The 9th competition, official name: SASUKE2002春 (literally Sasuke 2002 Spring) is the fifth competition since Akiyama Kazuhiko's victory in SASUKE 4. It is most remembered for its redesigned Third Stage, featuring perhaps the most iconic incarnation of the Cliff Hanger, and as the first competition where future champion Nagano Makoto made his name. This was also future All-Star Shiratori Bunpei's first tournament, although he failed the Soritatsu Kabe in the First Stage.
The First Stage remained unchanged since SASUKE 8, as did the Second Stage, but this received a cut of 20 seconds from the time limit, which eventually eliminated Iketani Naoki and fan favorite Yamada Katsumi. This tournament is also noteworthy for the worst performance from a SASUKE All-Star, when Akiyama failed the first obstacle, the Godantobi. He is the only All-Star and only #100 to fail the first obstacle.
The modifications to the Third Stage showed, defeating All-Stars Takeda Toshihiro and Yamamoto Shingo early on, but Nagano was able to reach the very end of the stage, failing only at the final jump, cementing his place as a firm favorite for the future.
TBS Date: March 16, 2002
TBS Ratings: 19.7%
SASUKE Announcers:
1st Chair Furutachi Ichiro (Stage 1 (#81-100), Stages 2,3, Final)
2nd Chair Hatsuta Keisuke (Stage 1 (#1-80)
SASUKE Results
Best: Nagano Makoto, Third Stage, Pipe Slider
Stage 1: 7 Clears
Stage 2: 4 Clears
Stage 3: 0 Clears
Final Stage: Not Attempted
First stage
Obstacles
② Rolling Maruta ローリング丸太
③ Ōdama 大玉
④ Jump Hang ジャンプハング
⑤ Soritatsu Kabe そり立つ壁
⑥ Tarzan Rope ターザンロープ
⑦ Rope Climb ロープクライム
Time Limit: 77 seconds
Second Stage
Obstacles
↓ Brick Climb ブリッククライム
② Spider Walk スパイダーウォーク
③ Goren Hammer 5連ハンマー
④ Gyakusō Conveyor 逆走コンベアー
⑤ Wall Lifting ウォールリフティング
Time Limit: 80 seconds
Third Stage
Obstacles
② Body Prop ボディプロップ
③ ^Lamp Grasper ランプグラスパー
④ *Cliffhanger クリフハンガー
⑤ Pipe Slider パイプスライダー
^ Denotes New Obstacle
* Denotes Obstacle Modification
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