Final Stage

Intro
To date, the Final Stage (stylized FINAL STAGE, later FINAL) has seven known forms. Each of these share a single, common goal: to scale the tower and reach the button at the top before the time expires.

Originally, if the competitors do not reach the top of the tower in time, the rope is cut and they will fall (they are caught by a safety line). This was not done in other versions of the stage, the competitors would be instead slowly lowered down to the ground or pulled up to the top of the tower depends on their performance.

Reaching the top of the tower before the time run out is referred to as kanzenseiha (完全制覇), translated as Complete Domination, and rendered on Ninja Warrior as Total Victory.

So far, after 39 SASUKE tournaments, only 40 attempts was made on the Final Stage, with only 6 competitors have made it more than once:
 * Ōmori Akira in SASUKE 1, SASUKE 2, and SASUKE 3,
 * Yamamoto Shingo in SASUKE 3 and SASUKE 7,
 * Nagano Makoto in SASUKE 11, SASUKE 12, SASUKE 13, his victory in SASUKE 17, and SASUKE 23,
 * Urushihara Yuuji in SASUKE 22, along with his victories in SASUKE 24 and SASUKE 27,
 * Matachi Ryo in SASUKE 27 and SASUKE 30, and
 * Morimoto Yūsuke in SASUKE 35 and SASUKE 36, along with his victory in SASUKE 31 and SASUKE 38.

Currently, there are only 4 competitors who had achieved kanzenseiha in SASUKE:
 * Akiyama Kazuhiko in SASUKE 4,
 * Nagano Makoto in SASUKE 17,
 * Urushihara Yuuji in SASUKE 24 and SASUKE 27, and
 * Morimoto Yūsuke in SASUKE 31 and SASUKE 38.

Summary
The original Final Stage consisted of climbing a 15 meter (49 feet) Tsuna Nobori, and the competitor must start climbing from a seated position. Kawashima Takayuki was the first to try it. This was also the only version to be attempted in its debut.

The second version of the Final Stage was unveiled in SASUKE 7, when Yamamoto Shingo became the first to attempt it. The height of the tower was increased to 22.5 meters. It consisted of a Spider Climb and Tsuna Nobori. After 15 seconds, the walls of the Spider Climb spread apart. This ensnared Jordan Jovtchev during the 8th Competition, when he failed to complete the Spider Climb before it began spreading, and fell off the tower.

The third official version was revealed by Urushihara Yuuji in the SASUKE 22. It consisted of a 13m Heavenly Ladder followed by a 10m G-Rope. The time limit was reduced from 45 to 40 seconds in the following competition. This ensnared Nagano Makoto, who was 0.21 seconds late in SASUKE 23. Had the time limit been kept the same, Nagano would have achieved Kanzenseiha for the second time, and he would've become the first person to do it.

The fourth official version consisted of a 20 meter Tsuna Nobori, which was referred as the Ultimate Rope Climb. In addition, the time limit was kept the same. Matachi Ryo was the first to attempt it in SASUKE 27, and came less than 2 meters from victory when the rope was cut, however, Urushihara Yuuji achieved kanzenseiha later that night.

The fifth official version of the Final Stage was shown in several pictures prior to the airing of SASUKE 29 and was first attempted in the next tournament. The Spider Climb and Tsuna Nobori returned, with the height of the tower increasing to 24m, with a time limit of 30 seconds.

The sixth version was revealed by Inui Masato, the director of SASUKE via Twitter. Both the Spider Climb and Tsuna Nobori returned, along with a new obstacle in the form of the Salmon Ladder, a notable Second Stage obstacle. The time limit would increase to 45 seconds, revealed in SASUKE 35. In SASUKE 35, the Salmon Ladder was modified, allowing an easier transition for competitors and was officially referred as the Salmon Ladder Jūgo Dan. This would also be the first tournament where this version of the Final Stage was attempted.

The prize for completing the Final Stage is ¥2,000,000 (about US$18,618). It was changed to a Nissan Fuga car in SASUKE 24.

Typically, only one or two people make it to the Final Stage, if any make it at all. However, SASUKE 3 and SASUKE 24 saw a record 5 competitors attempt the Final Stage. After SASUKE 4, the Final Stage was only achieved on average every other tournament.

Interestingly, out of all the athletes to attempt the Final Stage, none have had a weight of more than 70 kg, perhaps as heavier competitors' weights would play as a disadvantage in the Third Stage.

Version 1 (SASUKE 1-4)
The first version consisted of a single 15 meter rope climb, named the Tsuna Nobori (綱登り) with a 30 second time limit. Competitors had to start in a sitting position. Once competitors timed out and didn't reach the buzzer on time, the rope gets cut, causing the competitor to fall down, with the harness catching them afterwards. Also, the banner of Kinniku Banzuke was raised on the back of the tower, for the reason SASUKE at that time was a Kinniku Banzuke event.

Although this version only lasted for four tournaments, there were a total of twelve attempts made, including three by Omori Akira. In SASUKE 3, Yamada Katsumi joined four others in the Final Stage and came within inches of kanzenseiha.

The next tournament, Akiyama Kazuhiko, who had previously never passed the Second Stage, became the first man in history to achieve kanzenseiha by clearing with 6.0 seconds left.

Competitors' Success Rate

 * All results based on the TBS broadcast and external information found

Version 2 (SASUKE 5-17)
After Akiyama Kazuhiko's kanzenseiha in SASUKE 4, the Final Stage went through its first revision.

The new, taller second Final Stage included a 12.5 meter Spider Climb (スパイダークライム) before the shortened, 10 meter Tsuna Nobori (綱登り).

The time limit was left unchanged. In addition, the Spider Climb would separate after 15 seconds. This separation brought down only one competitor, Jordan Jovtchev, in SASUKE 8. The only other person to fail the Spider Climb, Yamamoto Shingo, dislocated his shoulder in his attempt.

Although being labelled as 12.5 m, the Spider Climb is actually only 12 meters long (some tournaments stated the actual length), with the remaining 50 cm being a gap between it and the Tsuna Nobori. This proved to be very difficult for most challengers, as they lost precious seconds to complete the transition. Also, the 50 cm gap resulted in competitors having to climb the initial distance on the Tsuna Nobori by their hands only before their feet can reach the rope.

Similar to the previous version, once competitors timed out and didn't reach the buzzer on time, the rope gets cut, causing the competitor to fall down, with the harness catching them afterwards. However, in SASUKE 13, Nagano Makoto hurt his shoulder when he tried to reach the top portion of the stage as the rope dropped. That incident caused the rope cut to be modified. Unlike in previous fails where the rope would coil down the bottom, it would just drop midway, to make it safer for competitors.

Kanzenseiha was almost achieved in SASUKE 12, where Nagano Makoto failed to press the button by 0.11 (1/9) seconds. Nagano also came close to victory in SASUKE 13 (About 22.4 meters up). He would later clear the stage four tournaments later with 2.56 seconds left to achieve kanzenseiha in SASUKE 17.

Competitors' Success Rate

 * All results based on the TBS broadcast and external information found

Version 3 (SASUKE 18-24)
The new Final Stage was finally revealed in SASUKE 22 with Urushihara Yuuji's Third Stage clear. The new Final Stage was revealed to be a 13m rope ladder, named the Heavenly Ladder (ヘブンリーラダー), and a 10m rope climb, renamed from the Tsuna Nobori to the G-Rope (Gロープ).

The time limit of the new Final Stage was also raised to 45 seconds. After Urushihara's run in SASUKE 22, the time limit was reduced to 40 seconds.

The following tournament, Nagano Makoto attempted the Final Stage, now with a 40 second time limit, and came within inches of the goal. He would have cleared easily had the time limit been kept the same.

The same was true of Hashimoto Kouji in the next tournament. A total of five people attempted it in SASUKE 24, including Hashimoto, with Urushihara as the only returning finalist. He would defeat the Final Stage with 3.57 seconds to spare, earning the third ever kanzenseiha.

This is the only version of the Final Stage which was attempted after someone had cleared it (due to Urushihara being third in order, while the other two clears, Akiyama and Nagano, were both Last Man Standing).

Unlike the first two versions, if competitors didn't reach the goal within the time limit, the rope would not be cut (to prevent injuries from colliding with the Heavenly Ladder). Instead, competitors who failed are slowly pulled up to the top of the tower (as in SASUKE 23), or are slowly rappelled down (as in SASUKE 24).

Competitors' Success Rate
All results based on the TBS broadcast and external information found

Version 4 (SASUKE 25-27)
Since no one made it to the Final Stage in SASUKE 25, the obstacles of the Final Stage were unknown and this would remain true the next tournament. However, it was known the same structure was used, as the previous version used in SASUKE 18-24. However, in SASUKE 25, the tower's appearance was different, as it did not possess the light rings present in previous tournaments.

The tower also had a beam of blue light coming out of the top of it; a feature not present in SASUKE 26. Also, there were a series of steps that would lead to the platform in which competitors must start the stage. The Final Stage was finally unveiled, with UNCLI members Matachi Ryo and Urushihara Yuuji's Third Stage breakthroughs, in SASUKE 27; and consists of a 20-meter Tsuna Nobori, named the Ultimate Rope Climb (アルティメットロープクライム) with a time limit of 40 seconds.

The tower remained at 23 meters to the goal, with the first three meters being the steps that would lead to the starting platform. This version was conquered by Urushihara Yuuji with record time (6.71 seconds left), marking this his second time achieving kanzenseiha, a first in SASUKE history.

This is currently the only version of the Final Stage to be cleared in the tournament of its introduction in SASUKE 27. Similar to the first two versions, if the competitors didn't reach the goal within the time limit, the rope would be cut but only midway (as shown during Matachi Ryo's Final Stage run).

Competitors' Success Rate

 * All results based on the TBS broadcast and external information found

Version 5 (SASUKE 28-31)
The previous Final Stage tower, consisting of a Rope Climb was thrown out all together, and the return of the SASUKE 5 to SASUKE 17's Final Stage took its place.

The tower's height has once again increased, this time to 24m, a meter higher from its previous version. The Spider Climb (スパイダークライム) has technically decreased to 12m, albeit it actually remains the same height with its original predecessor while the Tsuna Nobori (綱登り) was slightly modified in length to 12m from that of its original predecessor, at 10m, with a time limit of 30 seconds, same as the second version. Unlike its predecessor, the gap between the Spider Climb and the Tsuna Nobori is removed, resulting in an easier transition to the rope for the three competitors who attempted it.

This version of the Final Stage was first attempted by Kawaguchi Tomohiro in SASUKE 30 who made it only 15 meters up after slipping on the Spider Climb. Matachi Ryo, who went after Kawaguchi, came one meter short of achieving kanzenseiha. In SASUKE 31, Morimoto Yūsuke became the first to complete it, with 2.59 seconds left, achieving the show's fifth kanzenseiha, and just the fourth person to achieve it.

Unlike its predecessor, the walls of the Spider Climb did not split after the first fifteen seconds, due to the structure of the stage, and the rope was also no longer cut after the competitor fails for safety reasons, continuing the tradition of the Shin-SASUKE era. In SASUKE 31, there were bleachers placed on the back of the tower for the audience present during the filming to see the attempts by the finalists.

Competitors' Success Rate

 * All results based on the TBS broadcast and external information found

Version 6 (SASUKE 32-38)
During May 28 - 29, 2016 (the taping dates of SASUKE 32), a few pictures were revealed on Twitter, showing the new Final Stage. The height of the tower was increased by 1m, making for a total height of 25m.

For the first time in the Final Stage, there are three obstacles:


 * An 8m Spider Climb (スパイダークライム) that directly connected to a new obstacle,
 * A 7m Salmon Ladder (サーモンラダー) that consists of 16 rungs (originally 20 in SASUKE 32) including the starting rung, albeit the Navi did not count the starting rung.
 * From SASUKE 32 to SASUKE 34, the rungs were positioned facing outward from the front of the tower, requiring competitors to turn around once having grabbed the bar from the top of the Spider Climb.
 * In SASUKE 35, the rungs have been positioned facing the back of the tower, allowing an easier transition. It was officially called as the Salmon Ladder Jūgo Dan (サーモンラダー15段) in SASUKE 35.
 * It is followed up by a 10m Tsuna Nobori (綱登り).

Even though the physical structure was already revealed in SASUKE 32, the time limit would only be revealed during SASUKE 35's Navi, spanning at 45 seconds.

Similar to the previous version of the Final Stage, the walls of the Spider Climb did not split after the first fifteen seconds, due to being directly connected to the Salmon Ladder Jūgo Dan. The only mechanical addition were locks that would be installed to keep the bar in anchored which was manually operated while competitors transferred to the Tsuna Nobori after reaching the last rung.

Due to the difficulties of the Third Stage, this Final Stage was left unattempted until SASUKE 35, with Morimoto Yusuke being the first competitor ever to attempt it. However, he was timed out about 5 meters short of the goal, due to struggling at the Salmon Ladder Jūgo Dan.

From SASUKE 36 to SASUKE 37, the conclusion of the tournament was broadcast live for the first time in the history of SASUKE. Competitors who made it to the Final Stage will attempt it at the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, concurrently aired with the pre-taped broadcast on New Year's Eve. During the taping of the tournaments, the Final Stage tower was still present but the obstacles are not installed.

In SASUKE 36, Morimoto once again attempted the stage in which he performed much better, but the wind caused him to take too much time to transfer to the Tsuna Nobori, and as the result, he came out half a meter short of achieving kanzenseiha for a second time.

In SASUKE 37, two new competitors attempted the Final Stage: Tada Tatsuya and Rene Kaselowsky, but both failed at the Salmon Ladder Jūgo Dan, Tada from timing out due to the bar slanting, and Rene being disqualified via the bar slipping off the rungs entirely, both making it only about 12-13 meters up.

In SASUKE 38, the Final Stage would once again be taped along with the first three stages. Due to a collaboration with the alcoholic beverage company KIRIN. The logo of the company was displayed on a red banner hanged on the side of the Final Stage tower. From there, Morimoto Yusuke earned his way back to the Final Stage. He blazed through the obstacles despite struggling on the Salmon Ladder Jugo Dan, though with his skills on the Tsuna Nobori, he made up for lost time and managed to achieve kanzenseiha with 2.52 seconds on the clock, becoming the second person to achieve it twice and the first person to do so wearing #100.

Competitors' Success Rate

 * All results based on the TBS broadcast and external information found.

Version 7 (SASUKE 39~)
Following the second kanzenseiha of Morimoto Yusuke, a new version of the Final Stage was first unveiled during the trailers for SASUKE 39. In this version, the height was increased by 0.5 meters, making for a total height of 25.5 meters.

This version seems to be mostly identical to the previous version, except with the Spider Climb being replaced with a new obstacle heavily implied to be related to rock climbing covered up with a black cloth to hide its appearance until someone made it to the Final Stage. Based on the appearance unlike the previous version, the Salmon Ladder has a bottom support, indicating that the first obstacle does not directly connects to the Salmon Ladder, implying that competitors has to climb all the way atop the obstacle in order to attempt the Salmon Ladder.

Similar to the previous tournament, gold colored banners were hanged on the side of the Final Stage tower as a collaboration with the alcoholic beverage company KIRIN.

Competitors' Success Rate

 * All results based on the TBS broadcast and external information found.

Unused Versions
Throughout the history of SASUKE, several prototype versions of the Final Stage have been utilized, either being seen on set, or alternatively having concept diagrams that were shown on the broadcast. These versions of the Final Stage would ultimately be unattempted, usually due to the difficulties of previous stages or obstacles. However, these prototypes are not considered to be official by TBS, nor were ever acknowledged by Monster9 while that studio still operated. As a side note, TBS categorize each versions as generations. The following information comes from behind the scenes information, and may involve more speculative information due to the current lack of concrete details.

Pre-Version 3 (SASUKE 18-21)
After Nagano's kanzenseiha in SASUKE 17, TBS showed the SASUKE 5~17 version of the Final Stage being demolished and coming up from the rubble was a new Final Stage.

This Final Stage looked extremely difficult as it consisted of a Spider Climb and three ropes alternating from right to left to right. It is speculated that this was the design of the Final Stage that the producers wanted, however it was never used due to technical problems.

This Final Stage was also showed at the end of SASUKE 24 but once again, it was not used.

From the pictures provided by G4 and Taiwanese competitor Li En Zhi, and from the new SASUKE Plug-and-Play game, it had been suggested that the new Final Stage consisted of a Metal Ladder and Tsuna Nobori. That being said, there is no absolute verification that it was the actual Final Stage, though the usage of the Heavenly Ladder and G-Rope lend credence to the idea being the original concept pre-SASUKE 22.

Due to competitors not making it to the Final Stage throughout SASUKE 18 to SASUKE 21, the initial form of the Final Stage was not unveiled which led to multiple changes to its structure.

Throughout the airing of SASUKE 18, the indicator panels used to measure height were not present on the Tower, making its height unknown. During SASUKE 19's intro, it was revealed that the height of the Final Stage was still at 22.5 meters. Outside information states that the initial Final Stage consisted of three ropes alternating from right to left to right, making it similar in vein to the Final Stage unveiled after SASUKE 17. It is assumed that this version lasted from SASUKE 18 to 19.

However, in SASUKE 20's outro, it was revealed that the height of the Final Stage increased by 0.5 meters, making it 23 meters tall, signifying a change within the design of the stage. Outside information revealed that the modified Final Stage consisted of a metal ladder and two ropes alternating from right to left, though others claim that only one rope was used. Regardless of the number of ropes, this version is assumed to have been used in SASUKE 21 as well, where footage from the Special SASUKE Zone showed the Final Stage with a rope offset to the right of the structure, and certain angles of the Final Stage during the broadcast confirming the presence of the metal ladder, placed within the side of the Final Stage.

Both versions of the Final Stage were not explicitly mentioned on broadcast and the above was obtained through outside information. As implied earlier, technical problems associated with possible risks that can happen while attempting the Final Stage such as the safety wire getting tangled within the ropes (Which would be seen with Takahashi Kenji in SASUKE 24), these versions were ultimately scrapped. As for the material debacle of the Metal Ladder, it can be assumed it was changed to the Heavenly Ladder to make the Final Stage more difficult.

Pre-Version 4 (SASUKE 25-26)
Prior to the version used in SASUKE 27, evidence suggests that the Final Stage prior to that tournament was a different version altogether.

Introduced in SASUKE 25, but not attempted due to the dominance of the Ultimate Cliffhanger, this Final Stage seemed to have been the same design used in the third version, disregarding the aesthetic details that are covered in the official section about the fourth version. Similar to SASUKE 18, the Final Stage in that tournament lacked any height indicators, making it unknown what the official height was. SASUKE 26, in addition to renovating the tower's visual aesthetics back to the third version, would utilize the height indicators again, seeming to confirm that the Final Stage was again 23m.

Whether or not there were any significant design changes between the version used in SASUKE 25/26, or the one that was officially used in SASUKE 27, is currently unknown, but the differences are notable enough to be brought up.

Pre-Version 5 (SASUKE 28)
Prior to the version that was used in SASUKE 29, the would-be fifth version of the Final Stage seemed to have briefly been seen during the Third Stage and in a trailer of SASUKE 28.

Its design was similar to that of the fourth official version of the Final Stage, consisting of the Tsuna Nobori. Unlike its predecessor, there were no steps leading to the stage, thus increasing the rope's height to 23m. It was only used for one tournament.

This version of the Final Stage was not explicitly mentioned on the broadcast and was the only version of the Final Stage to have never been attempted. Due to competitors not making it to the Final Stage in SASUKE 28, this initial form of the Final Stage was not officially unveiled.

While considered by fans as the fifth version of the Final Stage, it was never acknowledged as such by TBS, who consider the version used from SASUKE 29-31 to be the official fifth version, and thus is documented as such by this site.