All-Star Makoto Nagano 長野誠 during the 19th Annual Maguro Festival in Kagoshima Prefecture ©ButterflyLife
Mori Wataru 森渉, Hitoshi Kanno 菅野仁志 and unidentified female radio host during their Ustream radio interview ©Mori WataruEarlier this month, former Sasuke competitor and actor Mori Wataru 森渉 hosted another radio interview segment. He blogs alot and had a couple posts (Post 1 and post 2) on it before it happened. He's done a few (one with Kanno before) and this time he hosted it on Ustream for everyone to watch. The show is called All Day Nippon and it is broken up into 3 segments and even if you don't understand Japanese it's a fun show to watch. They play tongue twisters, staring contests and do other goofy things.
©Golden Sun TVReading today in Sasuke Maniac Forums (thanks scnoi!) there's news out of Taiwan! Lee En Chi リー・エンチ posted on his blog today about stuff going on in Taiwan. Seems Golden Sun TV (the new broadcaster of Sasuke in Taiwan) is hosting a Sasuke Trials! So far Golden Sun has done more for Sasuke in Taiwan than even JET has... I'm hoping they broadcast Sasuke 25 soon.
Taiwan's one and only Sasuke Trials (before Sasuke 17 back in 2006) of which Lee En Chi リー・エンチ won.Lee is obviously excited. He has had to endure years of hate mail for being the only Taiwanese competitor even though he cannot control who enters Sasuke from Taiwan. He did what he could do and continued supporting Taiwan's efforts by making them proud of his efforts. He's one of the most consistent competitors in Sasuke and recently made it to the Final Stage of Sasuke 24 and was the furthest competitor in Stage 3 of Sasuke 25. It seems from the official announcement in Golden Sun that Lee's recent accomplishments have made Golden Sun warrant a trials. I'm sure they will post more information as it becomes available. I know Lee will be keeping up with it in his blog. Seems the deadline for applications in Taiwan are July 1, 2010.
Meanwhile back in the United States the video application process continues for American Ninja Warrior 2. This is the 2nd competition (though technically 6th in the series of G4 related events) where Sasuke hopefuls get a chance to get into Sasuke. If ya'll remember from the summer of 2009 the same people will be trying out for their chance at getting to Japan for the main show. Deadline for this is June 30, 2010.
Meanwhile back in Japan no official word is out yet for Sasuke 26. While we can basically assume with the organization of ANW2 and Taiwan Sasuke Trials and the admission from M9 that they have no plans to cancel the show here in Rambling Rican we will await the official announcement from M9 as to the fate of Sasuke 26. Rumors are placing it around September, 2010 as a taping date so we have a LOT of time left. In the meantime there are many Sasuke 25 inspired courses being built around the world and it seems it's gotten a lot of the hard-core fans excited about the possibility of Sasuke 26 in the future. There's a whoooooole lot of training going on around the world it's exciting! Until the announcement happens I'll keep my eyes out for any new information though I wouldn't expect it this early in the game.
Meanwhile back in the United States the video application process continues for American Ninja Warrior 2. This is the 2nd competition (though technically 6th in the series of G4 related events) where Sasuke hopefuls get a chance to get into Sasuke. If ya'll remember from the summer of 2009 the same people will be trying out for their chance at getting to Japan for the main show. Deadline for this is June 30, 2010.
Meanwhile back in Japan no official word is out yet for Sasuke 26. While we can basically assume with the organization of ANW2 and Taiwan Sasuke Trials and the admission from M9 that they have no plans to cancel the show here in Rambling Rican we will await the official announcement from M9 as to the fate of Sasuke 26. Rumors are placing it around September, 2010 as a taping date so we have a LOT of time left. In the meantime there are many Sasuke 25 inspired courses being built around the world and it seems it's gotten a lot of the hard-core fans excited about the possibility of Sasuke 26 in the future. There's a whoooooole lot of training going on around the world it's exciting! Until the announcement happens I'll keep my eyes out for any new information though I wouldn't expect it this early in the game.
Muscle Musical マッスルミュージカル Troupe (Naoki Iketani, Daisuke Nakata, Rie Komiya to name a few) posing with Kane Kosugi ケイン・コスギ backstage after their recent production M-JUMP ©Daisuke Nakata 中田 大輔And finally the last update that made me SQUEAL with delight! Reading today in Sasuke Maniac Forums my friend snowy (thanks snowy!) posted what she found when following Daisuke Nakata's 中田 大輔 blog. Seems something that hasn't happened in a looooooong time has happened! Kane Kosugi ケイン・コスギ has resurfaced connected to Muscle Musical! Granted it was a quiet meeting backstage but it's been a long time since he's been pictured with anyone connected to Sasuke/Sportsman #1. Even Daisuke was happy and noted in his blog that it's been since the last Sasuke/Sportsman #1 since he's seen him. I'm hoping it's a sign.. seriously. It would be awesome btw if Daisuke Nakata was healthy enough to compete in Sasuke/Sportsman #1. It has been since his painful exit in Sasuke 21 that we haven't seen Daisuke compete in Sasuke. It would also be wonderful to see Kane again in Sasuke and/or Sportsman #1! We haven't seen Kane since Sasuke 8! During my BIG blog on the current state of Sasuke after the dismal ratings of Sasuke 25 I noted the impact his departure from anyone Monster 9 did to the ratings of Sasuke overall. I can't imagine what would happen if he returned. At the very least die-hard Kane Kosugi fans would rejoice!
I would adore if Monster 9 resurrected Geinojin Sportsman #1 and brought back all of these entertainers though both Daisuke and Kane would qualify to be in the main Sportsman #1 show.. still, I would want it back if nothing else but to promote Sasuke competitors like they did with 2010 Sportsman #1 Monster Box competition when they brought back a lot of Sasuke competitors from years past and included 3 of the All-Stars. I would love to see them compete in a full-fledged Sportsman #1 show. Next to Viking, Sportsman #1 is my next favorite Monster 9 production.
Muscle Musical マッスルミュージカル backstage - Kane Kosugi ケイン・コスギ posing with Kunoichi 8 Co-Champion Kadoi Satomi 門井佐登美 ©Kadoi SatomiETA: Btw I noticed the other cast members of Muscle Musical all had the same picture of Kane that Daisuke Nakata had earlier. Though the girls managed to take personal photos of Kane with themselves.. I see who's the smarter one! Go girls!! :D
Muscle Musical マッスルミュージカル backstage - Kane Kosugi ケイン・コスギ posing with Kunoichi 8 Co-Champion Rie Komiya 小宮理英 ©Rie Komiya
Muscle Musical マッスルミュージカル backstage - Kane Kosugi ケイン・コスギ posing with Muscle Musical マッスルミュージカル M-JUMP cast member Azusa Odashima 小田島あずさ ©Azusa Odashima
Makoto Nagano (right) awaiting the unveiling of the new 
