Sasuke, also known as “Ninja Warrior”, is a renowned obstacle course challenge known for its grueling physical demands popularized by a Japanese reality television show of the same name. The sport has captured many hearts globally, and is planned to be officially included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Recently, I had the chance to take on the Sasuke obstacle course here in Kikuchi, Kumamoto, along with some of my colleagues Ryo, Ito and Shun, and it was an adventure worth sharing!

Survive Athletic Park at Kikuchi Mizunoeki

Located on the way to Kikuchi Gorge, “Survive Athletic Park” at Kikuchi Mizunoeki offers an experience similar to the popular TV show. I couldn’t wait to give it a try!

 

After completing the registration, the owner briefed me on how to wear the elbow and knee pads and emphasized: “I cannot emphasize enough—don’t skimp on the warm-up exercises! You could end up really hurting a muscle.”

The importance of a proper warm-up was stressed before gearing up for the actual experience!

With helmets on, we finally got started!

Practice Course Challenge

Before attempting Stage 1, let’s warm up on the practice course here.

At first glance, it looked like playground equipment. We were all hoping to clear the course easily.

My friend Shun went first.

However, the reality was quite different. We failed miserably at the practice tasks. Even a young schoolgirl tried to show us how, yet we couldn’t manage it.

Shun couldn’t clear the practice course!

Yamada followed… but didn’t make it either.

Ito… also failed. Finally, it was Ryo’s turn.

If Ryo couldn’t make it, it would mean that none of us could even get past the practice level.

But then—SAVED!!!

Ryo: “This… was supposed to be just a warm-up…”

 

He mumbled something along those lines, but the applause for Ryo was incredible, filled with cheers of “amazing!!”

Moving onto Stage 1

Despite only one of us clearing the practice run, we pulled ourselves together and moved onto Stage 1. The owner explained the next challenge.

Owner：”Just jump here, grab with your feet and spin around. Don’t overthink it”

It seemed anything but simple. The difference between watching and doing was stark, but undeterred, we pressed on.

First up was Shun.

He managed to cross the poles easily.

The real challenge was the mysterious rope. The task was to grab the first rope and use the momentum to hook a foot on the net…

But grabbing the rope was a feat in itself.

Impossible.

Absolutely flopped.

Ito: “Wearing gloves makes you slip!”

Despite anticipating another total failure, suddenly—

He did it!!!!

After skillfully changing direction in mid-air, he landed!

Yamada: “Seriously awesome!”

Shun: “Incredible!”

It was followed by this:

It’s surprisingly scary to advance while rolling a drum barrel behind you.

He cleared it effortlessly.

Vans: The Must-Have Shoes for Sasuke

And then it was time…

A double incline! The owner had warned us beforehand.

“Normal shoes are slippery, so I recommend Vans if you’re taking on the Sasuke obstacle course.”

Despite hearing this advice, Ryo showed up in running shoes.

And boy did they slip!

Thankfully, our cameraman had heeded the owner’s advice and wore Vans, so they switched shoes.

The result?

The unmatched grip of Vans.

He even cleared the Warped Wall with ease.

Vans! Vans!! 

Yamada: “Vans are incredible!!!” 

Ryo: “No, the incredible one is me! Someone praises me!” 

Ito: “I’m going to try without Vans anyway!”

Little did we know the brute forcing here would lead to trouble down the road.

Ultimately, only Ryo and Ito conquered Stage 1.

The clumsy duo kept falling every time I looked away.

Stage 2

Next up, Stage 2. According to the owner, the youngest person to clear it was a third-grade girl.

“Stage 1 drains your stamina, Stage 2 pushes you to the limit, and Stage 3 is where your muscles are almost put on life support,” said the owner with a serious face.

The rest of the obstacle course from now on could apparently lead to serious injuries, so the briefing was particularly intense.

Yamada’s pre-visualization was more thorough than anyone else’s.

Starting with the Sliding Pipe, first up was Yamada.

Ignoring the scoffs from the sidelines questioning his sanity since he hadn’t cleared Stage 1,

Yamada: “ I can do this! I feel like I have a good affinity with the Sliding Pipe!”

Affinity, huh?

Next was Ito.

He strains and strains, and…

Ito: “Yesss, I made it!”

 

Simply swinging your body isn’t enough to move forward. It’s all about balancing on the pipe and using your abs to maintain control.

Now it’s Ryo’s turn.

“Oomph!”

He cleared it flawlessly.

Things Get Serious

Next is this one. The one where you have to move like Spider-Man.

Interestingly, the ropes are strung with bells, and you must advance without making a sound.

 “If by chance, a bell rings, a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do,”

Ryo began visualizing intensely.

What’s with these two?

Adopting deadpan facial expressions reminiscent of a television documentary presenter, they speedily climbed up the wall like ninjas.

Then on to the next stage, where they battled through pain that felt like it might shatter their finger joints.

And finally, the Warped Wall loomed large.

A Big Incident at the Warped Wall

Ryo kept pressing on, making firm steps with the borrowed Vans, until finally…

Cleared it!!!!! 

Ito: “I can’t lose now!”

Ito went for it.

He sliiipped…

Ito: “My foot hurts.”
Ito, suffering a foot injury, dropped out in frustration. Despite all the emphasis on proper warm-ups, his carelessness had cost him.

Concluding that Stage 3 would be impossible anyway, we called it quits.

The Cost of Trying too Hard

On the way back, Ito kept complaining of foot pain. Deciding to get it checked out, the diagnosis was a torn calf muscle. 

Ito: “Ah… why did it tear apart… I want to go back to the way it was…”

 

He sounded like someone going through a breakup. But don’t worry, Ito is doing fine. If you go, please just remember not to overdo it!

Survive Athletic Park