Rambling Rican: Sasuke Rising (28) Spoilerific Review

We have a new Sasuke opening!

PART SIX

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

Sasuke spoilerific review ;) Warning.. incoming blog of Sasuke 28.. if you don’t want to know.. you have been warned :D (Just remember.. the USA Broadcast of this.. will be.. well never possibly. I don't know if we will ever see it.. Yes.. you read that right.. Now with the death of G4 official and NBC not giving a damn about Sasuke Japan.. we may never see Sasuke Rising on US television (or any overseas country for that matter unless everyone buys the original 3 1/2 hour broadcast from TBS). For a preview of this event.. Please see SASUKE Rising (28) NAVI a 1 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 28 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.. All-star time.. been dreading doing this.. since Sasuke Rising is the sun setting on the Sasuke All-Stars... First we have Akiyama getting a handshake from Takeda while Akiyama's wife looks on.

Now Yamada comes over for his own (LOL Just looking at his wife's reaction.. we know Yamada/Akiyama used to hate each other years ago)

K without incident as his youngest son gets sandwiched LOL

Nagano sharing in the bromance

Shingo also showing solidarity

But BECAUSE this is Shingo he can never keep a straight face and cracks a joke..

Man.. I'm going to miss this guy.. he's my favorite competitor.

way back in 1999 during the 4th Sasuke, Akiyama was staring down the Final Stage.

Whoot.. purple Descente gear! Take a drink of something tropical!

GET THIS STUPID WOMAN OFF MY SCREEN! She doesn't even know who he is.. GET OFF THE SCREEN YOU LOUSY TART! YOU DON'T BELONG HERE!!!!

Seriously.. WHY IS SHE HERE? She doesn't watch the show.. so W.T.F...

sorry she's annoying the living hell out of me as TBS is finally showing a decent background fluff piece on him.. I mean granted it's the last time.. but still.. it's a nice tribute.

(blocking her face with my middle finger..) Despite him having all sorts of vision issues he still never shied away from physical activity.

This was from 1992 (which would have made him 19 years old)

Anyway we all know he was a crab fisherman! He fished for hairy crab! Think Deadliest Catch.. but in Hokkaido!

Middle finger wants to poke her eyes out.. anyway.. TBS pulls up the suckitude chart™

He's had issues in the past getting back to the Final since his win

And finally they are showing his latest hobby. Arm wrestling!

Which now he does competitively!

Of course figures they show him losing that too.. LOL

They repeated a lot of footage from Navi so I'm going to try not duplicate too many.

Seems he's also into building stuff inside the house!

Where he can do pull ups with full weights strapped onto him

I LOVE THIS PHOTO! Okay.. for many of us THIS was the original preferred Sasuke All-stars if we had our way:

Top Row: Shingo Yamamoto 山本進悟, All-Star Bunpei Shiratori 白鳥文平, Hiroyuki Asaoka 朝岡弘行, Shinji Kobayashi 小林信治, Koji Yamada 山田康司

Bottom Row: All-stars Kazuhiko Akiyama 秋山和彦, Toshihiro Takeda 竹田敏浩 and Makoto Nagano 長野誠

Akiyama breaking down thanking everyone for their years of support

First overt appearance of Sasuke Spray!

Awwwww this is so cute! Akiyama brought his two sons!

Older son is Seiryu (Yes.. named after the Azure Dragon) and younger one is Yoshimune.

TBS reminding us 95 have gone and only 5 clears so far with the final 5 on tap to go now.

Carrying his trademark hairy crab on a string

All Star Kazuhiko Akiyama 秋山和彦

Easy clear on the steps

no problem with the rolling escargot

aaaaaaaaaaand.. this is where I thought he'd go down.. DAMN!!!

yes.. we can do without this.. everyone else in the room saw it live.. so this is utterly pointless..

everyone taking a gander.. seems all of them already knew what was going to happen..

and.. the fall..

yeah.. they knew it was going to happen. Takeda can't help but smile as Nagano buries his face..

Takeda knows he's the next one so he's already heading to the startline.

Poor Lee is still gaping while the others talk as if they already knew

Akiyama's wife Akemi and their sons (as Ube puts.. strangely unaffected)

yep.. exactly where I thought this would happen. Foot was too far forward and started to spin the ball making him lose his balance.

So he had no way to go but straight down.

Gah.. I had hoped he made it past this. I figured if he did he'd have a great shot at clearing the first stage!

Takeda proving that you can be your own Santa.. opens the bag away from Yamada..

.. to reveal his own towel.. strange.. he already knows he's going to take a bath?? Talk about no confidence! LOL

Let's see that again!

yeah.. already losing control as he over shoots the ball

then tries to stop but his body is still moving forward

and then straight down. That's a shame. I really hoped he'd pass this like he did in Viking.
All Star Kazuhiko Akiyama 秋山和彦 - Death by Spin Bridge

He says that his experience with Sasuke has really opened his world and that's something he'd treasure the rest of his life.

13 years ago he was the only Sasuke champion and he got lots of rewards for it but now it's time for the younger generation.

He still wants to cheer for the remaining All Stars.

(As Yamada is trying not to cry)

Takeda taking this all in as he's up next..

Shingo choking back tears

Nagano happy for his friend. We finally get to hear a good speech out of Akiyama and no one is interrupting him!

It's actually the first time for Akiyama to bring his family to Midoriyama!

He starts to fall apart as he truly thanks everyone for their support over the years.

Yamada actually finding it hard to breathe right now..

As there is a applause from those watching

Shingo doing everything in his power to try to keep it together.

Akiyama finally succumbs to tears

Akiyama walking over to the All-stars

Yamada hugging him! It's so nice to see them both put their past differences behind them.

Shingo extending his hand in appreciation

Then a huge smile from Nagano

Akiyama walking past his kids to deal with one more

A good luck for Takeda as he's up next.. I don't even want to think what's going through his mind right now having to hear all that then go tackle this stage for the first time in 2 years..

His kids are so sedate LOL

HUGE smile from Akiyama as everyone is not entirely sure what they should be doing right now

Awww no PDA for his wife.. just pats on the heads of his sons.

Oh yeah. we got 4 more of these to go.. geez.. btw.. so strange seeing him without his trademark orange pants..

Looooooots of breathing right now.. trying to focus after that emotional ordeal

Back from retirement folks.. 2 years he hasn't been here competing

Can I slap box girl... please??

H used to be a fire fighter

I always laugh at this old video because he's standing there supervising while everyone does the grunt work LOL

After years of training and commendations he earned the right to be a Heavy Rescue helicopter jumper. A small tight-nit elite group. It was because of this change that he didn't want to risk an injury during Sasuke that he retired.

I wondered if he was going to wear this uniform in Sasuke.

I'm so used to seeing those pants!

Gah.. even now.. I hate seeing this video of his Sasuke 24 choke.

wtf is she doing? She's killing the mood...

He's talking about unfinished business (we all know what that is.. especially since the damn reporter started with that question about the Final Stage)

as we take the time to stare at him in the gym.. oh.. they are using different music!

It's the one from the movie Backdraft (also used for Iron Chef which I find amusing since every once in a while I say "who's cuisine will reign supreme".. LOL)

and.. wtf is her problem????

Enough with the breathing... you are freaking me out!

what on earth is on his neck??

Anyway Underarmor Fire Rescue EMS shirt FTW!

Lee doing a thumbs up as Shinya and Shingo look on

Okay this seems wrong.. NAGANO SHOULD BE ON STAGE WITH HIM! You know.. the back slap???

Yamada is still trying to get it together

Everything about this feels wrong. Heavy mood, last tourney after a retirement, change of clothes, no one is there to psyche him up...

and of course we now have to go to commercial..

All-Star Toshihiro Takeda 竹田敏浩

easy clear on the steps

Actually the first time he even tries this obstacle. I mean he's seen it before but doing it is another thing.

He sees the landing

and he dismounts.. omg.. early....

But he's on the mat even though his feet hit the water..

He starts to move..

BUT HE'S DISQUALIFIED!!! wtf???

Wait he's wondering too..

Do you remember when I asked if THIS was legal? Yeah.. I'm scratching my head too..

I'm already hearing people say because he has both feet touch water when the other guy was only one foot.. I still call BULLSHIT on the whole thing..

Rare camera angle on the other side showing the feet touch the water.

After seeing them use this rule in Kunoichi and even here in Sasuke.. if landing on a moving platform and your body is on it when you land even if you splash a bit when you land it shouldn't be a DQ.. especially when they let it slide in the SAME TOURNAMENT..

But of course we know they did it because they thought Takeda can pass the stage and whoever that guy was before didn't have a prayer so they let him fail elsewhere..

Nagano watching as he lands and is getting up

And then the announcer calling him out over the loudspeaker

yeah I call BS too..

Nagano can't believe what he's watching..

Neither can Shingo...

Now with his emotions in a COMPLETE Fuster cluck..

he prepares himself for his last run..

Kanno stopping him to try to offer some support in the middle of the chaos

Takeda can't believe his luck.. To come back after retirement.. and deal with this.

Heh.. Takeda taking a gander at the obstacle..

Looking around at the crew....

Yeah.. we all this is BS..

Nagano just throws his head back in disgust.. 2 All-stars up.. 2 down.. early..

Heh.. Takeda going away from the crowd dismounting on the other side.

Takeda eyes the landing

Though he does have to be faulted for misjudging the distance + the roll of the escargot

Instead of jumping like most do.. he just dropped

There's no arguing that both his feet hit though regardless if I think it was BS someone else got a pass earlier

This is an All-star and much is expected of him. Sucks of course going out on a DQ...

All-Star Toshihiro Takeda 竹田敏浩- Death by Disqualification on Rolling Escargot

So Takeda is having one fine day.. come back from a 2 year retirement, get disqualified then force retired in a span of about 15 seconds.. how was your Thanksgiving?

Btw.. Takeda has some serious balls.. and notice that this interview is NOT broadcast to the bleachers for everyone to hear..

Point blank.. he's not happy with his run and wants a chance to prove himself. If TBS would give him a chance he wants to return to Sasuke and give a better challenge to the course!!!!!!

GO TAKEDA!!!!!!!! I WANT YOU BACK!!!!!! C'mon TBS.. invite them back!

meanwhile.. this poor soul hasn't heard that speech.. so he's still reeling from 2 of the All-stars retired and out early on the course.

of course I'm sure his last fail (spin bridge) in Sasuke 27 is fresh on his mind...

If you didn't know he was in Sasuke 1 YOU DON'T WATCH THIS SHOW..

.. you know.. like her that didn't know he was in the final in Sasuke 3

and again in Sasuke 7

Awww he tried to grow a mustache how cute :)

ahahahahahhaha Look at Shingo stuff his face while his wife is trying to do an interview..

Notice she's totally ignoring her husband being rude.. ahahahahahah

I totally love this woman. She's friggin' awesome :) This is Shingo's wife Eiko 英子

I was hungry.. and I was being interrupted..

I see vitals!

LOL Shingo can never make a serious video of anything.. he always has to start laughing..

Here he is getting his butt whooped by a personal trainer..

on camera.. and the bastard is laughing the whole time!!

No seriously.. this crap happens all the time..

Shingo cracking up again as he knows he looks stupid trying to do Step Aerobics.. LOL

And he collapses in both exhaustion and cackling in laughter

You're.. going to do something.. stupid aren't you?

You have no faith in me? Shock..

Faithful wife looking on with a sea of Yamamoto supporters! I'm so happy he brought so many!

Awww!

Eiko: Shin-Chan Gambatte!

And the shot that I have memorized because they used this in every single commercial/special

Oh yeah.. 97 people went.. 5 clears.. and 3 more All-stars to go..

Wow.. how he's keeping it together is a minor miracle..

Sasuke All-Star Shingo Yamamoto 山本進悟

He's going so slow he brought it to a complete stop and had to keep moving it over..

Finally after slooowly moving down (he has ripped off this thing before for going too fast) he finally jumps

And safely across since he JUMPED and didn't drop like Takeda did

Gaaaaaaaaaah almost a carbon copy of last time!!!!!!!!!!

No wait this is SHINGO we are talking about.. WTF IS HE DOING????

LOL you can hear him laughing.. he can't believe his horrible luck!

Seems she can't believe it either..

already in trouble.. see his foot about to go backwards.. you have to be on TOP of the balls..

and with his foot spinning backwards.. his body lunging forward.. yeah..

and Shingo trying to save himself splashing both feet on the water on exit..

He can't help but laugh at the crazy ways he finds ways to fail...

GAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah...

meanwhile.. looking like he wants to throw up.. it's Yamada's turn to get ready..

taking off his jacket he doesn't even know what to do with himself emotionally right now.

Ryo freaking out with the rest of the STQ'ers..

Everyone staring at Shingo just dangling in the air..

already seeing his feet go off early..

and then the drop into the water..

Only you Shingo.. only you can come up with something THAT epic.

Omg.. Yamada is next...

Oh Lord have mercy on me...

meanwhile still dangling...

Shingo's at a loss of what he should be doing right now..

and just stops to try to prolong his last moment in the show..

Let's see that again!

Right here.. too short on the entry and that foot just started to spin the ball BACKWARDS..

Meanwhile he tries to muscle through hoping to maybe jump to the platform and save himself..

but falling short he tries to hang on to the rope holding the last ball

but his downward momentum splashes BOTH feet in the water instantly.. even if he could get himself back up he was DQ'ed right there.

Shingo still smiling through all of that.. I mean.. what can you say?
Sasuke All-Star Shingo Yamamoto 山本進悟 - Death by Spin Bridge

As he said in the interviews (since he was being forced retired anyway) that if he didn't pass the first stage he'll retire himself

Takeda (who said he wants to come back but no one heard it) is not happy

He looks up at Yamada who's just standing in a daze as this day is turning out into a nightmare.

Akiyama just trying to make sense of how badly everyone is doing

Yamamoto says that he's going to retire from Sasuke and concentrate on his new life.

I'm convinced that if he wasn't told he couldn't come back he wouldn't have made that specific speech.

a slow clap of appreciation of 15 years done btw TBS decreed it was time to move on.

Eiko crumbles in the stress

The veteran announcer (Hatsuda) thanks him! And he bows in appreciation.

See what I mean how it feels wrong? Something I said in detail when I first heard the news of the forced retirements..

I understood why they were doing it.. but I didn't like it. I still don't. What's interesting is seeing Nagano shake his head in disagreement. He seems to not like it either.