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Post by GlobalNinjaFan on Feb 25, 2019 18:59:00 GMT -5
Within the pantheon of ninja runs throughout history, several come to mind that surely must've entailed overwhelming expectations and pressure for the competitor involved. Nagano in 32. Geoff in ANW 8. Morimoto's live Final Stage attempt. But one run, high-pressure for a different reason, rarely gets mentioned...
In 22, Yamada gets a letter from (I'm guessing) what could be Japan's version of Make a Wish, who had a life threatening illness which has thankfully since been recovered from. This kid's request? For Yamada to clear Stage 1.
Now can we please just appreciate the IMPOSSIBLE odds against Yamada here? He was well into his Stage 1 fail streak by this point, having fallen 8 times in a row despite coming very close to clearing in 16 and 18, getting to the final climb both times. The course was getting harder and Yamada was getting older and more mentally blocked every single tournament. Him clearing wasn't impossible but improbable, and getting less likely all the time. And then this request comes in and essentially demands that he HAS to clear Stage 1... there's no alternative and no excuse... it's a dying kid, he HAS to clear.
Just wanna give the dude a pat on the back here. Whatever you think of him, failing there on the Jumping Spider must've weighed heavily on him and I don't blame him AT ALL. Anyone else have thoughts on this? Was this even a genuine thing?
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Post by Messup434 on Feb 26, 2019 6:43:12 GMT -5
That is kind of the ultimate pressure, isn't it?
I guess I'm just really relieved that the kid was able to recover (though I always am anyway), it would kind of give 22 a dark vibe had he not and obviously would've been just awful for all involved.
Off topic, but wouldn't it be amazing if the man from season nine, episode one of American Ninja Warrior overcame his "stage 4" (harder than the 80-meter rope) and came back to compete? I fear not, but either way, it's hard not to feel sad/nervous while watching those runs. I hate ANW stories, but I'd be okay to watch a ten-minute profile for something nice like that.
Well, good for Yamada for doing his best and delivering a decent run! Nice idea for a topic, this is an interesting subject.
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Post by arsenette on Feb 26, 2019 10:19:10 GMT -5
Genuine? Yes from the kid (as you said, this thing happens all the time with Make a wish foundation) and no from Yamada. The major critiques he's always had was that he does things for the camera and everyone hates him. The younger tv audience oblivious to it loved him (kids in particular because they believe television). He's gone on record saying he hasn't trained or cared about Sasuke for several years (which included this point) and had no real thoughts of ever clearing Stage 1. He's good at acting though because so many believed him while the kid was genuine in his thoughts and wishes, the rest sadly was television. Yamada loves the attention and that's why he's shown up in everything. In essence that's why M9 ever kept him around - he was free advertising. Remember that a lot of the Japanese audience still think to this day he's a champion and "won one of them.. not sure which one".
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Post by zoran on Feb 26, 2019 12:16:35 GMT -5
Genuine? Yes from the kid (as you said, this thing happens all the time with Make a wish foundation) and no from Yamada. The major critiques he's always had was that he does things for the camera and everyone hates him. The younger tv audience oblivious to it loved him (kids in particular because they believe television). He's gone on record saying he hasn't trained or cared about Sasuke for several years (which included this point) and had no real thoughts of ever clearing Stage 1. He's good at acting though because so many believed him while the kid was genuine in his thoughts and wishes, the rest sadly was television. Yamada loves the attention and that's why he's shown up in everything. In essence that's why M9 ever kept him around - he was free advertising. Remember that a lot of the Japanese audience still think to this day he's a champion and "won one of them.. not sure which one". Source? |
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Post by GlobalNinjaFan on Feb 26, 2019 12:57:56 GMT -5
Genuine? Yes from the kid (as you said, this thing happens all the time with Make a wish foundation) and no from Yamada. The major critiques he's always had was that he does things for the camera and everyone hates him. The younger tv audience oblivious to it loved him (kids in particular because they believe television). He's gone on record saying he hasn't trained or cared about Sasuke for several years (which included this point) and had no real thoughts of ever clearing Stage 1. He's good at acting though because so many believed him while the kid was genuine in his thoughts and wishes, the rest sadly was television. Yamada loves the attention and that's why he's shown up in everything. In essence that's why M9 ever kept him around - he was free advertising. Remember that a lot of the Japanese audience still think to this day he's a champion and "won one of them.. not sure which one". The sad part is that he could've cleared if he'd had that care: he showed on several occasions during his long decline that a clear was possible if he just pushed a little harder (arguably having less "random" fails than other All-Stars and only going out on his major weaknesses, the Wall, Jumping Spider etc...), a clear was very possible, but apparently he just didn't want to make that effort. It's a shame that if he genuinely didn't care that they still chose to spin the "dedicated to Sasuke" angle. Part of me doesn't blame him: he had some brutal setbacks and fails while he was doing well, to the point that mentally checking out was understandable, but on the other, so many others (Takeda, Shingo's injuries, Nagano, even Ryo in 36) at least TRIED at some point to reverse the decline. Are you saying that in all those near 15 tournaments of decline (even his close calls in 16 and 18), he was NEVER seriously trying? I find that sooo hard to believe. |
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Post by arsenette on Feb 26, 2019 16:11:32 GMT -5
Yamada has said it himself in Sasuke 28. Everyone around him knew he didn't have it in him anymore. In fact most of the All-Stars were in that rut and it showed with their results including Nagano. The difference though is that Yamada was well out of shape and he was the oldest of the crew so unless you are willing to put the added effort that comes with age it really gets to you. Mentally though the more it goes on with bad form the more it messes with your mind. He's mentioned that during the G4 era (just go back to interviews with the G4 guys and the All-stars). The most famous one was during the "dinner" the night before Sasuke 21 (I think.. could have been 20 - they are all mixing with my head - the one with Brett, Levi and Brian). That entire exchange is translated into English. That coupled with the other English translated interviews Yamada gave to Inui and posted on Facebook and Youtube (should still be there) explains his lack of passion for the whole thing and "showing up" despite his failure to plan. As for the reasons some are hinted in the English translated interviews and the rest are in Japanese after 28 when he came clean and was going to be retired. The rest came from M9 during my time early on with Rambling Rican. He was a sore subject and they openly talked about it. Even now there is no hiding that he's ... difficult to deal with and they have all come to an understanding that he shows up to promote himself in the show and then goes away leaving everyone alone. That's far better than the days he antagonized everyone.
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Post by zoran on Feb 26, 2019 18:02:29 GMT -5
Yamada has said it himself in Sasuke 28. Everyone around him knew he didn't have it in him anymore. In fact most of the All-Stars were in that rut and it showed with their results including Nagano. The difference though is that Yamada was well out of shape and he was the oldest of the crew so unless you are willing to put the added effort that comes with age it really gets to you. Mentally though the more it goes on with bad form the more it messes with your mind. He's mentioned that during the G4 era (just go back to interviews with the G4 guys and the All-stars). The most famous one was during the "dinner" the night before Sasuke 21 (I think.. could have been 20 - they are all mixing with my head - the one with Brett, Levi and Brian). That entire exchange is translated into English. That coupled with the other English translated interviews Yamada gave to Inui and posted on Facebook and Youtube (should still be there) explains his lack of passion for the whole thing and "showing up" despite his failure to plan. As for the reasons some are hinted in the English translated interviews and the rest are in Japanese after 28 when he came clean and was going to be retired. The rest came from M9 during my time early on with Rambling Rican. He was a sore subject and they openly talked about it. Even now there is no hiding that he's ... difficult to deal with and they have all come to an understanding that he shows up to promote himself in the show and then goes away leaving everyone alone. That's far better than the days he antagonized everyone. Whats the story behind him antagonising people? |
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Post by r34gtr on Feb 26, 2019 19:35:56 GMT -5
Did he still harbor a grudge against Akiyama from losing in Quick Muscle and then him becoming a kanzenseiha-sha ("Total Victor" sounds stupid to me) after?
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Post by arsenette on Feb 27, 2019 8:34:42 GMT -5
You guys need to do your homework.. this stuff is out there and in English.  |
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Post by Sasuke Mania on Feb 27, 2019 18:10:31 GMT -5
Did he still harbor a grudge against Akiyama from losing in Quick Muscle and then him becoming a kanzenseiha-sha ("Total Victor" sounds stupid to me) after? While I know nothing about Yamada behind the scenes, when the cameras were on, it just looked to be a friendly rivalry whenever both were shown. (Also, I say Complete Victor.  ) |
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Post by arsenette on Feb 28, 2019 10:22:00 GMT -5
Did he still harbor a grudge against Akiyama from losing in Quick Muscle and then him becoming a kanzenseiha-sha ("Total Victor" sounds stupid to me) after? While I know nothing about Yamada behind the scenes, when the cameras were on, it just looked to be a friendly rivalry whenever both were shown. (Also, I say Complete Victor. ) Not even close.. This was a huge scandal because of what Yamada did and how TBS folded under the pressure because they had no other mechanisms to handle a "tie". Seriously.. is this also lost to time? It was years before the relationship between them was smoothed over. This was common knowledge. |
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Post by GlobalNinjaFan on Feb 28, 2019 13:27:44 GMT -5
While I know nothing about Yamada behind the scenes, when the cameras were on, it just looked to be a friendly rivalry whenever both were shown. (Also, I say Complete Victor. ) Not even close.. This was a huge scandal because of what Yamada did and how TBS folded under the pressure because they had no other mechanisms to handle a "tie". Seriously.. is this also lost to time? It was years before the relationship between them was smoothed over. This was common knowledge. Not lost, just buried and most new fans can't be bothered to dig. |
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Post by kunnai56 on Mar 10, 2019 11:17:09 GMT -5
I mean, Yamada might not have had his heart into the competition anymore and wasn't really trying, but I still find it improbable that he got a letter from a dying kid begging for him to clear Stage 1, and he didn't feel the SLIGHTEST motivation to do better, didn't have even a twinge of sympathy and extra pressure to put out a good performance. He's a man, not a machine.
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Post by arsenette on Mar 11, 2019 14:47:19 GMT -5
I mean, Yamada might not have had his heart into the competition anymore and wasn't really trying, but I still find it improbable that he got a letter from a dying kid begging for him to clear Stage 1, and he didn't feel the SLIGHTEST motivation to do better, didn't have even a twinge of sympathy and extra pressure to put out a good performance. He's a man, not a machine. He admitted in 28 that he hadn't trained for the show in several years (and it showed given his weight gain during this time). All of these events for television are usually recorded after the event has happened (especially for those who did well in the tournament and they had to rush to get some footage of the no-name person passing stage 1). This one in particular was most likely told to him just before he arrived. Remember this is during the M9 era and they kept him around for the Schadenfreude. Besides, despite what they knew about him as a person, the average viewer (especially kids and foreigners) still liked him. He was still a popular person despite his decline on the course itself. Given that Katsumi had not being training the result was still the same and sadly the persona was still the same. He was quite bitter around this time and most of the antics that he's known for behind the scenes was in full display. I believe I've already said that I don't question the kids pure intent.. I question his. Anything that gave him press was good for him and for his persona on television. The guy was a real a-hole during this timeframe. |
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Post by zoran on Mar 11, 2019 14:58:16 GMT -5
I mean, Yamada might not have had his heart into the competition anymore and wasn't really trying, but I still find it improbable that he got a letter from a dying kid begging for him to clear Stage 1, and he didn't feel the SLIGHTEST motivation to do better, didn't have even a twinge of sympathy and extra pressure to put out a good performance. He's a man, not a machine. He admitted in 28 that he hadn't trained for the show in several years (and it showed given his weight gain during this time). All of these events for television are usually recorded after the event has happened (especially for those who did well in the tournament and they had to rush to get some footage of the no-name person passing stage 1). This one in particular was most likely told to him just before he arrived. Remember this is during the M9 era and they kept him around for the Schadenfreude. Besides, despite what they knew about him as a person, the average viewer (especially kids and foreigners) still liked him. He was still a popular person despite his decline on the course itself. Given that Katsumi had not being training the result was still the same and sadly the persona was still the same. He was quite bitter around this time and most of the antics that he's known for behind the scenes was in full display. I believe I've already said that I don't question the kids pure intent.. I question his. Anything that gave him press was good for him and for his persona on television. The guy was a real a-hole during this timeframe. Weight gain? |
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Post by TCM on Mar 12, 2019 13:44:50 GMT -5
He admitted in 28 that he hadn't trained for the show in several years (and it showed given his weight gain during this time). All of these events for television are usually recorded after the event has happened (especially for those who did well in the tournament and they had to rush to get some footage of the no-name person passing stage 1). This one in particular was most likely told to him just before he arrived. Remember this is during the M9 era and they kept him around for the Schadenfreude. Besides, despite what they knew about him as a person, the average viewer (especially kids and foreigners) still liked him. He was still a popular person despite his decline on the course itself. Given that Katsumi had not being training the result was still the same and sadly the persona was still the same. He was quite bitter around this time and most of the antics that he's known for behind the scenes was in full display. I believe I've already said that I don't question the kids pure intent.. I question his. Anything that gave him press was good for him and for his persona on television. The guy was a real a-hole during this timeframe. Weight gain? He never ballooned massively, but you can tell in older tournaments he looked a little more defined. Looking at say, 22, he's still in better shape than an average 43 year old, but definitely was coasting body wise. I remember in at least one tournament noted a bit of weight loss for him. |
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Post by kunnai56 on Mar 13, 2019 12:01:04 GMT -5
He admitted in 28 that he hadn't trained for the show in several years (and it showed given his weight gain during this time). All of these events for television are usually recorded after the event has happened (especially for those who did well in the tournament and they had to rush to get some footage of the no-name person passing stage 1). This one in particular was most likely told to him just before he arrived. Remember this is during the M9 era and they kept him around for the Schadenfreude. Besides, despite what they knew about him as a person, the average viewer (especially kids and foreigners) still liked him. He was still a popular person despite his decline on the course itself. Given that Katsumi had not being training the result was still the same and sadly the persona was still the same. He was quite bitter around this time and most of the antics that he's known for behind the scenes was in full display. I believe I've already said that I don't question the kids pure intent.. I question his. Anything that gave him press was good for him and for his persona on television. The guy was a real a-hole during this timeframe. I don't deny the fact that he probably hadn't been training for the show, and that he acted in very poor taste to other competitors and the show behind the scenes, but I still find it unlikely that he was such a big a-hole that he got a letter telling him that a dying kid's wish was for him to pass Stage 1, and that he just didn't care or feel even slightly bad, slightly more motivated, that his sole motive was just more inflated TV persona. Heck, by your own logic, it was pretty common knowledge that he wasn't in the best shape and that he had some backstage antics going on, so it wasn't like he still had a sterling reputation, at least among older viewers. All I'm saying is, it may be slightly harsh to basically deem Yamada emotionless and lacking in any sympathy, no matter what he did or has done. |
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Post by TCM on Mar 13, 2019 17:37:47 GMT -5
He admitted in 28 that he hadn't trained for the show in several years (and it showed given his weight gain during this time). All of these events for television are usually recorded after the event has happened (especially for those who did well in the tournament and they had to rush to get some footage of the no-name person passing stage 1). This one in particular was most likely told to him just before he arrived. Remember this is during the M9 era and they kept him around for the Schadenfreude. Besides, despite what they knew about him as a person, the average viewer (especially kids and foreigners) still liked him. He was still a popular person despite his decline on the course itself. Given that Katsumi had not being training the result was still the same and sadly the persona was still the same. He was quite bitter around this time and most of the antics that he's known for behind the scenes was in full display. I believe I've already said that I don't question the kids pure intent.. I question his. Anything that gave him press was good for him and for his persona on television. The guy was a real a-hole during this timeframe. I don't deny the fact that he probably hadn't been training for the show, and that he acted in very poor taste to other competitors and the show behind the scenes, but I still find it unlikely that he was such a big a-hole that he got a letter telling him that a dying kid's wish was for him to pass Stage 1, and that he just didn't care or feel even slightly bad, slightly more motivated, that his sole motive was just more inflated TV persona. Heck, by your own logic, it was pretty common knowledge that he wasn't in the best shape and that he had some backstage antics going on, so it wasn't like he still had a sterling reputation, at least among older viewers. All I'm saying is, it may be slightly harsh to basically deem Yamada emotionless and lacking in any sympathy, no matter what he did or has done. Yamada said on the sasukerising YouTube channel admitted he saw guys like Nagano, Akiyama and Takeda fellows yet enemies at the same time, and it took him a while to not have that mentality anymore. It was that very chip on his shoulder that was the bulk of his motivation. Why would a small child know about the behind the scenes of a TV show? The idea of a figure being popular with kids yet being insufferable to deal with is not a peculiar concept. One would hope receiving such a request from a child like that would get someone off of their behind and whip them back into shape, but Yamada wasn't one of those people. I don't think he was deliberately like 'screw that kid' because even 43 year old, haven't cleared in 5 years Yamada had enough of a TV reputation to get such a letter. But I think during that time, he was coasting for sure. There's a reason his family went from being shown here and there, and him even bringing good luck trinkets and photos of them to nothing but himself and his house. Lest we forget him directly trying to delegitimize Yuuji's first win because of the shoes he wore. That was around the same time. Or the fact whatever stunt he pulled during SASUKE 30 that got him cut and banned as a competitor (the only reason he was allowed to compete in 33 was because of the special occasion of it being 20 years since the show aired). He patched up issues with Akiyama well before any of this, but his overall reflective attitude of his today is only a few years old at best. |
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Post by arsenette on Mar 13, 2019 22:56:28 GMT -5
That's why I said I didn't question the kid's motivation but I questioned his. He's an a-hole. Still is. The only difference is that he goes on his own away from everyone because no one wants to deal with him. Not even the All-Stars do on set. His own family disowned him, his kids don't talk to him and his wife won't go on camera with him (though that is its own thing). Sure the kid won't know any of that but that doesn't dissolve his action especially 10 years ago. Sasuke 22 was a decade ago during M9's reign and by this point Yamada had not apologized for ANYTHING.
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Post by SasukeBanzukeNo1 (Moon12) on Apr 26, 2019 4:42:39 GMT -5
Within the pantheon of ninja runs throughout history, several come to mind that surely must've entailed overwhelming expectations and pressure for the competitor involved. Nagano in 32. Geoff in ANW 8. Morimoto's live Final Stage attempt. But one run, high-pressure for a different reason, rarely gets mentioned... In 22, Yamada gets a letter from (I'm guessing) what could be Japan's version of Make a Wish, who had a life threatening illness which has thankfully since been recovered from. This kid's request? For Yamada to clear Stage 1. Now can we please just appreciate the IMPOSSIBLE odds against Yamada here? He was well into his Stage 1 fail streak by this point, having fallen 8 times in a row despite coming very close to clearing in 16 and 18, getting to the final climb both times. The course was getting harder and Yamada was getting older and more mentally blocked every single tournament. Him clearing wasn't impossible but improbable, and getting less likely all the time. And then this request comes in and essentially demands that he HAS to clear Stage 1... there's no alternative and no excuse... it's a dying kid, he HAS to clear. Just wanna give the dude a pat on the back here. Whatever you think of him, failing there on the Jumping Spider must've weighed heavily on him and I don't blame him AT ALL. Anyone else have thoughts on this? Was this even a genuine thing? I couldn't agree with you more. I mean, he has failed that Jumping Spider once before that (SASUKE 19), which was only three tournaments ago from 22. He already gets enough pressure of proving that he was given the nickname Mr. Sasuke for a reason (even though the nickname was given to Nagano the tournament after, but still). And as much as I felt extremely bad for the very ill kid, especially when his wish didn't come true, in the end, he was still asking for a miracle--something that seemed far too unlikely to happen given Yamada's history. Those who despise Yamada because of that, it's like saying that he was the one who gave the kid the disease to begin with! Yes, we all know he's a real pain in the a** in real life, but with that being said, it's really unnecessary to put the blame on someone that we all still knew he was going to fall at least short of finally conquering stage 1 after failing 8 consecutive times before. |
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