arsenette
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Post by arsenette on Apr 29, 2013 16:46:45 GMT -5
One of the European Sasuke Fans asked Inui about the status of the All-stars. Twitter LinkSo no Yamada this year. I am not surprised by Akiyama not going. I am happy though that Nagano IS going despite not being able to go to Trials like the other 3 did. Now.. did Yamada NOT go to trials? or he's just not going? or he *gasp* didn't make the cut?
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Post by shuhuqua on Apr 30, 2013 8:36:18 GMT -5
It's awesome that they will be going but it's a shame about Akiyama. To be honest watching Yamada the last several tournaments has been painful and sad, so it's probably for the best that he's not going.
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Post by RiderLeangle on Apr 30, 2013 11:19:27 GMT -5
I think he's taking making it up the first wall as a victory, it really seems like he's finally grown up. I expect him to go as a spectator based on what he said in the interview but I'm not sure he plans to run
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Post by shuhuqua on May 2, 2013 2:33:19 GMT -5
Well, I just got an e-mail from the selection staff saying the usual stuff you see if you got rejected from a University. "After careful deliberation, we're sorry to say that we are unable to offer you a spot." This is not surprising to me due to the politics behind the current Sasuke and something Inui said to me at the end of the trials regarding the fact that my nationality was a bit of a problem. I wasn't quite sure I understood his message correctly which gave me hope, but it seems I understood it perfectly.
Since the rejection letter means I'm probably no longer bound to punishment for posting about the trials, I'll be putting a full report up later. If people are a bit lazy to read the long version here's a very compact statement. I went, there was a proper interview which went well so I moved onto the proper obstacle course trial, and I cleared the trial in what was referred to as a "good, solid time." Also, apparently the way I climbed the warped wall had never been done before (I have no idea what I did) which led to the course demonstrator and Yuuji himself walking over to congratulate me and comment on the warped wall performance.
I'm of course a little disappointed about not being picked to be on the show, but that's life and that's the entertainment world. On a happier note though, the experience I had at the trials will forever remain a positive memory for me and I'm really happy about being given the chance to run and clear a mini first stage. I just hope they televise the trials with me in it, just so my elementary school students will have something to smile about briefly and so that I can see what the heck I did on the warped wall that had everyone excited.
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arsenette
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Post by arsenette on May 2, 2013 2:41:47 GMT -5
I'm disappointed.. again.. damn politics really. I'm quite concerned how hardcore they are getting with it now using ASEAN as a crutch honestly. I've had a few conversations with Inui about this both publicly and privately about the event. I think the mistake TBS is doing is that they are using Sasuke as a trials and not it's own show anymore. That can be dangerous in terms of changing the image of that show from a variety show to a sports show. ASEAN for all we know will be a one-time thing with the volatility in that region and show business in general and considering that they are PART of the organization of it makes it worse. They can write their own rules. Sasuke it's a separate event with a now 16 year history. They should invite wtf they want regardless of country origin. I'm very worried.
All that said, I'm happy that this experience erases the bitter taste from Sasuke 28's trials/audition.
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Post by shuhuqua on May 2, 2013 2:56:02 GMT -5
This does lead me back to one of the original complaints I had about the 28 trials... If you don't want foreigners on the show, then why the heck are you bothering to invite us to the trials? With that said, I'm still super happy I was able to be a part of the Sasuke world properly and run the course, but I'll probably never apply again given that it's kind of a waste of my time in the end.
If of course a foreigner does end up on the show and some evidence shows up demonstrating their decision about not inviting me was for other reasons or if the politics of the show change, I'll send in another application. Unless that happens though... I'll take the this as a one time experience and leave it at that.
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Post by lostinube on May 2, 2013 3:29:49 GMT -5
I would send in another application if you have a chance and possibly try to keep in touch with anyone you met there to give you an "in."
I'm not defending them but the two shows you applied for are atypical. 28 (RISING) was a reboot with a new producer and all that comes with it. 29 is connected to the ASEAN Cup and they actually changed the application criteria for once (under 18s had to have their parents sign waivers and no women applicants). It's entirely possible that if there is a next show they will be more willing to open things up. (Related note: Malaysian elections are scheduled for this coming Sunday)
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arsenette
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Post by arsenette on May 2, 2013 4:22:21 GMT -5
Agreed with Ube on sending in another one if you are still in Japan. They seem to be changing according to theme (which actually is not unusual as they've change themes even when M9 was running the show). ASEAN though has been changing the landscape not just in Japan but with other countries tied to this. Ube pointed out rightfully so in another thread about the wind of change possibly hitting that region in politics which will affect ASEAN Cup directly. Given the confusion even from what was talked about (where Inui wasn't even "sure" they can send certain people to ASEAN - all he is hired to do right now is cast and direct Sasuke 29) everything else is up in the air right now. Thanks Ube for pointing out when the elections are. Who knows you might get a call back after this weekend.. so don't discount everything.. just yet. Might want to wait until past at least taping before you do the whole post. Just.. in case. I can't possibly guarantee anything but things might be different in a couple of days.
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Post by shuhuqua on May 2, 2013 4:51:51 GMT -5
The interview was a proper one (thank someone's deity) and Inui-san and the other guys asked some good questions about everyone (3 at a time). It was roughly 15 minutes per group and a few of our suspicions were 100% confirmed and a few things were completely wrong. Inui's goal is definitely to get 100 different people with different jobs... to a point where he said that takes precedence over someone's performance in the interview and in the trial. I'm guessing if there were 5 fire fighters, all 5 got the top times, maybe the best fire fighter goes and the other 4 get unfortunately dismissed. Not 100% sure about that though. Next, there were two other foreigners that I saw and talked to (one from South Africa and one from America both Caucasian)so they definitely did not mind foreigners at the trials this time. Next, they are serious about sending people to the ASEAN cup, but I interviewed with two people in their mid 60's so I think they weren't THAT serious.
One of the guys in my group was a 66 year old kendo teacher who was effing amazing! He apparently did 63 pushups in 30 seconds at a local gym competition and beat everyone including the staff. He even brought a signed paper from the gym to prove it, the paper was dated two weeks ago! Then he had a document saying he went 10 rounds boxing with a former light weight champion from a couple years ago. He also does a raft of other amazing things that I don't think myself capable of. He was definitely fit for a 66 year old and his story was an interesting one, but I think his brain has melted because he repeated that story to me and the other guy while we were waiting for the interview TEN TIMES! During the interview he repeated his story like 3 times where Inui had to politely get him to stop many times in order to ask questions to me and the other guy. He's also proud of his singing and would not stop singing at the interview. I'm positive that he'll end up on air somewhere because he was absolutely hilarious, but in a bad way.
Anyways I was able to say what I needed to say and Inui seemed pleased with the fact that I'm an elementary school teacher and that I have a huge pool of potential viewers. At the end of the interview he said that just the interview alone CAN be enough to get you on the show, but you can increase or ruin your chances by running the course. The two results add together for a final decision. The super 66 year old bowed out probably because he was so outrageous that he'll definitely be on the show from the interview alone. I moved onto the actual course with the other 60 year old guy who was a sauce maker (rare job). I was sooooo happy at that point because at the minimum my dream of running the course would come true. I saw a lot of people who did not go to the trials and left early... my guess is they were 1 of many people with the same job. This is probably why Keita never gets on the show.
There was an hour wait until the trials would start (1pm) so I bugged one of the staff members about where I can eat a protein bar because the waiting area seemed a bit too nice to be eating things. I was then informed about the cafeteria on the 5th floor, so the sauce maker guy and I had a nice lunch and were apparently the only people to know about the cafeteria because everyone else was starving at the trials. It was a lovely meal haha.
So at 1:00 I trodded over with a group of 8 people who were selected to go to the trials, we watched the previous group go which made my confidence go up and down a lot. My group of 8 was the last group of the day and originally I was going to go first but they asked if I needed my glasses because they were worried about them falling off and getting lost in the mud. Unfortunately I'm blind without my glasses so they had some builder staff tie rope (not string because they only had rope!) onto my glasses and around my head... it was hilarious. The builder guy was a great guy and said "now that I went through all this trouble you better not fall in the water." This then meant I went second to last for the day.
In my group, EVERYONE FAILED which gave me pressure. I was joking with the guy in front of me saying "you better clear to take the pressure off of me," but unfortunately he fell in the water. So I'm freaking out and nervous then they stick a camera on you to ask your emotions and motivations. I told the cameraman (I think he's a not a producer but close to the producers because I've seen him around a lot) my story about how I failed the small muscle park Sasuke a couple years back which made me start training to clear that... then it shut, and kids who saw me training wanted me to try for the real Sasuke and that I'm doing this for them. The cameraman seemed to be quite moved by the story and was giving me encouragement even after he turned off the camera.
Anyways I was super a** nervous and then it was my turn. I had to wipe my shoes down and apply that "Sasuke Spray" which is SUPER STICKY, it was like spraying duct tape glue on your hands. Then everything happened really fast and I wound up at the goal pressing the red button. I don't think I've ever been that happy in my life. I was told that I set a "good time" though 30 people set better times. I could've been top 10 if 2 things didn't happen. I whiffed the warped wall the first time and went splat into it, but got it on the second go. Then my knee pad got stuck in the net climb thing at the end which slowed me down quite a bit. After you clear there's a camera to catch you reaction, then the cameraman told me to go down the fireman's pole where the cameraman who talked to me earlier met me and asked some reaction questions and if I had anything I wanted to say to my students. After he turned the camera off I had a nice chat with him and he asked my sports experience in which I have none because my father never let me do sports and just wanted me to study. He was surprised that I only started training a couple years ago. To be honest looking at my own training videos I'm surprised by the progress I made in the past couple of years too.
Since I was the last person to clear and second to last person to go I got congratulated by a lot of people including Yuuji. Sorry no pictures because he was always sitting with the production staff. Then there's something I will not understand unless I can see video. Apparently the way I cleared the warp wall caused shock throughout the universe. I have no idea what I did. Everyone, including Yuuji, the course demonstrators, and other competitors were ultra impressed with the way I cleared the warped wall. According to one of the foreign entrants' girlfriend "You just walked up the wall with no momentum." I have no idea what that means but I'm super curious now. I shook hands with Yuuji and Ryou who was there too and Ryou even said "I look forward to seeing you at the honsen." Everything was looking good.
Then comes Inui with "Congratulations... so you were born in America right?" "Yes, and my parents were born in Taiwan" "hmm... Taiwan...dame da ne (no good)... and America is also dame." "We can only send Japanese people, I think we can't send people from Taiwan or America." To be honest at that point my happiness sank and a sense of dread kicked in then I thought maybe he was referring to the ASEAN cup and not the actual Sasuke which restored hope. If he was only referring to the ASEAN cup then it meant he wants me on the Japanese show and I left such an impact that he thinks it's a shame I cannot go to the ASEAN cup, but seeing how I was rejected in the end it does leave questions.
I'm now really curious about the following things: 1. Why were foreigners invited at all if it's a problem? (One of the two others on my day cleared but he was well over a minute slower than my time and I think the slowest clear and the other fell on the "Yureru Hashi") Clearly the presence of the other two who aren't even Asian makes the question all the more relevent because if it was just me, they could've mistook me for someone with Japanese lineage.
2. Inui asked me during the interview "So how long have you been in Japan?" which clearly showed that he knew I wasn't Japanese from the get go, yet I still proceeded to the course. If foreigners are a problem why weren't they just cut at the interview?
3. Why would he specifically approach me to tell me that I'm not going? Think about it, it's a really good question.
4. Let's pretend my "hope" thought was correct and that he wanted me on the show but thought it was a shame I couldn't go to the ASEAN cup... what happened? Did someone above his pay grade veto me?
5. If it wasn't the foreigner thing that meant I was out, then what was it? Time was too slow? There were 10 other Elementary school teachers that I didn't know about?
I guess we'll never know. I definitely see Ube's point and after thinking about it I will send in one more application, however if the same thing happens again I don't think anyone will blame me for giving up. As I've said many times, failing due to my physical abilities is fine and curable with more training, but failing due to politics... it's frustrating because there's nothing you can do.
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arsenette
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Post by arsenette on May 2, 2013 5:59:11 GMT -5
I can answer 4. Yes Inui is hired to "help" cast (where he can give TBS strong suggestions but it's TBS that does the actual casting) and direct the show. He's FOLCOM and not TBS. He has a full board well above his pay grade. I'm sure he went with "this American guy is good" and someone in TBS said to stick with the theme and thus eliminating anyone not Japanese. I can't answer any of the others. Given that you had a very positive experience it's best to leave this one alone and let it all play out rather than do what I do and try to dig deeper and see the festering trash underneath. LOL Still though, agreed that politics reaaaaaaaally gets on people's nerves. That's why there are people that will never go to ANW based on years of politics from G4 from even way back during the ANC days. We'll see though what happens from this point. This is Inui's 2nd Sasuke after a few year's break. Once ASEAN is over and we know if it's coming back all of this might be changed (again) as Sasuke changes themes. Thanks so much for such a detailed account! Shame you didn't get pics but who knows.. we might see a clip of you on Navi! Still laughing at the Sasuke Spray description of it being spray-on duct tape.. ahahahhahaha
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Post by Philip on May 2, 2013 8:23:53 GMT -5
Thanks for telling about how the trials went shuhuqua! I hope too that Inui meant you can compete in Sasuke 29.... I wonder why they can't send foreigners.
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Post by RiderLeangle on May 2, 2013 11:47:14 GMT -5
Thanks for such detailed accounts, I hope you get to compete (and we get to see your run, especially that amazing thing on the Soritatsu Kabe) Thanks for telling about how the trials went shuhuqua! I hope too that Inui meant you can compete in Sasuke 29.... I wonder why they can't send foreigners. Don't quote me on this since it's just speculation but I think because the ASEAN Cup is a tournament putting countries against each other, that 29 is just Japan's trial, besides the fact they're sending the best reps from Japan, they also can't really monopolize, like let's say for example a Malaysian guy competes in 29, beasts the course entirely, TBS can't send him as a Japan rep since Malaysia has their own team. Make sense?
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Post by shuhuqua on May 2, 2013 22:09:08 GMT -5
Yeah their goal definitely seems to be making 29 the Japanese trial. I'm of Taiwanese decent and they have no trial to send people to the ASEAN cup, so I do fall into a gray area even under that thought.
I'm a little worried about if and how I should tell my elementary school students. I let them know that I cleared the trials course and they're a bit young to understand that clearing does not mean I'll be on TV. Trust me I tried to explain that, but when I said I might not be on TV they thought I was lying about clearing and that I actually fell into the water... it was a mess so in the end I was like "okay fine I'll be on TV." Especially for elementary school kids the idea of performing well and not moving on to the next stage is beyond their comprehension.
At the minimum I hope my run is at least put onto youtube or something which is one of their possible plans of promoting the show and "airing" the trials. It will give me something to show the kids and it will let me know what I did on the warped wall.
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arsenette
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Post by arsenette on May 3, 2013 0:08:43 GMT -5
Nah never lie. It's a game show and there were other people who cleared ahead of you as well. You did your best and are proud of your accomplishment of clearing the course but there are only so many spots to get to Sasuke. It's that simple. You can even do a small math lesson about 200 people applied but only a few slots available that come from trials. Someone has to get cut. Who knows. Maybe once they start putting stuff up on Youtube you can ask Inui directly to please put your run on the channel. Especially since it won't make the broadcast? The worst that he says is no. I've already been surprised with what we've gotten from him already. Tell him exactly what you said - so you can show the elementary school kids.
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Post by OZ Ninja Dean on May 3, 2013 6:32:08 GMT -5
Shuhuqua, thanks for that amazing recap! It's awesome to get an inside look at how things are done. Sorry to hear you didn't make it. I have the same thought as everyone else that they are using 29 as a trial for the ASEAN Cup. I hope 30 will go back to normal and you can get your chance for total victory.
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Post by shuhuqua on May 3, 2013 8:58:46 GMT -5
Thanks for the support everyone. I reread my posts and it does sound a bit sour in the end (disappointment does that to you), but I do want to stress that actually, especially due to the politics playing out in the background I am very thankful that I was allowed to take part in the trials at all and and even run the course. Simply being able to stand on that start line with the signature beeps signalling for you to go and reaching the goal and pressing that big red button... it was a dream come true and I can't remember ever being happier than the moment I pressed that button. Despite the final result, I'll forever remember the day as a good one and will probably be telling stories about it in an endless loop when I become a senile 66 year old like the guy in my interview group haha.
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2013 23:51:08 GMT -5
Thank you for sharing your experience from competing in the trials, shuhuqua . I hope the best result for you .
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