Sasuke spoilerific review ;) Warning.. incoming blog of Sasuke 30.. if you don’t want to know.. you have been warned ( ^ . ^ ) (Just remember.. there is NO USA Broadcast of this. NBC has renegotiated out of their contract to show Sasuke on USA soil. Yes.. you read that right.. Now with the death of G4 official and NBC not giving a damn about Sasuke Japan, we will never see Sasuke Rising on US television (or any overseas country for that matter unless everyone buys the original 4 hour broadcast from TBS). For a preview of this event, please see SASUKE 30 NAVI an hour preview of Sasuke Rising with a review of the Sasuke ASEAN Open Cup and fluff pieces of all the major players in the upcoming Sasuke. There were even a couple of runs that were cut from the official broadcast! I'm taking my time on the blogs. I'm still getting cluster headaches during the day so I have to pace myself when I do these blogs.
(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 the next day!! Yes. The taping schedule is 2 days now. They figure that with the ever increasing skill of the competitors it would make a whole lot more sense to schedule ahead a of time a 2 day schedule then rush to try to tape everything before first light. Even given the 2 day production schedule they still went late into the morning both days! Stage 3 Folks!
① Rumbling Dice ランブリングダイス
② Iron Paddler アイアンパドラー
③ ^Drum Hopper ドラム・ホッパー
Side view of the new obstacle ③ ^Drum Hopper ドラム・ホッパー
Despite NBC's recent claim.. this is the real ④ Crazy Cliffhanger クレイジークリフハンガー
⑤ Vertical Limit バーティカルリミット
⑥ Pipe Slider パイプスライダー
Prerequisite interviews
Tomohiro Kawaguchi 川口朋広
Shinya Kishimoto 岸本真弥
Shunsuke Nagasaki 長崎峻侑
Drew Dreschel ドリュー・ドレッシェル
Ryo Matachi 又地諒
Hitoshi Kanno 菅野仁志
Kazuma Asa 朝一眞
Hioki's wife Mayumi 真弓 and their baby son Ryusei 琉青 as they have a tender moment together talking about the 3rd stage. He's up first!
That's where I want to go!
Masashi Hioki 日置 将士
電気店長 Electronics Store Manager
Hioki's wife Mayumi 真弓 and their baby son Ryusei 琉青 and their daughter Miyuna 心結菜 (they rehashed the Fluff piece I mentioned a few times already so I'm skipping this part)
Hioki and his daughter Miyuna 心結菜 having a private cheering session! She's so cute!
Hioki's wife Mayumi 真弓 and their baby son Ryusei 琉青
Veteran announcer Keisuke Hatsuta 初田 啓介
100 down through 2 stages. 9 people are left to tackle the 3rd stage.
Taking a big deep breath is Masashi Hioki 日置 将士
Staring down the Rumbling Dice
LOL He's very animated. He keeps making faces then talking to the crowd as if giving a blow by blow account of what is going through his head as he tackles the obstacles.
On the Rumbling Dice. Man this thing is loud!
Clear on the Rumbling Dice
LOL There he goes again with a face when seeing the Iron Paddler up close and personal.
Daughter Miyuna 心結菜 waving and yelling encouragement to Daddy.
Daddy gives a thumbs up!
He touches the bar and gets into a fit of giggles.
Finally gets his wits about him and mounts the obstacle.
Very animated during the run.
And safe arrival as he tilts his head sideways and does another funny face back to his audience who at this point is in hysterical laughter.
LOL His wife can't contain the laughter.
Clear on the Iron Paddler as he slides underneath to dismount it.
And now.. the first competitor to attempt the new obstacle.
This is such a weird looking obstacle. (to me at least)
Getting prepared to mount it.
K he's on the first one
Whoooah.. missed the 2nd.. trying to hang on..
But first.. commercials.. yes.. you should know by now no run is safe.. even if they go right in the middle of the run. LOL
Hang.. in.. there.. he. is.. muscling.. up..
Phew.. nice recovery..
Tomo is moved by the guts of this guy.
Safe on the 3rd jump
and the fourth..
Jumps on the 5th and immediately dismounts on the same motion
Then quickly collapses face first into the mat.
His wife is living through this together with her husband.
LOL Mike Bernardo and Jin going bonkers in the background jumping up and down. The rest of the crew watching is doing a lot of "WHOA" sounds and clapping.
Finally moving to attempt the next obstacle.
Tomo and Masashi talking strategy for the next obstacle, the Crazy Cliffhanger.
Hmm.. Chalk.. or Sasuke Spray.. Decisions.. Decisions..
LOL Hioki taking time to talk to his family again and waves to his wife.
Wife waves back
Okay.. here we go.. Crazy Cliffhanger..
Clear on the first ledge
Clear on the 2nd and 3rd...
Grabs it...
But rips right off and into the water!!!
Masashi Hioki 日置 将士 - Death by Crazy Cliffhanger
Everyone is disappointed.
Asa yelling encouragement
Asa in a million depressions and Tomo now knows his run is coming up now.
Crawls out of the water and just sits and contemplates.
Replay of his epic recovery on the Drum Hopper.
Touching moment with Masashi talking about the unwavering support of his wife throughout all of these years of him trying to get on Sasuke all the way to today seeing the 3rd stage. It moves his wife to tears. I've actually never seen a split screen like this. It was really effective. I'm crying like a baby.
AWWW! His daughter is waiting for him! She's so cute!!
Yay! PDA!
He doesn't publicly kiss his wife though.. so he has some improving to do.
I still want to go to the Final!
From one STQ'er to another, Tomohiro Kawaguchi 川口朋広 is up next.
Tomohiro Kawaguchi 川口朋広 - Cement Truck Driver
Going back in the time machine again! Way back in 2008 when I was first blogging, this was the summer trials for Sasuke 21. This is where Tomo had his break out performance.
And then a blistering performance in the finals to qualify for Sasuke 21.
Ah. I love this photo from trials. Shows just about every single new star that all came from that one Summer Trials. Hashimoto, Kanno, Tomo, Hioki, Yuuji, Ryo, Yamamoto (Keitaro), Okada, Keita, etc. etc. all of whom we've seen one way or the other for the next 6 years. Scary how the timing of this blog neatly coincided with the rise of the new stars. Crazy how much I go back to those old blogs with the horrible Key-hole screenshots. LOL
Road trip to Shizuoka City... I know where they are going.. and this was totally the weekend before Sasuke taped.
Back in May, the weekend before Sasuke 30 taped they went over to home of Shinya Kishimoto 岸本真弥 (on very little sleep LOL).
In attendance was Ryo, Shingo, Tomo, Shinya (who's home this is) and Kanno (among other people of course but this television so just go with it).
Any Sasuke Youtube follower worth it's salt knows this backyard course.
Tomo gets stopped as he was about to go onto the course just to be interviewed.
Milking that crane rental for every last yen..
Tomohiro Kawaguchi 川口朋広 - Cement Truck Driver
Father Sugio 杉男 is here to lend public support of his son!
Clear on the Rumbling Dice
LOL Camera guy right in his path.. YOU SHALL NOT PASS!
Getting on the Iron Paddler
Zero issues with it as he clears the Iron Paddler in his usual quiet manner as the cameraman GTFO of the way. LOL
The rest of the STQ'ers watching and cheering. They are up next as listed on the chart in order.
His turn on the
Clear on the 2nd set
Oooooooh.. down on the 3rd...
Hanging on barely...
Quick recovery on the 3rd set of drums
4th is good
And again, quickly off the 5th set of drums
I know you can't see him but that's totally Drew as only his teeth glow!
Getting ready for the Crazy Cliff....
Nope.. crew not ready.. so he takes a seat. LOL
Tomo having a private moment just exchanging glaces and grunts to his fellow STQ friends.
And he's ready for the Cliffhanger but apparently they need to go to commercials just now..
SQUIRREL!
okay we are back in time..
Clear on the first 2 ledges
on the 3rd ready for the jump..
and he MAKES IT!!
Safe! He's the 2nd clear on the Crazy Cliffhanger!
A very elated Tomo actually smiles!
His brother is losing his marbles right now.
Right before the jump
And the jump as Asa is quickly on his feet
And the rest of the STQ'ers are all freaking out
Now everyone on their feet making eye contact with him
Clutching his heart as I notice (late) that he has his wedding ring around his neck for safe keeping.
Edit: I was correct about the ring. However he's divorced now. :(
Now for the Vertical Limit..
Shun Asa and Ryo looking intently.. oh hey I see Morimoto just chilling out in the background.
Tomo and his technicolor pants on the Vertical Limit
Hang.. in there...
Okay this is a super awkward connection.. I mean it was like that before.. but it's still weird for me.
Safely on the Green bar of Safety™!
STQ'ers are officially having kittens™.
What.. not standing ovation?
LOL Tomo totally chillin' waiting for the camera crew to set back up down in his direction.
Stands up ON the Green bar and jumps forward
reverse grip on the correct obstacle!
Swwwwwwings...
PERFECT LANDING!
Brother Youhei 洋平 having kittens!
Slow motion reaction shot of the eruption.
Everyone jumping with him!
Smiles all around!
High fives and hugging and walking around as they see one of their own make it to the final!
Tomohiro Kawaguchi 川口朋広 - THIRD STAGE CLEAR!!!!!!!
Replay of Tomo almost failing the 3rd set of drums.
And the quick recovery back to save him.
Epic clear on the Crazy Cliffhanger
And for a big guy you can see him struggling but still clearing the Vertical Limit.
And a huge scream when he realized he was in the FINAL!
Family time!
A slow walk to his fellow STQ'ers
And a heartfelt bow to his crew of long-suffering STQ friends.
Tomo in tears as they all smile and pat him on a job well done.
He's slowly recovering from his crying.. but I'm not. I'm still crying like a baby.
PART 10
Clear on the first 2 ledges
on the 3rd ready for the jump..
and he MAKES IT!!
Safe! He's the 2nd clear on the Crazy Cliffhanger!
A very elated Tomo actually smiles!
His brother is losing his marbles right now.
Right before the jump
And the jump as Asa is quickly on his feet
And the rest of the STQ'ers are all freaking out
Now everyone on their feet making eye contact with him
Clutching his heart as I notice (late) that he has his wedding ring around his neck for safe keeping.
Edit: I was correct about the ring. However he's divorced now. :(
Now for the Vertical Limit..
Shun Asa and Ryo looking intently.. oh hey I see Morimoto just chilling out in the background.
Tomo and his technicolor pants on the Vertical Limit
Hang.. in there...
Okay this is a super awkward connection.. I mean it was like that before.. but it's still weird for me.
Safely on the Green bar of Safety™!
STQ'ers are officially having kittens™.
What.. not standing ovation?
LOL Tomo totally chillin' waiting for the camera crew to set back up down in his direction.
Stands up ON the Green bar and jumps forward
reverse grip on the correct obstacle!
Swwwwwwings...
PERFECT LANDING!
Brother Youhei 洋平 having kittens!
Slow motion reaction shot of the eruption.
Everyone jumping with him!
Smiles all around!
High fives and hugging and walking around as they see one of their own make it to the final!
Tomohiro Kawaguchi 川口朋広 - THIRD STAGE CLEAR!!!!!!!
Replay of Tomo almost failing the 3rd set of drums.
And the quick recovery back to save him.
Epic clear on the Crazy Cliffhanger
And for a big guy you can see him struggling but still clearing the Vertical Limit.
I mean that jump was perfect.. look at his face! NO struggle or anything. He's shocked that was so perfect!
And a huge scream when he realized he was in the FINAL!
Family time!
A slow walk to his fellow STQ'ers
And a heartfelt bow to his crew of long-suffering STQ friends.
Tomo in tears as they all smile and pat him on a job well done.
He's slowly recovering from his crying.. but I'm not. I'm still crying like a baby.
It's like seeing these guys grow up. Been watching Tomo for 6 years. Seeing him meet his girlfriend, get married, have a kid.. and then finally getting back to Sasuke after 3 years since Sasuke is under new management and get all the way to the Final on his return. I'm so proud of him.
PART 10