Satō Jun (佐藤 惇) qualified for SASUKE 21 and SASUKE 23 via the SASUKE Trials.
Satō first qualified for SASUKE 21 by placing fifth in the SASUKE 21 Trials. In the tournament, he failed the First Stage's Log Grip, and went the shortest of all the SASUKE Trial Qualifiers that day.
He once again competed in the trials for SASUKE 23 and took the #1 spot. His second go around went much better as he was one of four Trials qualifiers to clear the First Stage that day with him finishing with over 20 seconds remaining on the clock. However, in the Second Stage, all of SASUKE Trials Qualifiers would up going out on the Salmon Ladder. In Satō's case, he missed the second rung and pulled the bar off of the ladder altogether. This performance earned him an invite to SASUKE 24, where he once again cleared the First Stage. However, he hurt his arm on the framing following the Log Grip and later failed the Salmon Ladder again.
Satō was once again invited to SASUKE 25, drawing #18 from the lottery. In the First Stage, he cleared most of the obstacles with ease, but on the Circle Slider he missed the ring with his left hand but hung on with his right to clear the obstacle. He became the first person to conquer the redesigned First Stage. In the Second Stage, he defeated his nemesis (now the Double Salmon Ladder) but was quickly defeated between the boards of the Unstable Bridge. After that competition, he went to college in the UK and after a 6 tournament absence he returned for SASUKE 32
In SASUKE 32, he wore number 76 and his whole run was digested. It was shown that he cleared the First Stage with 15.17 seconds remaining, the third fastest time of that day. He then cleared the Second Stage for the first time ever and after three consecutive Second Stage fails, with 10.49 seconds remaining. On the Third Stage, he failed the first jump transition of the Ultra Crazy Cliffhanger. He made the jump and managed to reach the opposite ledge, however did not have a grip and fell. However, he came joint second in that tournament (Brent Steffensen failed in exactly the same way) only to Drew Drechsel. He made it the farthest out of any Japanese competitor.
SASUKE 33 saw Satō compete with his highest number to date, as he was given the number 97, and he successfully lived up to high placing as he cleared the First Stage, before passing the Second Stage with 7.35 seconds left to spare. In the Third Stage for a second time in a row, Satō successfully navigated the Drum Hopper Kai. However, his attempt quickly came to an end as he was felled by the Flying Bar.
In SASUKE 34 he received 96, and he squeezed through the first two stages. In the Third Stage he took his revenge on the Flying Bar but he was unable to overcome the Ultra Crazy Cliffhanger again.
In SASUKE 35 he wore 97 and passed the first two stages without any problem, but he failed on the Ultra Crazy Cliffhanger for a third time, again on the first jump.
In SASUKE 36 he got number 96, he blazed through the First Stage, clearing with over 23 seconds left. He had no trouble in the Second Stage. In the Third Stage, he finally beat the first jump in the Ultra Crazy Cliffhanger only to fail the transition on the moving ledge.
Results
| SASUKE | # | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 44 | Failed Log Grip (First Stage) | Digest. |
| 23 | 50 | Failed Salmon Ladder (Second Stage) | Digest. First Level. Bar came off pegs. |
| 24 | 78 | Failed Salmon Ladder (Second Stage) | Third Level. |
| 25 | 18 | Failed Unstable Bridge (Second Stage) | Failed Transition. |
| 32 | 76 | Failed Ultra Crazy Cliffhanger (Third Stage) | First Transition |
| 33 | 97 | Failed Flying Bar (Third Stage) | |
| 34 | 96 | Failed Ultra Crazy Cliffhanger (Third Stage) | First Transition |
| 35 | 97 | Failed Ultra Crazy Cliffhanger (Third Stage) | First Transition |
| 36 | 96 | Failed Ultra Crazy Cliffhanger (Third Stage) | Second Transition |
| 37 | 94 | Failed Cliffhanger Dimension (Third Stage) | Second Transition |
External Links
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