SASUKE competitors come from all walks of life, ranging from Olympic athletes to blue collar workers to Japanese celebrities.
The most successful Olympian to attempt SASUKE was Bulgarian gymnast Jordan Jovtchev, who made it to the Final Stage in his first effort (SASUKE 8) and has made it to the third stage three other times. Another former Olympian, gymnast Tanaka Hikaru, reached the final stage in SASUKE 2. American twin brothers Paul & Morgan Hamm (also gymnasts) have competed in the past, Morgan reached Stage Three in SASUKE 15.
All-Stars
Seven competitors, designated by TBS as the most likely to complete the final stage, are known as the SASUKE All-Stars. These competitors are Akiyama Kazuhiko, Nagano Makoto, Shiratori Bunpei, Takeda Toshihiro, Yamada Katsumi,and Yamamoto Shingo. None of these men are professional athletes. Takeda is the only All-Star never to have reached the final stage, although he has reached the third stage 13 times, more than any other competitor. Yamamoto is the only man to compete in all 27 SASUKE tournaments and the only man to attempt both the first and second versions of the Final Stage. Nagano is the only person to attempt the second and third versions of the Final Stage. Nagano and Akiyama have achieved 'Kanzenseiha' (Total Victory).
Five competitors, picked by TBS are listed as the Shin Sedai, or New Generation. These five men are Urushihara Yuuji, Hashimoto Koji, Kanno Hitoshi, Tajima Naoya, and Sato Jun. Similar to the All-Stars, none of these men are professional athletes. These men have had great success in Shin-SASUKE and continue to this day. Of these five men, Hashimoto, Kanno, and Urushihara have reached the Final Stage. Urushihara is the only Shin Sedai member to reach the Final Stage more than once and the only Shin Sedai member to achieve 'Kanzenseiha' (Total Victory).
The most successful Olympian to attempt SASUKE was Bulgarian gymnast Jordan Jovtchev, who made it to the Final Stage in his first effort (SASUKE 8) and has made it to the third stage three other times. Another former Olympian, gymnast Tanaka Hikaru, reached the final stage in SASUKE 2. American twin brothers Paul & Morgan Hamm (also gymnasts) have competed in the past, Morgan reached Stage Three in SASUKE 15.
Although they rarely pose a threat, there have been a couple of Japanese entertainers that have been successful. Comedian Omori Akira has had the most success, reaching the final stage in the first three SASUKE competitions. Celebrity athlete Iketani Naoki has reached the third stage four times, comedian Nakayama Kinnikun made it to the second stage twice before retiring after SASUKE 15. Ishimaru Kenjiro, while never completing the first stage, came close on a few attempts and was a threat to reach the second stage up until his mid-50s.
There have been an increasing number of foreign competitors, thanks in part to an American preliminary competition sponsored by the channel that airs SASUKE in America (G4) called the "American Ninja Challenge." The most successful foreign competitors have been Jovtchev, Li En Zhi of Taiwan, and America's Kane Kosugi, Levi Meeuwenberg & Brian Orosco. Kosugi and Jovtchev became the first foreigners to attempt the final stage, doing so in SASUKE 8, while Li became the third in SASUKE 24.
All-Stars
Seven competitors, designated by TBS as the most likely to complete the final stage, are known as the SASUKE All-Stars. These competitors are Akiyama Kazuhiko, Nagano Makoto, Shiratori Bunpei, Takeda Toshihiro, Yamada Katsumi,and Yamamoto Shingo. None of these men are professional athletes. Takeda is the only All-Star never to have reached the final stage, although he has reached the third stage 13 times, more than any other competitor. Yamamoto is the only man to compete in all 27 SASUKE tournaments and the only man to attempt both the first and second versions of the Final Stage. Nagano is the only person to attempt the second and third versions of the Final Stage. Nagano and Akiyama have achieved 'Kanzenseiha' (Total Victory).
Shin Sedai
Five competitors, picked by TBS are listed as the Shin Sedai, or New Generation. These five men are Urushihara Yuuji, Hashimoto Koji, Kanno Hitoshi, Tajima Naoya, and Sato Jun. Similar to the All-Stars, none of these men are professional athletes. These men have had great success in Shin-SASUKE and continue to this day. Of these five men, Hashimoto, Kanno, and Urushihara have reached the Final Stage. Urushihara is the only Shin Sedai member to reach the Final Stage more than once and the only Shin Sedai member to achieve 'Kanzenseiha' (Total Victory).
A revised group of "New Stars" was introduced for SASUKE RISING. This group consists of Urushihara Yuuji, Kanno Hitoshi, Matachi Ryo and Asa Kazuma.
SASUKE ALL-STAR & SASUKE SHIN SEDAI:
All-star (front) from left to right : Akiyama Kazuhiko, Yamamoto Shingo, Nagano Makoto and Yamada Katsumi.
Shin Sedai (back) from left to right : Asa Kazuma, Kanno Hitoshi, Matachi Ryo and Urushihara Yuuji.
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