SASUKE 26

SASUKE2011謹賀新年
Broadcast Info
TBS Date	January 2, 2011
TBS Ratings	9.0%
G4 Date	December 23, 2010 (American Ninja Warrior 2), May 1, 2011
SASUKE Announcers
1st Chair	Ogasawara Wataru (First Stage (#21-40, 71-100); Third Stage)
2nd Chair	Satō Fumiyasu (First Stage (#1-20, 41-70); Second Stage)
SASUKE Results
Best	Lee En-Chih, Okuyama Yoshiyuki, Ultimate Cliffhanger, Third Stage
Stage 1	10 Clears
Stage 2	6 Clears
Stage 3	0 Clears
Website	Official Site

Intro

The 26th competition, official name: SASUKE2011謹賀新年 (literally: SASUKE 2011 Happy New Year) is the second tournament after Urushihara Yuuji's kanzenseiha in SASUKE 24. The tournament was recorded on October 19, 2010 and aired on January 2, 2011 as part of TBS' New Years Specials. Due to sharing a time slot with another show, the broadcast of the tournament was much shorter than previous tournaments, resulting in many competitor's runs getting either cut or digested.

For the second time in three tournaments, no domestic trials competition ever materialized. However, American Ninja Warrior returned for its second season (concluding the previous August), and similar to the first season, ten competitors were sent. For the first time ever, footage of a SASUKE tournament hit the airwaves before the TBS broadcast (the ten Americans that qualified through American Ninja Warrior had their runs shown in North America on December 23, 2010). A Taiwanese trials competition was also planned, but was subsequently canceled. Despite this, the venerable Lee En-Chih was invited by TBS to compete.

Only three SASUKE All-Stars were able to attend this competition (Akiyama Kazuhiko, Shiratori Bunpei, and Takeda Toshihiro, all had prior engagements). Also notably absent was Levi Meeuwenberg, who qualified for the tournament but subsequently broke his wrist and had to be replaced.

The First Stage was heavily modified from SASUKE 25. With the removal of the Rolling Maruta and Log Grip, this was the first tournament ever to not feature a log obstacle. Only three obstacles (the Soritatsu Kabe, Tarzan Rope, and Rope Ladder) returned from the previous tournament. The Jumping Spider and Half Pipe Attack returned after one tournament hiatus. Four new obstacles made their debuts (the Step Slider, Hazard Swing, and Rolling Escargot began the stage, and the Giant Swing added before the Tarzan Rope). The new obstacles did their damage, as the Rolling Escargot eliminated at least 19 competitors, including top competitors such as Takahashi Kenji, Kanno Hitoshi, Miyazaki Daisuke, and Yamamoto Shingo. Yamada Katsumi's return engagement did not go as he hoped, as he failed at the Jumping Spider (in a remarkably similar fashion as in SASUKE 22). Nagano Makoto also failed at the Jumping Spider, meaning that no SASUKE All-Star made it halfway through the First Stage. The Giant Swing only eliminated Adam Truesdell. Two Shin Sedai's (Satō Jun and Tajima Naoya) run were cut completely (although it is known Tajima failed at the Jumping Spider), and Urushihara Yuuji failed at the Half Pipe Attack, meaning no former champion beat the First Stage.

Ten competitors cleared the First Stage. However, for the first time ever, more foreign competitors made it to the Second Stage than domestic competitors, giving the rest of the competition a decidedly international flavor and sparking some national pride from the Japanese competitors that remained. A record six foreign competitors passed the First Stage, beating the old record of four (which was set in SASUKE 23). Among the six foreign competitors, five of them were Americans, which also beat the previous record of three (also set in SASUKE 23). Two American rookies (Paul Kasemir and Brent Steffensen) joined two American sophomores (Travis Furlanic and David Campbell), as first-time Second Stage competitors, along with two SASUKE veterans (Brian Orosco and Taiwan's Lee En-Chih). Domestically, Ishikawa Terukazu, Iketani Naoki, Okuyama Yoshiyuki and Hashimoto Koji cleared the First Stage.

The Second Stage remained unmodified from the last tournament. Iketani, who had competed sporadically over the last few years and hadn't cleared the First Stage since SASUKE 16, was erased by the Double Salmon Ladder, and so did Ishikawa. The Balance Tank claimed Travis Furlanic, while the Metal Spin eliminated Hashimoto Koji. Paul Kasemir, Brent Steffensen, and David Campbell all cleared the Second Stage, doing so in their first attempts. Brian Orosco and Lee En-Chih also cleared. Okuyama Yoshiyuki was the only Japanese competitor to get past this stage, doing so with a mere 0.3 seconds left. This was also the first tournament in history in which Second Stage attempts were run out of order, with Okuyama's run being shown after Hashimoto's fail (despite being #97 compared to Hashimoto's #98, likely to make it appear as though the last Japanese competitor standing was the only one who clears, to create suspense). For this reason, Hashimoto's number was not shown in his competitor description at the start of his run, though it could be seen that he was wearing his number.

The Third Stage introduced one new obstacle, the Cycling Road, replacing the Floating Boards. The Roulette Cylinder was modified to include two drops into the track, much like when the Rolling Maruta morphed into the Sandan Rolling Maruta in SASUKE 13. While newcomer Paul Kasemir failed at the Doorknob Grasper, Brian Orosco failed at the Roulette Cylinder, marking the first time he did not make it past his previous failure point. David Campbell, Brent Steffensen, Lee En-Chih, and Okuyama Yoshiyuki, all made it to the Ultimate Cliffhanger. While progress was made, little more than half the obstacle was cleared with Lee making it the furthest and the tournament ended here.

First Stage

Obstacles

① ^Step Slider ステップスライダー

② ^Hazard Swing ハザードスイング

③ ^Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ

④ *Jumping Spider ジャンピングスパイダー

⑤ Half-Pipe Attack ハーフパイプアタック

⑥ Soritatsu Kabe そり立つ壁

⑦ ^Giant Swing ジャイアントスイング

⑧ Tarzan Rope ターザンロープ

⑨ Rope Ladder ロープラダー

^ Denotes New Obstacle

* Denotes Modified Obstacle

Time Limit: 130 seconds

Results

Number	Name (Age)	Profile	Result	Notes
1	Nishida Takayuki (33)	Running Coach/Retired Marathonist	① Step Slider ステップスライダー	His foot skimmed of the water.
3	Setsu Shobun (28)	Penman	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	Shown in SASUKE 26 Navi. First to beat Step Slider and Hazard Swing.
4	Satō Tomohiro (39)	Artisan	① Step Slider ステップスライダー	Shown in SASUKE 26 Navi.
5	Miyazawa Kazutaka (34)		② Hazard Swing ハザードスイング	Shown in SASUKE 26 Navi.
	Unknown	Unknown	② Hazard Swing ハザードスイング	All Cut. Wore yellow shirt. Shown in SASUKE 26 Navi Intro.
7	Torisawa Katsuhide (38)	Former Japan Weighlifting Representative	① Step Slider ステップスライダー	Missed the rope completely and divided into the water.
8	Kishimoto Shinya (31)	Paper Manufacturer	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ
9	Carlos (28)	Acrobat Juggler/Muscle Musical Member	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ
10	Unknown	Unknown	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	All Cut. Shown in SASUKE 26 Navi Intro.
11?	DaiGo (24)	Metal Artist	① Step Slider ステップスライダー	Digest 1.
12	Hioki Hiroaki (39)	Tsukiji Sushi Shop Manager	① Step Slider ステップスライダー
13	Kojima Yoshio (30)	Comedian	② Hazard Swing ハザードスイング	Made a jump for the platform rather than swinging to it.
14	Ookubo Kazunari (33)	Karate	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	Digest 1.
15	Mokumoto Ryousuke (23)	Cheerleader	④ Jumping Spider ジャンピングスパイダー	First to beat Rolling Escargot.
16	Suzuki Tomoyuki (36)	Baker	① Step Slider ステップスライダー	Shown in SASUKE 26 Navi.
17	Serizawa Ruka (27)	Charisma Host	① Step Slider ステップスライダー
18	Kano Eiko (28)	Mr. Narcissist	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ
	Nishimori Youichi (31)	Monster Engine Comedy Duo	① Step Slider ステップスライダー	Digest 2.
	Oobayashi Kenji (27)	Monster Engine Comedy Duo	① Step Slider ステップスライダー	Digest 2.
22	Satō Ayumu (27)	Charisma Model	② Hazard Swing ハザードスイング	Digest 1.
	Dancho (36)	Comedian	② Hazard Swing ハザードスイング	Digest 1.
	Fujiwara Tomoki (23)	Talento	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	Digest 1.
	Unknown	Unknown	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	All Cut. Seen in intro.
24	Mori Kohei (22)	Shinsengumi Rien	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	All Cut. First Attempt.
25	Sakakibara Tetsuji (21)	Shinsengumi Rien	④ Jumping Spider ジャンピングスパイダー	All Cut. First Attempt.
26?	Tokoro Hideo (33)	Mixed Martial Artist	① Step Slider ステップスライダー	Listed as #23.
27	Minowaman (34)	Pro Wrestler	② Hazard Swing ハザードスイング
28	Honda Yasuto (41)	Soccer Player	② Hazard Swing ハザードスイング	Digest 2.
29	Kawahara Takuya	Muscle Musical Member	Half Pipe Attack	All Cut. First Attempt.
30	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	All Cut.
31	Echigo (25)	Fitness	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	Digest 1.
33	Tabito Okayasu (24)	Four Year University Student	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	Shown in SASUKE 26 Navi.
35?	Unknown	Unknown	④ Jumping Spider ジャンピングスパイダー	All Cut. Shown in intro.
	Aya Vanessa (24)	Women's Rugby Player	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	Digest 1.
	Ayaka Suzuki (22)	Bunny Family	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	Shown in SASUKE 26 Navi.
37?	Aoki Yuuko (27)	TBS Announcer	① Step Slider ステップスライダー
38?	Demizu Mai (26)	TBS Announcer	① Step Slider ステップスライダー
39?	Okamoto Mari (21)	Comedian	① Step Slider ステップスライダー	Digest 2.
40?	Fukuda Ayano (22)	Comedian	① Step Slider ステップスライダー	Digest 2.
41?	Tejima Yuu (21)	Gravure Idol	① Step Slider ステップスライダー	Digest 1.
	Unknown	Firefighter	Unknown	All Cut. Wore orange shirt and blue pants.
43?	Komiya Rie (33)	KUNOICHI 8 Kanzenseiha	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	Digest 1.
	Unknown	Unknown	② Hazard Swing ハザードスイング	All Cut. Female wearing white shirt and black shorts. Shown in SASUKE 26 Intro.
	Nomura Masaki (58)	Actor	② Hazard Swing ハザードスイング	Digest 2.
46	Harashima Masami (47)	Hang Glider Man	① Step Slider ステップスライダー	Shown in SASUKE 26 Navi.
47	Aoki Yasuo (53)	Sculptor	① Step Slider ステップスライダー	Shown in SASUKE 26 Navi.
48	Kuramochi Minoru (63)	Edokko Pub Owner	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ
	Mori Kohei (22)	Shinsengumi Rien	④ Jumping Spider ジャンピングスパイダー	Second Attempt.
	Sakakibara Tetsuji (21)	Shinsengumi Rien	⑤ Half-Pipe Attack ハーフパイプアタック	Second Attempt.
	Kawahara Takuya (23)	Muscle Musical Member	⑨ Rope Ladder ロープラダー	Second Attempt. Time Out. First to beat Giant Swing.
50s	Ishimaru Kenjiro (57)	Actor	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	Digest 1.
53	Haraguchi Akimasa (35)	Impersonator	① Step Slider ステップスライダー	Digest 2.
54	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	All Cut. Wore black track suit.
56	Kawaguchi Makoto	Bruce Lee Impersonator	① Step Slider ステップスライダー	All Cut. Shown in commercial during SASUKE 26 Navi.
58?	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	All Cut. Known to have at least made it to the Rolling Escargot.
59?	Adam Laplante (23)	American Representative #10/Pizza Service Worker	⑤ Half-Pipe Attack ハーフパイプアタック	All Cut. Shown on American Ninja Warrior 2.
60?	Patrick Cusic (21)	American Representative #9/Gymnastics Teacher	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	All Cut. Shown on American Ninja Warrior 2.
61	Paul Kasemir (28)	American Representative #8/Software Engineer	Clear (00.84 seconds left)	First to beat SASUKE 26's First Stage.
63	Matachi Ryo	Painter	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	All Cut. External Information.
64	Hioki Masashi	Electrician	⑥ Soritatsu Kabe そり立つ壁	All Cut. Time Out. External Information.
65	Morikami Daisuke (26)	MTB Rider	⑨ Rope Ladder ロープラダー	Time Out. Timed out just before he hit the button.
66	Furusato Ryuuji	Field Hockey Player	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	All Cut. Blog
68	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	All Cut. Wore black shirt and blue pants. Seen during SASUKE 26 Navi.
69	Ishida Takaki (28)	Basketball Player	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	Digest 3.
70	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	All Cut. Wore black pants.
72?	Adam Truesdell (25)	American Representative #7/IT Consultant	⑦ Giant Swing ジャイアントスイング	All Cut. Shown on American Ninja Warrior 2.
73?	Evan Dollard (28)	American Representative #6/Project Manager	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	All Cut. Shown on American Ninja Warrior 2.
74?	Brent Steffensen (25)	American Representative #5/Stuntman	Clear (08.21 seconds left)	Numbered as #62 during the TBS broadcast.
75?	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	All Cut. Seen standing next to Yagi during Adam Truesdell's run.
76	Yagi Masumi (36)	Savanna Comedy Duo	① Step Slider ステップスライダー
78	Mori Takurō (27)	East Asian Games Pole Vault Gold Medalist	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	Digest 3.
	Sekiguchi Eiichi (30)	Gymnast	⑤ Half-Pipe Attack ハーフパイプアタック	Digest 3.
80	Unknown	Gibbon Slackline Japan	Unknown	All Cut. Failed somewhere after the Hazard Swing.
81	NAOTO (27)	EXILE: J Soul Brothers Member	⑤ Half-Pipe Attack ハーフパイプアタック
82	Unknown	Firefighter	Unknown	All Cut. Number seen in SASUKE 26 Navi.
	Travis Furlanic (25)	American Representative #4/Musician/Pizza Maker	Clear (14.23 seconds left)	Digest 3.
83	Shane Daniels (24)	American Representative #3/Professional Free Runner	⑨ Rope Ladder ロープラダー	All Cut. Time Out. Shown on American Ninja Warrior 2.
84	David Campbell (33)	American Representative #2/Musician	Clear (21.51 seconds left)	Fastest First Stage clear of the tournament.
85	Ishikawa Terukazu (33)	Muscle Musical Member	Clear (09.26 seconds left)
86	Tajima Naoya (25)	Carrier Service	④ Jumping Spider ジャンピングスパイダー	All Cut. External Information.
87	Iketani Naoki (37)	Muscle Musical Leader	Clear (04.33 seconds left)
88	Miyazaki Daisuke (29)	Osaki Osol Handball Player	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ
90	Yamada Katsumi (45)	Mr. SASUKE	④ Jumping Spider ジャンピングスパイダー
91	Satō Hiromichi (42)	10th NHK Exercise Oniisan	④ Jumping Spider ジャンピングスパイダー
92	Brian Orosco (28)	American Representative #1/Professional Free Runner	Clear (20.58 seconds left)
93	Kanno Hitoshi (25)	SASUKE 23 Finalist	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	Digest.
94	Yamamoto Shingo (36)	Only Man with SASUKE Perfect Attendance Record	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ
95	Lee En-Chih (35)	Pro Rock Climber	Clear (01.32 seconds left)
96	Takahashi Kenji (34)	Transportation Industry	③ Rolling Escargot ローリングエスカルゴ	Digest.
97	Okuyama Yoshiyuki (40)	1991 World 200m Sprinter for Japan	Clear (02.54 seconds left)
98	Hashimoto Kōji (26)	Gym Instructor	Clear (10.70 seconds left)	Digest.
99	Nagano Makoto (38)	Second Person to Achieve Kanzenseiha	④ Jumping Spider ジャンピングスパイダー
100	Urushihara Yuuji (32)	Shoe Salesman/Third Person to Achieve Kanzenseiha	⑤ Half-Pipe Attack ハーフパイプアタック	Landed on the mat, but lost his balance and fell off.
	Total	101? Attempts	10 Clears

Second Stage

Obstacles

① Slider Drop スライダードロップ

② Double Salmon Ladder ダブルサーモンラダー

③ Unstable Bridge アンステーブルブリッジ

④ Balance Tank バランスタンク

⑤ Metal Spin メタルスピン

⑥ Wall Lifting ウォールリフティング

Time Limit: 95 seconds

^ Denotes New Obstacle

* Denotes Modified Obstacle

Results

Number	Name (Age)	Profile	Result	Notes
61	Paul Kasemir (24)	American Representative #8/Software Engineer	Clear (02.51 seconds left)	First to beat SASUKE 26's Second stage.
74?	Brent Steffensen (25)	American Representative #5/Stuntman	Clear (21.6 seconds left)	Digest.
	Travis Furlanic (25)	American Representative #4/Former Motocross Star	④ Balance Tank バランスタンク	Digest.
84	David Campbell (33)	American Representative #2/Musician	Clear (23.4 seconds left)	Digest. Fastest Second Stage clear of the tournament.
85	Ishikawa Terukazu (33)	Muscle Musical Member	② Double Salmon Ladder ダブルサーモンラダー	Middle Cut.
87	Iketani Naoki (37)	Muscle Musical Member	② Double Salmon Ladder ダブルサーモンラダー
92	Brian Orosco (28)	American Representative #1/Professional Free Runner	Clear (05.7 seconds left)	Digest.
95	Lee En-Chih (36)	Pro Rock Climber	Clear (13.78 seconds left)
97	Okuyama Yoshiyuki (40)	1991 World Athletics 200m Sprinter for Japan	Clear (00.30 seconds left)
98	Hashimoto Koji (26)	Gym Instructor	⑤ Metal Spin メタルスピン	Aired before Okuyama's run.
	Total	10 Attempts	6 Clears

Third Stage

Obstacles

① *Roulette Cylinder ルーレットシリンダー

② *Doorknob Grasper ドアノブグラスパー

③ ^Cycling Road サイクリングロード

④ *Ultimate Cliffhanger アルティメットクリフハンガー

⑤ Swing Circle スイングサークル

⑥ Rope Climb ロープクライム

⑦ Flying Bar フライングバー

^ Denotes New Obstacle

* Denotes Modified Obstacle

Results

Number	Name (Age)	Profile	Result	Notes
61	Paul Kasemir (24)	American Representative #8/Software Engineer	② Doorknob Grasper ドアノブグラスパー	Third Doorknob.
74?	Brent Steffensen (25)	American Representative #5/Stuntman	④ Ultimate Cliffhanger アルティメットクリフハンガー	Digest. Third Ledge. First to beat Cycling Road.
84	David Campbell (33)	American Representative #2/Musician	④ Ultimate Cliffhanger アルティメットクリフハンガー	Transition from Third to Fourth Ledge.
92	Brian Orosco (28)	American Representative #1/Professional Free Runner	① Roulette Cylinder ルーレットシリンダー	Digest.
95	Lee En-Chih (36)	Pro Rock Climber	④ Ultimate Cliffhanger アルティメットクリフハンガー	Fourth Ledge.
97	Okuyama Yoshiyuki (40)	1991 World Athletics 200m Sprinter for Japan	④ Ultimate Cliffhanger アルティメットクリフハンガー	Fourth Ledge. Last Man Standing.
	Total	6 Attempts	0 Clears