Big news came out within the past 24 hours. As has been expected but long been in the making (Lord knows this takes a long time to organize) the long awaited expansion of Sasuke into South-East Asia has officially begun! Earlier today I saw some tweets from Sasuke Director Masato Inui posting about him finding 2 articles (here and here) about an announced new tournament.
Seems that Sasuke Malaysia's hard work behind the scenes the past couple of years has managed to actually accomplish what I thought was a pretty lofty goal.. a huge Sasuke tournament with 10 countries! Over the rest of the day more articles (mostly Japanese) popped up saying about the same thing. TBS finally put out a bilingual press release with the details from their end. The English press release is here. The Malaysian Ministry of Sports also had a press release on their website.
Quite a few things were announced. First off.. I had a history/geography lesson about the tournament name. I mistakenly called it Asian when it's actually ASEAN. ASEAN stands for Association of Southeast Asian Nations. As my history lesson (and wiki) continues, ASEAN is a geo-political and economic organization of ten countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on August, 1967. The members are Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
As far as Sasuke history is concerned, we know Malaysia has already done one major event (Sasuke Malaysia 2011) with 2 smaller events (Monsoon Cup 2011 and Hari Belia 2012). Singapore managed one event Sasuke Singapore 2012. Both countries managed competitors in Sasuke Japan (Malaysia with 1 competitor in both Sasuke 27 and Sasuke (28) Rising while Singapore debuted with 2 competitors in Sasuke Rising). What is amazing with the news is that we now have 8 more countries actively being introduced into the Sasuke family.
The formal announcement was done in huge fashion as it is a big deal done between the Malaysian Ministry of Sports, ASEAN organization, TBS and Sasuke Malaysia representatives. This event was been officially endorsed by the ASEAN Secretariat and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Japan as part of the celebration of the 40th year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.
According to the TBS press release, the large-scale competition is to be held at Stadium Kelana Jaya in Malaysia (at least it's the proposed site) in late November 2013. The SASUKE ASEAN OPEN CUP 2013
competition is timed to coincide with the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on
Sports also to be held in the Malaysian capital during the same period. This will mark the first time Sasuke will actually be held inside a 25,000 capacity stadium!
I'm excited about this event! Just like Ninja Warrior Europe including a bunch of countries and spreading the Sasuke gospel to a larger audience, this will be a cool addition to the Sasuke family. With strong ties to TBS and the original Sasuke Japan (which is my favorite) I'm happy to see the legacy of Sasuke continuing into the future. I hope the United States takes note and rejoins the Sasuke family by actually caring about the Japanese parent show Sasuke. One can hope with the addition of 2 huge international tournaments all tied to Sasuke, that the USA will actually rethink their strategy and current position in Sasuke history.
In the end I am happy with the expansion of Sasuke further into South East Asia and I'm really looking forward to more information, details, associated competitions, etc. as they are organized and announced. I'm sure there is a LOT of work ahead but with their passion and caring for the original Sasuke Japan firmly in their own history (unlike ANW) I'm more at ease knowing they will make us die-hard Sasuke fans proud. As I get more information I'll post as usual.
After a huge more than year long void of no Sasuke news.. Sasuke Rising is making up for lost time! We are less than a day away (airs tonight) from the highly anticipated Sasuke Navi (Preview Show) and less a week until the actual Sasuke 28 tourney airing in Japan (airs on Thursday) and we already have 2 videos to talk about! That is in addition to the 2 minute All-Star Farewell Trailer and the Nagano visits Las Vegas half hour special!
We have 2 new trailer/videos... er. Make that THREE (as I was about to hit the publish button LOL!!) anyway.. THREE new trailer/videos to talk about! First up is a 3 minute international trailer that was posted on the official TBS promotions YouTube Page. It is a subtitled (in English) promotional video for Sasuke Rising with the participation of the foreign countries currently involved.
It shows Shingo, Yamada and Nagano clips from Sasuke past to explain that 2700 attempts (NOT PEOPLE G4.. oh wait.. they are gone so need to shout anymore..) were made on the course over the past 15 years.
And they acknowledge that we will be watching! mwahahahahahhaha ehem.. yes.. I'm waking up at 2 am tonight to watch Sasuke Navi! Damn skippy! Oh yeah at 4:30 am next week! I'll be watching with plenty of popcorn!
They go in a small bit explaining about how US has a spin off named American Ninja Warrior that did their 4th season (technically 8th if you include the ANC competitions but who's counting anyway.. ) and even though this happened NBC still made the American representatives pay their own way to Japan.. /facepalm AND didn't invite the current ANW Stars to compete.. but yeah I'm not raging about that or anything.. nah.. nothing to read here..
Sasuke Singapore debuted this year and sent 2 athletes from that competition to Sasuke Rising (airing next week).
Sasuke Malaysia finally aired this year though it was taped last year. They sent 1 athlete to Sasuke Rising.
Farid whom we met last year conquering what I call the "Nagano" final with the spider walk. Well.. a mini version but who cares that's my favorite final!
Same competition from last year that had Nagano visit and became a superstar by meeting the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
And finally they talk about Ninja Warrior Europe that is currently in the works.
Seems the producer had mud in his eye for this pic LOL They were present during Sasuke Rising's taping (from November) to get a feel for how it runs in one day.
Now they cut to the part I like. Spoilers for this tourney! Mwahahahahhaha
I totally am loving this new camera on the Rolling Escargot. It's showing this poor soul's futile attempt to stay on the snail. Yep you guessed it.. he's going for a drink of the septic sludge!
And the Cannonball Run from Viking... er... er.. sorry.. Spin bridge is still one of my favorite if not THE favorite obstacle of Viking.. er.. Sasuke!
Ooh another WHHHHHHIFF of that new jump Hang sideways with poles thingamajig that they have for this new tourney. Looks evil..
I see a string of hairy crab! That can only mean one thing!
And there is the link above to the first video I just screen-capped. The 2nd video came from a website that we couldn't watch called Dogcatch. The video was region blocked. Luckily, both the TBS international sales and the new Sasuke Rising Facebooks posted the video on their site.
This was a dogcatch produced 12 minute interview with the producer and director of Sasuke and showed a lot of the course.. in the rain.. (presumably from the day before since the Saturday before was pouring and the Sunday taping was clear of rain). View from the startline of the First Stage.
What's cool is that even though most of this is covered in rain and only clips of it the kids on SMF went crazy over the obstacles. LOL but that's nothing new. This is presumably the 2nd stage (oh I'm sure I'll get messages correcting me if I'm wrong)
This is the 3rd stage and all the wild speculation begins about the new Cliffhanger! and that bar.. and what could it possibly mean? omg omg that's totally yada yada.. wait for the tourney folks..
And the final tower with no one on it. Because they taped it the day before and the sky is filled with rain clouds!
And because this is all Japanese.. I have no idea wtf is on the screen. Either way it's there so we see the first obstacle and of course that exploding sign start line.
And we get a nice glimpse of the first stage.. and the 3rd behind that.. oh I can hear the hardcore kids squealing and circling blocks..
Seems they had 3 rookies show up to test the course (presumably of that website that posted the video). TBS' site had this write up:
What happens when average 20-something or 30-something man-or-woman-in-the-street takes on SASUKE? You can guess, right?
Well, now you don’t have to. Check it out, and keep watching as the producers and creators talk about the new SASUKE RISING.
LOL first guy slips on the first step.. badly..
The girl ALMOST makes it.. then slides backwards..
And .. ewwwwwww.. that's a lot of mud..
2nd guy makes it past the steps and he celebrates! LOL
And has trouble mounting the .. ooh check out where they have the camera..
And.. LOL off he goes head first into the septic sludge!
No idea what he's saying but taking the time here to show the rest of the First stage
Man that flying cargo net thingie looks pretty epic..
And we see the first of TWO walls..
Yep.. here is the 2nd wall..
Now they go into the main interview section. (which is long btw and entirely in Japanese)
Sasuke's new Producer is Hiroki Kikuno 菊野浩樹
As he's talking they are showing parts of the course.
Hmm the course seems shorter to me? Nothing wrong with that actually.
Yep that's where the camera is. LOL they provide epic vids of the wipe outs!
Cargo net flying thing into the first of the walls
and right into the 2nd wall (note the fireman poll (left) where you jump down to the 2nd wall)
and the view of the walls from that cargo thingie.. so.. jumping to one of the sides.. wow..
Inui was the Sasuke Director from Sasuke 1-13. After an 8 year absence he's back! Oh and you can see the whole video here. Facebook wouldn't allow me to embed this particular video for some odd reason..
Next is actually links to Sasuke Rising's new Facebook page. Between this one and the TBS prosales page (the ones responsible for international sales of TBS produced shows) we've been kept up to date with all things Sasuke! A nice departure of the last 4 years of pulling teeth!
Next is a link to the tbs merchandising sales website.. seems they now have a Sasuke merchandise section! NO idea if they have overseas shipping so don't ask me.... They have towels and shirts from the current tournament Sasuke Rising!
The shirts are being modeled by the 2 American representatives that paid their way to Japan! Will Dodd and Joseph Lobeck! Glad TBS used their likeness to pimp the new shirts that fit American bodies! mwahahahahha I want a shirt or towel.. just saying..
I was surprised when I went to publish this blog. I was about to hit the button when I decided to check my twitter (which had a few messages waiting for me). Lo and behold a THIRD video link showed up! I was very surprised of the content. P.S. I just noticed that when I screencapped this directly from the page... check out who liked the videos.. just saying :) This message is approved by Yuuji himself! mwahahahahahha
You have NO IDEA how much this makes me VERY happy to see TBS finally promoting their 2-Time and Defending Grand Champion Yuuji Urushihara 漆原裕治. What makes this video so great is that not only is it a beautifully recorded video .. but it's SUBTITLED IN ENGLISH!!!!!!!! I mean I completely understand that the tournament will not be subtitled, nor Navi.. but I'm so happy we get small clips (one above promoting the tournament and this one promoting Yuuji) further heightening excitement for this tournament AND acknowledging the international crowd that is faithfully watching their show live as it airs in Japan. So THANK YOU TBS for promoting your show. I pray to God that translates to very high ratings. I know as a foreign viewer I'm eagerly awaiting the tournament. I hope Japan is just as excited.
Finally, As a daily reminder from TBS to watch Sasuke Rising on their Facebook page they put up a couple of pictures. This one was from today and it had the 5 All-Stars who attended this tourney! (Bunpei was not present). I'm happy to see my boy Shingo still has what it takes to mess up a picture.. LMFAO!!!!! LOOK AT HIM!!!!!!!! he said he was cold because they made him take off his shirt when it was freezing.. I'm sorry but I LOVE that picture. Anyone else super excited for the Sasuke Rising!??
