Has anyone ever watched the Ninja Warrior competition that airs on G4 TV? Ninja Warrior began in 1997 and has since become a phenomenon in Japan, where it has now aired 27 (and counting). In that time, only three men have ever completed all four courses.
The competition can best be described as a speedrun obstacle course. Each of the courses focus on a different area (speed, balance, strength, etc.) but, ultimately, it's a matter of doing a perfect runthrough. You simply cannot afford a single misstep if you hope to complete the course within the allotted time.
I was absolutely obsessed with the each competition just a few years ago and would watch each new season with my girlfriend. This is due in large part because of the array of competitors. As the competition went on it began to breed "All-Stars" who were thought to be the best candidates to complete all four courses. They ranged from a gas station attendant (now the manager) to a firefighter to a crab fisherman who was only ashore three months a year, but would train every day on his ship.
There's also the joke competitors, which are usually comedians, sumo wrestlers or restauranteurs seeking publicity. Occasionally you're surprised if they make it past the first obstacle, but generally they never even get halfway through the first course.
The show can also be absolutely heartwrenching. Katsumi Yamada, known as "Mr. Ninja Warrior," has competed in nearly every competition, but has only reached the final stage a handful of times. He became so utterly obsessed that he lost his job, his family and everything. All he had left was the competition and the support of his fans and the other All-Stars. He's had to retire.
There's also Akiyama Kazuhiko, the first man to win the competition, but due to going blind he cannot compete again.
The show became a hit in America due to its airings on G4, which eventually held its own competition to bring a few hopefuls to Japan to compete. These are our own American All-Stars, who have become respected by the native Japanese. They're set apart by the fact that most of them are practitioners of parkour, which has led to amazing saves and runs on the course.
So, anyone checked it out?
