Sasuke Related Updates - July Part 2

Allstar - Makoto Nagano 長野誠 posing in West Palm Beach, Florida - September, 2008 ©Pittsburgher

Got a message last night.
お知らせが遅くなりました。8月初旬に弊社運営 金比羅丸船団の船長の一人 長野 誠 船長がアメリカ_ロスに行ってイベント？セレクション？に参加することになりました。おって詳報しますね！

(Nagano going to LA in beginning of August for a selection/event. More details to come.)

Seems Allstar - Makoto Nagano 長野誠 is making a return trip to the United States. A lot of you remember that his first trip was back in September, 2008 for an anime convention he was invited to called Chibipa. Thanks to Pittsburgher for her great blogging work on that trip! (Pictures, Pictures, Pictures, Pictures, Video, Transcript of video). As of now the details are a bit fuzzy but it's clear he's coming for ANW2 in Los Angeles. California. He will be arriving just before ANW2 which starts Saturday, August 7th and runs to Monday, August 9th (though exact details on the reality TV inspired final are not clear). At this time it is unclear how long he will be staying here in the USA. I'll save my ranting on the prize money issue to that one post. As I get more details on Nagano's visit I'll most likely post if it's big news but for the most part I'll keep most of the discussion on the forums. So for you guys planning on going to watch American Ninja Warrior 2 in Los Angeles, PLEASE say hi and welcome Makoto Nagano back to the United States.. and SEND ME PICS so I can post them :) You know me and pictures! :D mwahahahahahah So sucks being poor and not being able to travel... /sigh I hope his trip is a pleasant one! Btw.. that explains why Nagano wasn't at the other events in July.. he had August already booked. ;)

All-Star Kazuhiko Akiyama 秋山和彦, TV Host Hiromichi Sato 佐藤弘道 and All-Star Toshihiro Takeda 竹田敏浩 ©Hiromichi Sato

In other news ya'll remember that the grand opening of the new Muscle Park in Chitose, Hokkaido that they dub "Chitose Muscle Park" 千歳マッスルパーク (Several Blogs on the subject) It took place on Sunday, July 18, 2010. I was a bit disappointed with the pictures from the official site though. Before that and after that all the pictures were high quality and size.. but for the official opening I had better pictures from fans than from the park.

Official ribbon cutting ceremony. All-Star Toshihiro Takeda 竹田敏浩, TV Host Sato Hiromichi 佐藤弘道, Monster 9 President and CEO - Ushio Higuchi 樋口 潮 (center) unidentified businessman (He might be the manager) and All-Star Kazuhiko Akiyama 秋山和彦 during the Grand Opening of Chitose's Muscle Park on July 18, 2010 ©Muscle Park Chitose

I was severely disappointed with this picture alone. Just like it was back in December, 2006, the most important picture of the event is one of the smallest. I can barely see the faces of who is cutting the ribbon. It's a shame really. The obstacle pictures have such fine detail while a commemorative picture like this is so small you can barely see the details of it. If I didn't know who was coming beforehand I wouldn't recognize half the people in this picture.

All-Star Toshihiro Takeda 竹田敏浩 on the Ultimate Cliffhanger アルティメットクリフハンガー in the new Chitose Muscle Park ©PureBlog

As I mentioned in the previous blog - Muscle Park Chitose has 6 obstacles in their brand new Sasuke Park attraction. It would have been great if video was taken of the All-Stars going through them. I would think Sasuke 26's Navi will have more video of this in September (provided they officially announce it..).. it's so painfully obvious now there is one.

All-Star Kazuhiko Akiyama 秋山和彦 on the Muscle Athletic マッスルアスレチック ©Muscle Park Chitose

Thanks to Lost in Ube I finally know wtf is this obstacle LOL. The name sounds redundant but hey the obstacle looks cool! It is just SO nice that Akiyama finally gets demonstration duty for Monster 9. I thought they just about forgot about him! Now.. if they can only start inviting Yuuji then all will be good in the world. But I digress.

All-Star Kazuhiko Akiyama 秋山和彦 on the Pipe Slider パイプスライダー ©Muscle Park Chitose

All-Star Toshihiro Takeda 竹田敏浩 ©gon-taro

Checking through blogs it seemed a lot of people understandably were paying more attention to Sato being there since he is the celebrity in the list. Still, I'm happy some fans took pics of the All-Stars. To us they are Sasuke. I do laugh at this picture... I think Takeda now has that shirt in 5 colors.. LOL

All-Star Kazuhiko Akiyama 秋山和彦, TV Host Sato Hiromichi 佐藤弘道 and All-Star Toshihiro Takeda 竹田敏浩

So while I'm disappointed in the amount of pictures for the grand opening, I am happy that 2 of my favorite All-Stars were able to come. Knowing now that Nagano was busy working knowing he was coming to the US in August, 2010 it was nice that M9 invited faces that we know to represent Sasuke at the opening ceremony. I just wish they'd release more pictures somewhere.

All-Star Toshihiro Takeda 竹田敏浩 ©Muscle Park Chitose

Given the amount of publicity the park got from the opening and the amount of blogs and tweets expressing how they now have something to do during those cold months of winter, I'm happy that there is a future for this park out in a remote area of Japan. I'm happy it's so well received already and do hope they continue the momentum.

All-Stars Kazuhiko Akiyama 秋山和彦 and Toshihiro Takeda 竹田敏浩 ©personal blog

Ya'll are going to laugh at me. I can't help but think of an old commercial when I see this picture. I just keep humming in my head "My buddy and me!" I'm happy they get along so well. God I wish we had more pictures.. grrrrr

All-Star Toshihiro Takeda 竹田敏浩 on the Salmon Ladder サーモンラダー ©Muscle Park Chitose

Anyway if I find more updates on Nagano's trip and on Chitose's opening I'll be sure to post it when I have enough to warrant a blog. In the meantime I'm passing popcorn!