After 8 years of hiatus since KUNOICHI 8, the show was rebooted and renewed for KUNOICHI 9 (officially, 「KUNOICHI2017」), which took place at the Makuhari Messe Convention Hall instead of Midoriyama Studio City, making it the first KUNOICHI tournament to ever take place indoor. This was also the first tournament after Komiya Rie and Kadoi Satomi's kanzenseiha. It was announced quietly on December 7, 2016 and aired on February 12 at 6:30 PM JST, coincidentally airing the same day of the second taping day of SASUKE 33.
The logo for KUNOICHI was changed, as rather than the "女" (pronounced as on'na in Japanese) kanji from the first 8 KUNOICHI tournaments, it featured the silhouette of a kunoichi, bearing resemblance to a fictional character, Kekko Kamen.
Format[]
Similar to KUNOICHI 1 and KUNOICHI 2, this tournament was reduced to three stages, with the RED and BLUE Stage replaced with the traditionally-named First and Second Stage, adopting a color-based name stage. However, only 50 women have attempted the course instead of the usual 100, likely due to insufficient amount of applicants. Multiple SASUKE obstacles were integrated into this tournament, including a heavily toned-down Rolling Hill, the Soritatsu Kabe, and the Spider Walk.
Summary[]
In the Red Stage, the time limit rose up by 20 seconds from KUNOICHI 8, becoming the longest First Stage's time limit in KUNOICHI history. Interestingly, there were only two returning competitors, Watanabe Mika (previously known as Izumi Mika) and Mizuno Yūko, from prior tournaments. Several obstacles were integrated from SASUKE, but there was a grueling and brutal new original obstacle that caused a chaos, taking out half of the competitors who attempted it, including Mizuno Yuko; the Fish Bone. In addition, the Jump Hang and Soritatsu Kabe caused competitors headaches. In the end, only 5 competitors cleared the stage.
In the Blue Stage, there was no time limit imposed due to it being more of a hybrid between the original Second and Third Stage. The Daichoyaku, an obstacle that had begun the stage in the first eight KUNOICHI tournaments, was replaced by the Slide Walk, while many more SASUKE obstacles were integrated as well (including the Spider Walk and a toned-down version of the Cliffhanger, making the stage also tested female competitors' upper-body strength). The first competitor to clear the RED Stage, Izumi Hikari, cleared with ease. For the other competitors though, the Sponge Bridge, which had been moved to the Second Stage in the previous tournament and renamed from the Tourenban, eliminated them all.
The Final Stage was made similar to the version from KUNOICHI 3, having a 35 second time limit, which also introduced a classic SASUKE obstacle, the Tsuna Nobori (7 meters in height), and replacing the Climbing Board from KUNOICHI 8. Izumi Hikari was close to kanzenseiha, and was just approximately 2 meters to reach the top, but being timed out.
Red Stage[]
Obstacles[]
① ^Rolling Hill ローリングヒル
② ^Pipe Hold パイプホールド
③ ^Fish Bone フィッシュボーン
④ ^X Bridge エックスブリッジ
⑤ ^Jump Hang ジャンプハング
⑥ ^Soritatsu Kabe 反り立つ壁 (Navi: そり立つ壁)
⑦ ^Cannon Ball キャノンボール
Time Limit: 140 seconds
^ Denotes New Obstacle
* Denotes Modified Obstacle
Results[]
| Number | Name (Age) | Profile | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kuroki Yuko (25) | Boxer | ② Pipe Hold パイプホールド | First to clear Rolling Hill. |
| 2 | Anna Konno (27) | Gravure Talent | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | First to clear Pipe Hold. |
| 3 | Fujiwara Kahori (29) | Ballroom Dancer | ⑤ Jump Hang ジャンプハング | First to clear Fish Bone and X Bridge. |
| 4 | Arakawa Yui (23) | Kindergarten Teacher | ⑤ Jump Hang ジャンプハング | |
| 5 | MYW (18) | Breakdancer | ① Rolling Hill ローリングヒル | |
| 6 | Watanabe Keaki (24) | Bowler | ① Rolling Hill ローリングヒル | Shown in commercial. External information. |
| 7 | Horie Ginga (33) | Accupuncturist | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | |
| 8 | Hoshikawa Arina | Sportshop Staff | Unknown | All Cut. External information. |
| 9 | Kawakita Ayaka (23) | Karaoke Shop Worker | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | |
| 10 | Rokkaku Ayako (25) | Baseball Player | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | Shown in commercial. Full run shown in broadcast. |
| 11 | Futamura Haruka (20) | SKE48 member | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | |
| 12 | Saiki Reika (24) | Muscle Idol | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | |
| 14 | Ito Mayu (36) | 4th Dancing Older Sister | ① Rolling Hill ローリングヒル | |
| 15 | Okado Hinata (14) | Aerial Performer | ① Rolling Hill ローリングヒル | Failed dismount to platform. |
| 16 | Takemoto Keiko (38) | METI | ⑤ Jump Hang ジャンプハング | |
| 18 | Takahashi Yuu (26) | Fashion Model | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | |
| 19 | Taoka Natsumi (22) | Surfer | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | Shown in commercial. Full run shown in broadcast. |
| 20 | Sawayama Rina (28) | Figure Skater | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | |
| 21 | Suzuki Chiyo (23) | Beach Volleyball Player | ② Pipe Hold パイプホールド | Digest. |
| 22 | Ueda Aki | Surfer | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | Digest. |
| 23 | Kataoka Ayumi (30) | Baseball Player | ⑦ Cannon Ball キャノンボール | Time Out. First to clear Jump Hang snd Soritatsu Kabe. |
| 24 | Sato Nozomi | Toyo Univeristy Gymnastics Club | Unknown | All Cut. External Information. |
| 25 | Okabe Sakiko (28) | Former Gymnast | ⑥ Soritatsu Kabe 反り立つ壁 | Time Out. |
| 26 | Akai Saki (30) | Professional Wrestler/Model | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | |
| 27 | Kishi Asuka (25) | Idol | ⑤ Jump Hang ジャンプハング | Shown in Navi. |
| 28 | Katherine-sensei (25) | Ayaman Japan Youth | ① Rolling Hill ローリングヒル | Shown in Navi. Digest in broadcast. |
| 29 | Shiromukai Maya (25) | Performer | ① Rolling Hill ローリングヒル | Digest. |
| 30 | Nishitani Ayako (30) | Talent | ① Rolling Hill ローリングヒル | Shown in Navi. Digest in broadcast. |
| 31 | Kato Erika (25) | Gardener | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | Digest. |
| 32 | Kamoshida Mai (25) | Touch Rugby National Team Member | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | Digest. |
| 33 | Mahara Miho (35) | Former Motocross Rider | ① Rolling Hill ローリングヒル | Digest. |
| 34 | Sakai Ayaka (27) | Pole Dancer | ⑦ Cannon Ball キャノンボール | Time Out. |
| 35 | Kato Yuu (21) | Baseball Player | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | |
| 36 | Yamachi Mari (22) | Talent | ① Rolling Hill ローリングヒル | Shown in Navi. |
| 37 | Narumi | Acrobat Peformer | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | Shown in Navi. Digest in Broadcast. |
| 38 | Asashina Aya (23) | Model | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | |
| 39 | Watanabe Mika (38) | Housewife | ⑦ Cannon Ball キャノンボール | Time Out. |
| 40 | Kamei Mami (28) | Cheerleader | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | Shown in Navi. |
| 41 | Imamura Ami (21) | God-like Swing | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | |
| 42 | Izumi Hikari (21) | Parkour | Clear (36.22 seconds left) | First to clear Cannon Ball. |
| 43 | Watanabe Kana (28) | Judo Player | Clear (23.86 seconds left) | |
| 44 | Chen Zhuyin (36) | Stuntwoman | Clear (13.30 seconds left) | Digest. Full run shown on Youtube. |
| 45 | Oshima Ayano (22) | Japan Women’s College of Physical Education | Clear (49.93 seconds left) | |
| 46 | Aoyama Ami (26) | Talent | ⑤ Jump Hang ジャンプハング | Shown in Navi. |
| 47 | RENA (25) | Shoot Boxing | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | |
| 48 | Kawabata Yuki (27) | Baseball Player | Clear (16.42 seconds left) | |
| 49 | Tsuboi Honami (27) | Former Rhythmic Gymnast | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | |
| 50 | Mizuno Yuko (34) | Former Muscle Idol | ③ Fish Bone フィッシュボーン | |
| Total | 50 Attempts | 5 Clears |
Blue Stage[]
Obstacles[]
① ^Slide Walk スライドウォーク
② ^Spider Walk スパイダーウォーク
③ ^Reverse Conveyor リバースコンベア
④ ^Slant Edge スラントエッジ
⑤ *Sponge Bridge スポンジブリッジ
⑥ ^Cliffhanger クリフハンガー
⑦ *Waver Bridge ウェーバーブリッジ
^ Denotes New Obstacle
* Denotes Modified Obstacle
Results[]
| Number | Name (Age) | Profile | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | Izumi Hikari (21) | Parkour | Clear | First to clear every obstacle in BLUE Stage, except for Sponge Bridge and Waver Bridge. |
| 43 | Watanabe Kana (28) | Judo Player | ⑤ Sponge Bridge スポンジブリッジ | Middle Cut. |
| 44 | Chen Zhuyin (36) | Stuntwoman | ⑤ Sponge Bridge スポンジブリッジ | Digest. |
| 45 | Oshima Ayano (22) | Japan Women’s College of Physical Education | ⑤ Sponge Bridge スポンジブリッジ | Her right foot came out from underneath her when transitioning from the 2nd to the 3rd plank. |
| 48 | Kawabata Yuki (27) | Baseball Player | ⑤ Sponge Bridge スポンジブリッジ | Digest. |
| Total | 5 Attempts | 1 Clear |
Final Stage[]
Obstacles[]
① *Sayū Hashigo 左右はしご (8m)
② *Tsuna Nobori 綱登り (7m)
Time Limit: 35 seconds
^ Denotes New Obstacle
* Denotes Modified Obstacle
Results[]
| Number | Name (Age) | Profile | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | Izumi Hikari (21) | Parkour | ② Tsuna Nobori 綱登り (7m) | About 13m up. Last Woman Standing. |
| Total | 1 Attempt | 0 Clear |
External Links[]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||