Rambling Rican: Tomohiro Kawaguchi

I'm happy that the Update shows are going on at a timely basis! Previous shows (February, January, December and October). November was the big month where he and Ryo were building Sasuke Indonesia and produced 13 behind the scenes videos on Nico Nico. There was an announcement this week on their new Twitter account that the next one is approaching fast. The name of the Twitter handle is S ura channel (which means Sasuke back channel).

Online Streaming Service Nico Nico (placeholder - page will be available March 5)

Saturday, March 12, 2016 - 20:00 (8:00 PM - Japan) JST
6:00 AM (Eastern Standard Time) (SATURDAY Morning)

3:00 AM (Pacific Standard Time) (SATURDAY Morning)

Additional Time conversion

For those who are curious.. what is Nico Nico? This is the online streaming service that was used during the Sasuke 30 and 31 broadcasts that had commentary on the tournament while it was airing live in Japan. Over the past Sasuke 31 season, it was used often for community updates and additional content. This particular channel is new as this is a channel started specifically by the Sasuke Director himself. I mentioned this before, but it bears repeating: I need to reiterate something about the channel. This is not an official channel for TBS. This is his own personal channel and the views and impressions on this broadcast/channel are not the official views of TBS. For those who are unaware, Mr. Inui was hired to direct Sasuke after the collapse and eventual bankruptcy of Monster 9. He is now creative owner for the televised image of Sasuke and he serves not only as Executive Director but sole Editor of the televised show. However, he is President of FolCom and considered to be an outside independent contractor hired by TBS. Remember that while what he discusses about the composition of the show (which he controls), he does not serve as representative of TBS. TBS controls the license of the show and is the only one certified to announce any official plans. He wanted to make sure everyone knew that up front and there are certain answer he is just unable to give since he has limited control of the show and cannot possibly speak for TBS in an official capacity.

Poster for the new Nico Nico Broadcast ©Sasuke Back Channel

New Poster is up! The line-up for Broadcast #5 is smaller but has Director Inui at the helm as host along with 2 Sasuke Stars to answer fan questions now that Sasuke 32's Official Application is now live! They expect a lot more questions now that it is official (and probably a lot of begging. LOL) so having a smaller cast may be advantageous to getting a lot of answers to those fan questions.

Host - Sasuke (Japan) Director Masato Inui 乾雅人 ©Masato Inui

Ryo Matachi (Cliffer #2) 又地諒 ©Ryo Matachi

Tomohiro Kawaguchi 川口朋広 ©Arsenette Reiter

The hope was for this informal channel is to provide a monthly update on the world of Sasuke from his perspective and provide an opportunity to engage the community live. They seem to be doing more this time by not just keeping up with the Nico Nico live chat but also engaging the Twitter chatter and hinting in expanding to other platforms to interact with a larger audience.. They are actively working on the sound and video quality so it is their hope they aren't plagued by tech issues. He'll answer what he can so again, there are some topics he cannot formally address as it's either out of his hands, political or he just doesn't know the answer.

Thanks everyone for being patient! I've been working hard on a few of projects that I'm planning on unveiling soon™ and I procrastinated in taking time away from that to post this blog! Without further ado I'm back to blogging about this year's American Ninja Warrior 7 Special - USA vs. World special that aired on Sunday, January 31, 2016 on NBC. I'm happy to report that many of the things that made me RAGE in last year's special has actually been addressed! Not all.. but it seems the major issues that TBS officially protested last year were fixed for this year. A few stupid things remain but I'll point them out as I do the blog.

(PART ONE) (PART TWO) (PART THREE) (PART FOUR)

A look back at Stage 3 from last season.. which now is about a year and a half ago.. LOL

Sasuke Grand Champion Yuusuke Morimoto 森本裕介 made American Ninja Warrior History by being the first person ever to clear ANW's Third Stage.

and we thought Japan was going to be rewarded.. but we know what happened. LOL

Team Europe came out of nowhere

and won Stage 3.. er.. uhm.. wait that's not quite what happened.. lol

Europe won in the end

But NBC made that final happen! All backlash be damned!

As USA celebrated their miracle comeback to make it to the Final Stage.. but Europe won anyway. LOL

yeah yeah we are back to Stage 3 of this year.. er.. last year.. er.. this was June, 2015 so you have to forgive me if I screw up the years.. besides this has been an ugly and crazy tournament where Drew and Sean are ridiculous standouts and everyone else left their spleen and probably a couple kidneys on obstacles. Oh! and the ANW Champion ("the other one" LOL) collapsed and Joe was plucked from the audience to save Team USA and had a ridiculous time but oh... wait.. Sean beat him.. but still! It's a crazy show! Oh and Japan is being blown out.. groan.

Japan hoping their ANW vets can get them back on track. you can tell this is for much later since Morimoto isn't up until much later.. LOL Gotta love random video..

I'm sure ATS (the builders) are running out of names for these obstacles by now..

okay that's the prettiest so far.. usually I call it Home Depot Fire Sale™..

Yeah.. even if the paint is freaking out my eyes.. too many primary colors.

zomg so many arrows.. you know I thought they'd change the name of this..

Considering that they added the poor-man's version of the Crazy Cliffhanger at the end.

OMG I now have a massive craving for Pixy Stix!

Are they making this shorter every year?

Giggles.. UFO's..

And the Flying Bar

Okay! The final 3 heats coming up! 9 points up for grabs! First up Heat One!

Fresh from his Sasuke 31 Second Stage performance is Alexander Mars アレクサンダー・マーズ from Sweden

Incoming Fluff piece because you knew it was coming!

LOL They caught him surfing the internet on his job..

LOL He's a cool dude. I'm partial to people with self deprecating humor.

Ahh.. busy work. That's more like it!

Hey I played Ultimate Frisbee in high school!

He was the last man standing in Ninja Warrior Sweden. Like most in Sweden, they didn't know much of the show.

ANW is exploding worldwide. That is the preferred format (whether I like it or not) since it's easier to put a regionals course than it is for a full course like Sasuke or Vegas.

Okay back to the Third Stage!

transition to the door knobs.

doing well on the doors themselves

Time for the crazy ultimate ultra cliffhanger with a road going through it.. in fact. it looks like Pole Position.. yeah because I didn't date myself with that reference...

I can almost hear Drew cursing under his breath.. and so is Inui...

Awww.. he got his hands on it.. gaaaaaaah

LOL did they expect it?

Alexander Mars アレクサンダー・マーズ - Death by Ultimate Cliffhanger

Akbar you may not have seen that before.. but this happens ALL THE TIME on Sasuke. This is actually a very common way to fail sadly.

College kid? 25.. masters I hope? maybe he took a break when he got married? dunno I just work here.. I don't call a married father a kid.. especially at 25 years old..

NBC rubbing salt in the wound reliving how close he got to the final before falling into the water just the night before.

Familycam™

The agony of defeat

Awww he's embarrassed. I actually smile/laugh when I am embarrassed.. usually at the worst possible times... Interesting though how they make it look like he trained months for the Flying bar after he failed in ANW7 Finals. That's a bit disingenuous.. this happened the DAY BEFORE..

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Transition to the doorknobs

mad focus

on to the hanging doors

His turn on the overclifferwallofdeath

Thanks Matt for correctly saying ANW history and not including Sasuke in it. Thank you. ♥

wait.. they can put their thumbs on the rigging of the obstacle?

I mean the ledge itself is already 2 centimeters thicker than Sasuke's.. but the rigging?? How is that legal?

and clear!

with that he eliminates Alexander Mars

don't remind him..

mmm.. Pixy Stix..

... cross between showboating and "HI MOM!!".. not sure how I feel about that.. there is still someone else to come.. show some respect.. (/shakescaneinair)

Okay it's not smaller.. just looks different since now it's transparent.

I can't imagine all that blood rushing to your brain..

shake out those arms..

okay.. first time seeing this particular obstacle.. I.. don't like it.. it's.. ugly. LOL

Ian doesn't care. He's super happy he's back to try to avenge his loss from last night.

beat his effort from last night!

Awwwwww down on the last one

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Million depressions..

I THOUGHT I heard him scream..

He must have been running out of steam. Poor guy.

Aww.. that's going to haunt him for a whole year.. twice in 2 nights..

Ian Dory - Death by Flying Bar

I'm convinced she knows when they are taken.. LOL (yes.. yes.. just kidding :P )

Last minute pointers.. wait.. Hioki you haven't gone that far before! LOL

Sasuke 30 Finalist/Sasuke 31 Third Stage Competitor - Tomohiro Kawaguchi 川口朋広

Team Japan hoping they can cheer more for Tomo. He did really good in the Second Stage here!

Hmm.. I don't like chain obstacles I guess.. chain seesaw.. yeah.. I don't like chain obstacles. LOL

Onto the door knobs

Starting to smile!

WTF!!!!!

Oooh tried to save himself... that had to hurt.. that thump was LOUD..

Yuusuke in complete shock.. so am I!

Another one of those "it would be nice if they got to practice on this" time. He had no idea that was going to spin.. Akbar was onto something.. but there was no "forgotten".. he wasn't told and he never practiced on it to know they did..

Good effort trying to save himself knowing he was falling.. Just heartbreaking to watch. I personally think with some knowledge of the course Japan would have done better. Tomo specifically.

oh he got close to saving it though that couldn't have felt good..

Tomohiro Kawaguchi 川口朋広 - Death by Doorknob Grasper

LOL she's terrified of him..

Btw he does know a little bit of English. He's self taught and understand a lot more than he can speak it. He speaks better English though than anyone else on the team hands down.

If the translation is correct, I'm happy he's thinking of at least a good showing from Ryo and Yuusuke coming up.

Ian almost feels guilty to win that way.

USA takes the point and goes into the lead again.

So.. yeah.. those last 2 doorknobs actually turn. Take note..

Heat 2 coming up.

~~Geoff~~ Joe is up next. I don't envy that pressure of suddenly going when you weren't expecting to do so.

NBC replaying his history.

Stage 3 back to back - first in ANW6

Then a day later at the Special

Then last night got to the Ultimate cliffhanger and failed doing the Sasuke technique of the 180° turn then jump

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and here we go!

Doorknobs

Doors

And here we go on the Cliffhanger

.. he's turning around it seems

Same result though ( > . < )

Team USA crushed

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This is the "Sasuke" accepted technique.

This is the ANW technique. Seems he's not accustomed to that so I wasn't sure why he did it.

Joe.. you aren't helping me here.. Stop blaming others for your fail. You yourself are ultimately responsible for your own body. I know you are frustrated but blaming others will always get me to write negatively about it. I don't care how many times you write me to complain about it and I don't want to hear it this year either.

At the end at least he recognizes he needs to go back and try something new since he mentally can't get past this. We know he can physically do it. He's just missing the confidence in himself to just block the outside world and do what he does in practice. He's easily influenced by the words of others and falters when he does it. He doesn't need validation from others. He needs validation from himself. No one can do that but him and him alone.

Now for the Japanese head case. The complete reverse is happening on the other side of the Pacific where he has validation but he totally revels in it as if he's the second coming. Since 2014 this guy has believed the hype and proceeded to radically chance his personality, become insufferable and his ultimately his results have suffered greatly for it.

He's come back to the USA because he did well last year here. Otherwise, he would have been replaced with someone else who has done well in the past year in Sasuke. He's only a couple weeks removed from his epic choke on the First Stage when wearing #100 he was crushed under the pressure of being the "it" guy.

He's hoping to turn his year around in this competition to be taken seriously in Japan again.

Oh hey there Strat/Beast/Bernardo!

Stock footage of Brian Kretsch!

Sasuke 27/30 Finalist - Ryo Matachi (Cliffer #2) 又地諒

Time on the left in blue is Joe's time to the Floating Boards which was his last completed obstacle.

They Spin Ryo..

No problems. Amazing what prior knowledge will do...

Tomo: See? I could have done that..

Taking a while on the boards..

So he has to clear this to pass Moravsky since he failed to complete the doors before Joe.

but.. he's a Cliffer so there's no way he's going to go down on this.. besides.. there's already a pretty severe team penalty if he does fail it..

For those who don't remember from last year: I was told by the Japanese that when they found out that the American Cliffhanger was a 5 cm ledge they openly cackled. Sasuke's are 3 cm ledges (much harder) so this should be a piece of cake. They even joked amongst themselves that if anyone (Japanese) failed this cliffhanger then they should be kicked off the team... permanently. Added penalty for this year.. They would have to swim back home as they won't be allowed back on the Team plane for the flight back home. LOL

And safely across. This is why he's on the team this year. For this exact reason.

Cheesy Morimoto grin.

wtf.. not.. good.. Kanno looked this way right after the Cliffhanger last year..

Japan now ahead of USA in this heat thus far.

Yelling encouragement to keep going and shake it off

Eep.. having issues reaching

LOL Making it swing despite Akbar saying he can't.

Having to be creative in getting around this but he's taking an obscene amount of time on this.

Curse the short arms... but he's getting it.

Drew yelling encouragement

They know he's in real trouble..

Praying he can get past this next section. He's exhausted..

shaking off his arms on the transition.

Get those legs up...

Okay somehow getting up the wall

Next transition

what's he doing?

Ooooooh.. but I can't imagine having blood rush to your head is going to be good..

Yeah.. he's hosed.. I guess they can't sit on the ledge? Must be against the rules. Otherwise I have no idea why he didn't do that to shake his arms out.