SASUKE 23!! PART SEVENTEEN
(PART ONE) (PART TWO) (PART THREE) (PART FOUR) (PART FIVE) (PART SIX) (PART SEVEN) (PART EIGHT) (PART NINE) (PART TEN) (PART ELEVEN) (PART TWELVE) (PART THIRTEEN) (PART FOURTEEN) (PART FIFTEEN) (PART SIXTEEN)
Sasuke spoilerific review ;) Warning.. incoming blog of Sasuke 23.. if you don’t want to know.. you have been warned :D Please sign the Sasuke DVD Petition! I'd love for EVERYONE to be able to have their own copy of Sasuke to watch at their leisure. For a preview of this event.. Please see SASUKE NAVI FALL 2009 (1 hour review of Sasuke 23 with fluff pieces of all the major players in the upcoming Sasuke!) Oh.. and as Ube says: If you are from the G4 Forums, DON'T POST THIS THERE. They expect everyone to stick their head in the sand and pretend it doesn't exist..
UBE'S Sorta-LIVE-BLOG FOR SASUKE 23 IS HERE!
(Massive thanks to Ube for his help on the names in English and Japanese of all the competitors!!)
Last 2 men standing in Sasuke 23 are! Hitoshi Kanno 菅野仁志
and All-Star Makoto Nagano 長野誠
WHOOT! BACK TO BACK FINAL STAGES! This time we have TWO!! New Star vs. Hero!!
Kanno gets his interview first - this is his 1st Final Stage!
Nagano looks bored.. LOL This is his 5th Final!
Showing the history of the Final Stages counting the 1st ever win - Kazuhiko Akiyama 秋山 和彦The numbers represent that from September, 1997 to October, 1999 there was just 1 winner.
2nd winner was Makoto Nagano 長野誠only the 2nd winner from March, 2000 - October, 2006!
And then there was 1 final ever after Nagano's win - March, 2007 it was Yuuji Urushihara 漆原裕治 who got very close but did not win.
And again with the following tournament.. we are back to the Final Stage!
The guys get strapped into their safety gear!
While they do that.. it's time for fluff pieces!!
We start off with Hitoshi Kanno 菅野仁志's Sasuke wall of fame!
There are several dozen pictures of him with Sasuke Trial friends and of course of the many encounters with the Sasuke All-Stars. (this one with Nagano and Takeda)
Looking at home with.. wtf.. is that a dorm room I'm looking at? I see a microwave, a cooking pot, a guitar.. Food and Music.. I like this guy!
Mom and Dad and unidentified chick.. so.. was the drama queen replaced?
Uhm.. This doesn't seem right...
Uhm.. Dude.. watch your hands.. those are my private parts...
Ignoring.. ignoring.. it will all be over soon..
Meanwhile they show Nagano's training for the final stage.
Then he changes his mind..
He changes "keep up" with "push himself more"..
Nagano family - Asami with son Kaiou... wait.. is she holding Nagano's cigarettes and cell phone? LOL!!!!!
Looks like they both showered and changed completely. Heck they even blow dried their hair! (Yes.. they have those in Mount Midoriyama :p )
Geez.. looks they had like 4 changes of clothes each! LOL Though still perplexed by Takeda's sun visor..
Last tournament's finalist Yuuji Urushihara 漆原裕治 (Cliffer #3) standing next to Matsuda (Cliffer #1) while all of this is taking place.
Kanno's cheering section.. wait.. I see her.. 2nd from the left.. I guess they are downplaying her? or I guess no longer going out? I just work here :p
Cue dramatic music! It's a view from the top!
Nagano and Kanno prepared to take on the FINAL STAGE!!
The view from the high Boom camera...
The announcer that I much prefer Satô Fumiyasu 佐藤 文康 is up at the top waiting for the guys.As Ube points out "Unlike before, there is a male reporter at the top. Will it make a difference in our competitor's motivation?" LOL
From the top to his right he can see the first stage...
if you look to the far center you see the second stage
and just below him is the third stage
Fall 2009 - Sasuke 23's finalists!Hitoshi Kanno 菅野仁志 and Makoto Nagano 長野誠
Hitoshi Kanno 菅野仁志 is up first!
Nagano teaches him manners :)
One last good luck hand shake and off you go son!
And then it's my turn...
Kanno is looking last minute nervous.. yeah no kidding.. it becomes all too real at this point..
Cliffers #3 (Yuuji), #1 (Matsuda) and #2 (Ryo).. I think that's Lee Yen Chi in the far left with the glasses
Dramatic music and camera as they do last minute preparations
Last thing.. the connection to the bungie cord they tie him to in case he falls
Holy crap that's a LONG way up.. as he seeks refuge in the Sasuke Spray..
Nagano already a pro at this is already making his mental preparation for his run
LOL.. they look bored.. Hmm.. Takeda has Nagano's towel now.. kinky..
Last minute prayers...
Starting position.. everything turns quiet..
And off we go!
...... but first.. (oh come on.. they always do this in the middle of the run)..
What seems like 45 minutes of commercials later.. they reintroduce the Final stage and mention the side of the final stage. 23 meters. First part comprised of the "Heavenly Ladder" (made of Rope just like Sasuke 22).
He's going at an even pace but doesn't seem the same speed as Yuuji the tournament before.
Connection to the 2nd part of the last Stage is a bit sloppy...
But he gets it.. this is the G.. Rope.. (not the grope ya'll.. ) and that is 10 meters long.
Moving WAAAAY too slowly.. he's crawling up the rope!
Nowhere near the exit and he's already almost out of time!
Final 8 tenths of a second left!!
And there it is.. he's done! Wow that's pretty far down..
Unlike other Sasuke's.. he is not mercifully dropped.. which could be good .. because a) that would hurt like HELL if he straddled that ladder .. (soprano...) and b) they can torture him as he dangles in mid air.. LOL
Parents unphased
Yep that's her.. she's relegated to 2nd fiddle in the Friend section. Either that or TBS made it up (shock.. no really?)
Meanwhile in Naganoland™
Shingo: You ready for this?Nagano: One last hit of the spray man...
Shingo: So old man.. what's with the chair..Takeda: yeah.. you usually stand for this..
Nagano: STFU I'm friggin 37 ya'll and I just ran the course TWICE!...
Meanwhile still in Limbo.. Poor Kanno is just left to sulk in the middle of nowhere...
Finally someone feels sorry for the poor lad and wedgies.. er.. hauls him up by the rope connecting him.
Poor guy.. he has to be brought up by someone elseHitoshi Kanno 菅野仁志 - Death by groping.. er.. Time up on G-Rope.
Friends still yelling support
Hitoshi Kanno 菅野仁志 being interviewed after his demise.
That.. was embarrassing.. I need to practice more on the rope technique..
This sucks to get this close!!!
TBS showing the connection between the two
Ouch .. this is as far as he got.. That's.. a long way..
Nagano's reaction to the last few seconds...
Ouch.. I was never that bad.. but yeah.. that still sucks...
Kanno's last good luck handshake to Nagano before his run as Shingo and Takeda look on
Please.. do it for me!!!
Yuuji Urushihara 漆原裕治 feels a certain pride.. "I got closer! HA!" (j/k)
Aww man...
For the love of.. fine.. this is the last one after all.. Customary Ritual Caning..
LOL at Takeda's 1980's wristband.. ehem... Nagano is preparing for a big ass thump..
.. because Takeda is smiling .. waaaaaaay too much right now...
Oh crap.. yeah.. he is smiling a lot..
oh oh.....
just noticed.. NO TOWEL!!
LMFAO... LOOK AT TAKEDA!!!!!!!!! He put his weight into it that BASTARD!!
.. Don't.. read.. lips...
.. ow....
LOL he has his lips sealed as if to hold the whimper!!
.. did he hit his back with the metal ring there??????? Oh Sasuke 24 is going to be uber payback time.. mark my words...
These seem to be new additions
have to check translations later :p
LOL they look bored.. we know Yamada is around there somewhere but interesting that TBS is not showing him.. in fact they haven't showed him at all in earnest since giving his Mr. Sasuke name to Nagano...
ANW watching as Levi looks dazed
Asami with Kaiou.. looks like baby is awake!
Dramatic overhead shot.. geez the love getting friggin' crane shots! Looks cool though :pNagano's final stage preparation theme is the theme to 1998 movie Man in the Iron Mask! (YT Link)
Nagano's wife Asami
And their 2 month old son Kaiou
Makoto Nagano 長野誠 getting ready for his 5th Stage 4 run.. and his FIRST Shin-Sasuke final!
Yeah.. no pressure or anything...
Makoto Nagano 長野誠 - Last man standing in Sasuke 23!
LOL He's asking the director when it's ready for him to go.. he's ignoring the announcer.. ahahhaha what a pro!
Dramatic with this music.. LOL
Kanno looking on...
Nagano getting last minute set up taken care of..
And the final adjustment.. the connection to the safety cord..
Oh God just hurry this up...
Okay here we go...
One last picture...
And OFF WE GO!!
Connection made .. wow .. was that faster than Yuuji in 22??
Geez already to 16 secs and no commercial break...
Nevermind...
Okay we are back and Nagano's yelling his start again!
Okay.. on the rope!!
Definitely faster than Kanno...
He's looking for the button...
So close.. so close.. c'mon!!!!!!!
3 seconds.. c'mon!!!!
2!!!!!!!!! He can see through the opening!!!
UNDER A SECOND!!!!
NOooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!
NOW he sees it..
He reaches for it because he can.. but he was leaning in the wrong direction anyway...
Obviously I would have wanted the original 45 seconds that Yuuji had.. (if so he would have won easily..) but 40 seconds is a better final time..
Still frustrating because I want him to win again...
Gaaaaaaaaaaaah.. he feels it!
He's 1/5 now in finals! Geez.. people would kill for that record....
He just laughs it off..
I feel your pain man!!
ANW reaction
Kanno looking at the clock then back up top.. then back at the clock..
And realizes how close he was.. much closer than him..
Takasui/All- Star /Wifecam™
Takeda is all animated and Shingo is staring at the monitor
LOL they take turns looking at the monitor with the time and looking up to see him go
And there goes the time!
LOL everyone is dropping to their knees in stages.. LOL
Shingo can't believe how close he got...
Takeda does nothing when he see Asami go down.. LOL
HEY! WOMAN WITH BABY! SOMEONE GET HER!
Shingo looks over but half of Takasui is on the ground too.. LOL!!!
Nagano's most likely going through all the minute details of the run thinking where he could have gone faster..
Oh he's pacing.. he's so frustrated..
GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
I.. was right there....
Oh yeah.. replays..
At this point I think he thought he could make it..
And this is where it all ended... (P.S. for an interesting look at how close this was in comparison..)
Man.. I was close....
Aww.. all the screaming and rocking of Asami having kittens must have woken up the baby.. oh KAWAAAAAIIIIIIIIIII
Wow he's a good baby. Not a single sound from him all tourney (at least on camera.. LOL) - Asami waving hello to her husband
OMG JUST LOOK AT THOSE CHEEKS! I WANT TO CHEW ON THEM!!!
.. er.. the baby not Asami's.. LOL
Kanno wishing he was as fast.. LOLMust be thinking "man.. if an old guy like that can kick my butt so soundly.. wtf.. "
Incoming TBS set-up.. but hey I don't care this is cuuuuuute!
Nagano putting on his towel as Asami brings his baby to him
*cough* Money shot *cough*
See Makoto? SUPPORT THE BABY'S NECK!!
This is where my HQ video stopped.. LOL
Final shots of Sasuke 23 is Nagano's glorious Stage 1 part Deux run!
This was definitely an exciting highlight of the whole tournament!That.. was a great tournament! There was something for everyone! It's too much to go over what I just wrote but in a nutshell I'm so happy for 3 All-stars to do so well and not all of them were here! I'm happy so many new people got a taste of victory! 16 people passed! Holy cow! Nice to see how experience did trump inexperience! LOL SO much of this course is mental and it took the experience of the guys who have been there before to harness their emotions long enough to compete. I had Sasuke Porn, babies, hot bods.. geez.. this was a great tournament!
And thanks for watching! Have a coke!Phew and there it is! I'm surprised I didn't hit 20 blogs! I really really really want to thank a few people. Lost in Ube for oh geez.. the list is long. Outside of my inspiration for even DOING this blog in the first place just over a year and a half ago... He definitely helped me the couple months leading into Sasuke 23 with finding blogs and names and mentions of people coming up for this tournament. And then of course his Live blog which I abuse constantly when creating my own. I honestly believe a lot of people really don't realize how hard it is to do these things (especially his live blog) and how time consuming it is to find all the names and kanji spellings, etc. M9 doesn't make it easy for us to find it.. VxJasonxV for the Sasuke Navi and Sasuke 23 feed he provided from his paid subscription of WIST. Without that I don't think half the community would have even SEEN the tournament! Also made for a riot during chat. We also had a copy of the tournament we could watch at all thanks to TVAnts not broadcasting Sasuke 23 live (mental note.. sign my petition folks.. this is why we want this stuff..). Scnoi from the Sasuke Maniac Boards for doing a great job in herding cats! First time chat with him. It was a riot with us 4 in chat.. mostly administration crap during watching the broadcasts but still managed to have fun. Between looking for information, creating the updated wiki, and helping keeping everyone provided with their Sasuke wants and needs.. it's been nice to see the community band together and watch and share our Sasuke passion. Thanks for chaki, colindesu, and Ube for their help with Japanese names, translations and general knowledge for us folks that just don't know Japanese! It's far more helpful to get the jokes, comments and whatnot when we can understand what is going on! Outside of the technical glitches it was one of my favorite Sasuke tournaments ever. Thanks to the community for being patient when I got the blogs up and for READING them! (Heck.. even proofreading LOL). Without anyone to share it with.. this would be kinda boring. I'm happy people find enjoyment in them as much as I enjoy creating them.
Looking forward to Sasuke 24 in THREE MONTHS! Holy cow!!
9 comments:
Great blog, as usual, Elsie. Nagano was so close! It would've been cool if he'd beaten the course for the second time. I hope we see a kanzen seiha in Sasuke 24. Although I'm hoping it'll be Shingo and/or Yamada.
You're right that they didn't really show Yamada again. I think it made him feel pretty bad when the announcer made that comment. I wonder if Yamada was trying to avoid being on camera because he was upset and/or embarrassed. I think the announcer's comment also put Nagano in an awkward position. The announcer called him by his friend's nickname. How do you respond to something like that? Anyway, Nagano did great. He's now been to the final stage 5 times! That's really impressive. Hope he does well in Sasuke 24, too.
This was great, thanks Elsie for this awesome work. Even if luckily I was able to watch this live, most of the memory got eaten by the excitement. My first live broadcast with an epic tournament like this...man I was going to have a heart attack! Thank to you i was able to live this again paying more attention on the little things without loosing the big things. Even rewatching this couldn't do this, and there wouldn't be your death-laugh jokes =). Your blogs are a good part of my Sasuke 23 experience.
This is my favourite tournament right now...it was simply epic. All-Stars finally returning to glory, new people coming in, the drama...even the Trasher...woops...Slider Jump thing in Makoto's run made it better; I hope this doesn't happen again tho.
Kanno did a great job, I hope he finds a job soon. I'm so sorry for Shingo, and I hoped Toshihro could finally make it to stage 4, but complaining is not gonna change things. And last but NOT last (you know I love him) Nagano did something truly great. Despite of all the problems, the stress, the shock of watching his friends failing in many (and painful) ways, he was the last man standing again, and again he demostrated he's still got the potential to destroy the entire course, he's still got the heart to love it but hate it at the same time. I hope he keeps doing this, I get teary eyed when I think about his way of living Sasuke.
All-Stars, New Heroes, American Team (even if too many), joke competitors, thank ya all folks, see ya in Sasuke 24.
Fantastic as always - I didn't comment until the very end because I read them straight through.
Your captions are spot on and totally hilarious - you even make the commercial breaks amusing.
I hope Nagano comes back and wins it all. It would be nice to see Shingo and Takeda in a final as well.
I even missed Yamada in the last blog - wonder where he was. I felt sorry for him after what the announcer said.
Always glad to see the friendship between Nagano/Takeda/Shingo - but more so what seems to be two really good friends Nagano and Takeda enjoying themselves.
I thought I'd post this here. I got bored this afternoon, so I used one of your screenshots to make a new poster for my site on Multiply.
http://tigerofhaughton.multiply.com/photos/album/45/Dude_wait...what#photo=1
Thanks for all the comments :) I was getting pretty rammy towards the end trying to finish though by comparison it was definitely one of the least difficult to do. I didn't have as many pictures as 22 (believe it or not) and it didn't feel like a job like it did in 21. And yes it was very intriguing to watch everyone. I actually like the very long broadcasts (IMO) so it was cool to see the whole day.
Tiger agreed with the comments about Yamada. I'm not even a big fan of his and I thought it was out of place. Just awkward.. do I agree that I don't think he deserves the title? Yes.. but I wouldn't broadcast it like that. Just in poor taste how he did it and very very badly timed IMO. I loved the poster! Aahahhahahahahahah that was great and he really did have that face. Gotta love Shingo for those off the cuff "er.. what?" faces he has. Dude does not own a poker face.
As for him not being there at the end. There was a sighting there for Stage 3. I'm sure he was there for the whole thing but chose to be in the background.. that and I think TBS did their best not to show him. I heard a rumor he's threatening to retire again (I think this will be what.. #4?) so not sure what's going to happen with that. Either way this was by far the most awkward moments.. dealing with Yamada during all of this.
It was fun watching it with more Girls! I was getting lonely there! I really did enjoy the different take everyone had. The joy of sharing something like this with people of different backgrounds. Get to enjoy the many layers of this zany game-show.
Ces definitely agree that half the fun of watching Sasuke is seeing the friends interact. It's clear Takeda and Nagano are much closer. They never denied that. It's just funny seeing them goof around all day. Quite frankly I know that's one of the perks on being on the show.. you get to hang out all day with your friends :D
LOL So happy people enjoyed the commercial breaks.. half the fun is going.. "wtf am I watching".. I"m still scarred over that submarine zooming up to that baby's butt...
Glad you like the poster. That's what happens when I get bored. I always have fun doing those, though.
I also heard that Yamada is threatening to retire. I don't want to see him retire, so in the letter I wrote him I encouraged him to keep competing. In an interview once he said that it really touches him when children encourage him to keep competing. In America I'm an adult, but in Japan you're not considered an adult till you're 20, so Yamada would still consider me to be a child. I really hope he doesn't retire.
Great work Elsie. Well summarized, had a bit of everything.
Can't believe you didn't include the Aflac cat/duck CM!
LOL the Aflac cat was great!!!!!! And yes I did screw up and not put it in there. Part of it was the feed I had for the "better" picture came from some other prefecture and they had a few different commercials.. they didn't show the Aflac ones in the other place.
Tiger let me know if you hear anything back :) Would be nice if he returns fan mail. I think irregardless if he thinks you are an adult or child he has to be touched by your sincere support.
Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!
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