP POSTING! :)

Arsenette said...

I almost had a heart attack last night with G4's broadcast.. so Rufus .. I feel your pain.. Appreciate all of the comments as well :) I really enjoy doing the posts since I get to relive the moments I saw and when I watch the pictures I see more things I missed.

Anna said...

I can't put into words how much I enjoyed this post. Who cares what they're really saying...the words you put into their mouths had me laughing my rear off!

My favorite part:
"Nagano: Hey MORON.. you cut the course in half! Cheater!!!
Yamamoto: Doh.. this is embarrasing! Who's the one that's blind???"

Oh and Nagano having kittens! Hilarious!

These guys look like they're so much fun!

Thanks for taking the time to post these. I haven't seen anything like this anywhere else (of course not on G4)

Some Kinda Wonderful said...

Elsie, your posts just keep getting better and better. I love this one. You did a smashing job of it! :)
Love you, too, dearie. Hugs!

Arsenette said...

Aww thanks for the kind words :) I had a blast writing this one. You should see how many comments I deleted LOL As Holly, Tricia and Pam know.. I love captioning photos so you can imagine some of them :) That said I'm not sure when Sasuke Maniac will show more Sasuke stuff so I'm depressed in the offseason. Glad everyone enjoys the blogs as much as I do writing them :) This one practically wrote itself since it was quite enjoyable to watch!

Unknown said...

Whaaat!? When was Nagano in hospital and why?

We Finns are always kept in darkness. We were lucky to see Sasuke'06 a couple of weeks ago. I bet it will take ages to see more competitions.

Thank God for blogs like this!

Arsenette said...

There's a post before linking to his website. He was in from the end of January to almost the end of February. No details were released as to exact reason (he's keeping that quiet) but did mention what he has can be controlled by diet.

Unknown said...

Oh dear. Three weeks in hospital is quite a long time.

No wonder he looked a bit wilted.

Thanks, arsenette!

merimask said...

Hi Arsenette. ^_^
I just joined this forum because I HAD to say hello to you...I've been reading your blog for a while now & getting a huge kick out of your journal & your sense of humor.

Sorry to hear about the "drama" with your supposed friend...online relationships can be so difficult.

I'm a huge Sasuke fan too...in fact I have an interesting story that I've been dying to share with you (but I don't want to clog up your comments). E-mail me sometime & I'll tell you all about it (it's about Nagano-san!)

I'm registered for Chibi Pa...it looks like it's going to be a pretty crazy time. I'm in "training" so's I can run that damn obstacle course *nervous*. Maybe I'll get to see you there?

Arsenette said...

As much as I want to.. I won't be at Chibipa this year. Finances are tight and I can't justify going down there with just us being on one income /sigh. Take a crapload of pictures and I'll make a mock entry LOL :) Could you imagine? ROFL