Yamamoto Yoshiyuki (山本 良幸) is a Health and PE teacher at Osaka Prefectural Sakai Special Education School (a special needs school) who, in SASUKE, is known as a member of the Black Tigers. Yamamoto is the Gundan's top competitor having three Third Stage appearances in his first three SASUKE tournaments, followed by a Final Stage appearance in his fourth, and then another Third Stage appearance in his fifth. He's been affectionately nicknamed Yoshi due to his sudden rise to prominence and subsequent popularity in the community. He is one of the three to clear the First Stage in their first six appearances shared with Yamada Katsumi (SASUKE 1-6) and Kane Kosugi (SASUKE 1-4, SASUKE 6-7, and SASUKE 40) as well as the only one to finish the Second Stage with the same record.
SASUKE[]
He first competed in SASUKE 37, where he had a good pace going in the First Stage. He ultimately became the first competitor that night to clear that stage with 9.41 seconds left. In the Second Stage, he showed great speed and cleared with the fastest time, 23.57 seconds left. He became the second Black Tiger ever to reach the Third Stage after Obata Satoshi in SASUKE 34. In the Third Stage, he made it all the way to the new Cliffhanger Dimension, being the first ever to attempt this cliffhanger version. While the ledges didn't move due to safety concerns from the rain, Yoshiyuki managed to make the first transition, only to fail the second ledge by not reaching far enough. This marks the furthest point any Japanese competitor got to in their first appearance since Kobayashi Shinji in SASUKE 11.
His next appearance would be in SASUKE 38, wearing #49 this time around. Though he only had to deal with the new Silk Slider, he would manage to once again clear the First Stage with a time of 13.8 seconds left. The Second Stage would prove to be slightly more difficult, as he would have to deal with the now functioning Rolling Log, an obstacle he would have attempted in the previous tournament if it wasn't for the rain that prevented competitors from attempting it. Still, even with the new obstacle, Yamamoto would be the tournament's first Second Stage clear with a time of 13.2 seconds left. In the Third Stage however, while quickly clearing the first three obstacles, he would have to deal with the now fully operating Cliffhanger Dimension, with the moving ledges. Impressively though, Yamamoto would again make the first transition, and even cleared the second transition; unfortunately, his run would end shockingly as his grip gave way on the final ledge, missing the resting bar, and ending his run on the obstacle he almost cleared. He went the second furthest that tournament, and was the first of three Cliffhanger Dimension fails. It should also be noted that the third ledge was wet, thus causing Yoshiyuki to slip once he touched the wet area, and would get 2nd place in that tournament.
In SASUKE 39, wearing number 50, he had two outstanding showings in the first two stages, clearing both with the fastest time (27.1 secs left in the first and 26.5 secs left in the second) However his Third Stage performance on the new Sidewinder which was modified to rotate. On the transfer between the 3rd and 4th poles, Yamamoto briefly slipped and had to wait for another chance to jump. When he did, he suddenly slid down to the bottom of the handhold but saved himself by reaching with his legs to the platform. Yamamoto afterwards performed the baseball gesture for safe after landing safely. But he would have his worst run on the Third Stage failing the first blind reverse-grab transition on the new Swing Edge.
Yamamoto returned again in SASUKE 40, wearing the same number at #3950, once again he had two outstanding showings in the first two stages with ease. Then in the Third Stage, he took revenge on the Swing Edge that took him out in the last tournament, and even went on to take further revenge on the Cliff Dimension after being unlucky two tournaments ago. He also went on to clear the Vertical Limit and the Pipe Slider on his first attempt. He became the first Black Tiger member to reach the Final Stage and also became one of three finalists in that tournament, along with Tada Tatsuya and Morimoto Yūsuke. His performance in the Final Stage started strong with a fast pace on the Speed Climbing, but he slowed down on the Salmon Ladder Jūgo Dan and eventually timed out just starting on the Tsuna Nobori at 17 meters. This is the furthest point a Black Tiger has made in SASUKE.
In SASUKE 41, he wore the #99, the highest number in his career due to having the second best performance from the previous tournament. He once again cleared the first two stages with ease. Then in the Third Stage, he look strong on the first 3 obstacles and also cleared the first transition on the Cliff Dimension, but unfortunately he mistimed his timing on the second transition and he once again failed the obstacle.
On July 10th, it was announced that Yamamoto would be a part of Team Japan Red for the first ever SASUKE World Cup. In the First Stage, he was the last runner of the first heat and showed incredible speed, clearing the course with the fastest time of the heat (and the fastest overall on the First Stage) earning 70 points for his team. He went up against Team USA's, R.J. Roman on the head-to-head Spider Climb on the Second Stage finishing faster than R.J. to help guarantee Team Japan Red a spot on the Third Stage. He competed on the Third Stage in the third heat as the second runner where he failed the second transition on the Cliff Dimension (similar to his run during SASUKE 41) earning 90 points for his team and they got 300 points which helped them move onto the Final Stage against Team USA. Team Japan Red later won the competition thanks to Morimoto Yūsuke.
In SASUKE 42, wearing number 97, he once again cleared the first two stages with ease. However, in the third stage, he would shockingly fail at the modified Swing Edge when he couldn't execute the first blind reverse-grab transition onto the Y-shaped frame, similar to his run during SASUKE 39.
Ninja Warrior France[]
Ninja Warrior France: Clash of Nations[]
In 2023, Yamamoto participated alongside Kawaguchi Tomohiro, Morimoto Yūsuke, Urushihara Yuuji & Oshima Ayano on Team Japan of Ninja Warrior France: Clash of Nations, the first installment of Ninja Warrior France's international special post-season tournament marking his first appearance in a international competition. On Stage One, he competed in the third heat where he made it to the third obstacle, Curved Body Prop and he got disqualified because he went back to the starting platform after he had previously attempted the obstacle trying to get his feet more dry but he got 2 points for Japan.
Ninja Warrior France 9[]
Yamamoto appeared as an international competitor on Ninja Warrior France 9. In the fourth Semifinal, he raced against Jérémy Achard. He managed to clear the course with a time of 01:23.91, which ended Jérémy Achard's run early at The Clacker, advancing him to the Finals. On Stage One, his run was digested, but cleared the course with at time of 02:28.29. His Stage Two run was also digested. He cleared the 180° jump on the Ultimate Cliffhanger, but when trying to reach for the final ledge (akin to a Kong cross), his left hand slipped, sending him spinning into the water.
Sports Danshi Grand Prix[]
Yamamoto made his first TV competition appearance outside of SASUKE in Sports Danshi Grand Prix 14. As a rookie, he cleared 21 boxes in Monster Box, placing 2nd in the event; reached the final four in Beach Flags, which gave him the overall lead in the competition; reached the semi-finals in Power Wall, extending his lead in the process; and, after the last event, secured the overall 1st place, thus winning the competition. He did so with a comfortable lead and by having impressive performances in every event. Yamada Katsumi coached and supported him throughout the tournament, even crying profusely after Yamamoto was crowned champion.
Trivia[]
- Yamamoto and Hasegawa Ken are the only two competitors to compete in SASUKE at least thrice without ever failing the first or second stage.
- Yamamoto is the only SASUKE competitor with more than three appearences to never fail the first or second stage.
- He currently has six straight appearences and is yet to fail the first or second stage.
- Yamamoto is also the only competitor to clear the Second Stage at each of his first five appearances in SASUKE.
- Yamamoto owns the record for consecutive fastest clear times in the Second Stage, at 3.
- Yamamoto has the current best result for two different numbers: #47 and #50.
- With Yamamoto's performance in SASUKE 39, he is one of eight competitors to share the feat of clearing the First and Second stage in the fastest time in the same tournament. The other seven are Yamamoto Shingo, Nagano Makoto, Levi Meeuwenberg, David Campbell, Asa Kazuma, Ragivaru Anastase, and Kajihara Hayate.
- Him, Yamamoto Shingo and Nagano Makoto are the only ones to attempt the Final Stage.
SASUKE Results[]
Competitions[]
| SASUKE | # | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | 47 | Failed Cliffhanger Dimension (Third Stage) | Failed the Second Transition. |
| 38 | 49 | Failed Cliffhanger Dimension (Third Stage) | Lost his grip on third ledge. |
| 39 | 50 | Failed Swing Edge (Third Stage) | Failed the First Transition. Full run shown on SASUKE YouTube channel of Second Stage. |
| 40 | 3950 | Failed Tsuna Nobori (Final Stage) | Time Out. Made it about 17 meters up. |
| 41 | 99 | Failed Cliff Dimension (Third Stage) | Second Transition. |
| 42 | 97 | Failed Swing Edge (Third Stage) | Failed the First Transition. |
| 43 | 97 | TBA | TBA |
SASUKE World Cup[]
| Competition | Stage | Heat | Run | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Stage | 1 | 7 | Clear (65.61) | Earned 70 points for Team Japan Red. |
| Second Stage | 4 | 2 | Clear (8.95) | Fastest time. | |
| Third Stage | 3 | 2 | Failed Cliff Dimension | Mid Cut. Second Transition. Earned 90 points for Team Japan Red. |
Ninja Warrior France Results[]
| NW:LPdh | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Failed Ultimate Cliffhanger (Second Stage Untimed) | Defeated Jérémy Achard in semi-final race.
Placed 7th in First Stage. Failed the transition to the final ledge. |
Ninja Warrior France: Clash of Nations[]
| Competition | Stage | Round | Run | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Stage | 3 | 3 | 3. Curved Body Prop
(02:45.00 left) |
Disqualification. Got disqualified for going back onto the starting platform after he had already went onto the obstacle. Earned 2 points for Team Japan. |
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