Sasuke 29: recap

Here's out first review of one of the Japanese broadcasts. Let's start with some general stats, for those looking for some quick info, that I compiled with information found on Wikipedia and Sasukepedia:

Air date: June 17 2013

Obstacles:

Bolded obstacles have no transition between them.

Results:

Notes: because of the SASUKE ASEAN OPEN CUP-thingy taking place later in 2013 only the person to finish third stage with the best time would have gone on to the final stage, although this never became an issue due to no one clearing third stage. Thank the gods BECAUSE THAT WAS A TERRIBLE IDEA since the best part about Sasuke is that everyone who clears a stage gets to go on to the next one.

________________________________________________________________

Chriss & Ell commentary:

Here we are, looking super-serious as we're embarking on yet another Sasuke adventure.

~*~

Torisawa Katsuhide starts strong by breaking a baseball bat on his neck.

Ell: "Just don't cut yourself like that guy did with a beer bottle."

Chriss: "Isn't this the same guy?"

Ell: "Yeah, you're right."

Ell: "You know, I think he did exactly this in Sasuke 24 as well."

~*~

Our friend Hanna kept texting us through-out this, since she was watching Sasuke for the first time with her husband. Made us feel like seasoned experts as she asked us questions about the show and the contestants, and - like us - wanting to get her hands on the USA vs Japan special. After she alerted us of the allegations of it being rigged Chriss did some research, and while we're not sure what to make of it, we're certainly in camp "it's fucking fishy that team Japan would lose so brutally as they did".

~*~

Then Hioki Masashi cleared first stage and we were all so happy for him:

So, um, happy we could cry apparently:

We can't decide what we love more: all the crying, or Matachi laughing at his crying friends. Not that he was fucking immune to it, though:

WIPING HIS EYES. He thought we wouldn't notice, but we did.

~*~

Chriss: "OH MY GOD, HE DROPPED HIS SHOE."

Ell: "WHAT!?"

Chriss: "Look!"

Ell: "It's still there, he's picking it up!"

~*~

WHY IS ASA WEARING A SCARF? WHAT IS UP WITH HIM AND SCARVES? I can't fucking deal with this anymore.

~*~

After Asa completely dominates first stage Matachi Ryo, Kanno Hitoshi and Urushihara Yuuji's attempts at first stage was completely cut, only showing them starting and finished. Naturally this was a bit upsetting.

Chriss: "They CUT him!? And we know he won't pass second stage! I can't believe this! I'm crying! ...oh, that's a cute baby!"

It is indeed a very cute baby. But not so cute that we'll forgive them for cutting out one of our faves like that.

~*~

Moving on to the second stage! Yamamoto Shingo times out during the water obstacle, giving us this shot:

Chriss: "There's an army of children again! They can't possibly all be his!"

This is basically brought up every time his army of children is shown, and we're still not sure what to make of it.

~*~

Looking at the water obstacle, a lot of people are struggling with it, not just Yamamoto Shingo (to our distress this includes Matachi Ryo).

Chriss: "Nagano would probably be great at this though, being a fisherman."

Ell: "Yeah, I hope he gets to try it sometime. He must be good at swimming if he works on a boat, right? Didn't we see him do situps on the side of his boat?
Chriss: Yeah."

Note: this is from the ANW special "25 reasons to watch Ninja Warrior"
also note I'm not 100% it is Nagano but you get the point

Ell: "You'd be insane to do that if you're not a good swimmer."

~*~

Chriss: "Did the announced just call Morimoto Yūsuke Sasuke-kun!? He's a tiny Sasuke boy."

~*~

After Morimoto fails third stage.

Chriss: "Where's Asa? Why isn't he crying!?"

~*~

If you're telling me you didn't cry when (what we're assuming is) Takahashi Kenji's daughter brought him a drawing of him achieving Kanzenseiha then get the fuck out of here, you grinch.

This is a show about ninjas and crying and we love it.

~*~

My last note just says "much crying :(" which I'm assuming is a reference to everyone failing third stage. My heart breaks just a little bit every time Asa fails the stupid Crazy Cliffhanger (okay, so it's not actually stupid, but I'm still upset about it!).

This concludes our Sasuke 29 recap, I hope you enjoyed it.