00:00Welcome to Japan's legendary Temple of Champions, where athletes gather to face the most difficult
00:14challenges ever conceived. Testing balance, endurance, and sheer strength, competitors
00:22have one goal, beat the course. But victory is elusive, and the only constant is the bitter
00:30taste of defeat. This is the ultimate competition of man versus obstacle. Who will top the unbeatable
00:39Batsuke?
00:52In this challenge, competitors must cross nine levels of increasing difficulty, all while riding on a pogo stick.
01:20Competitors start up the steps, and then work their way down the zig-zag path. Next, they'll have to hop
01:26across the mushrooms, and then the bushes, and then cross the narrow bridge, all before reaching the
01:32break zone. After a 30-second rest, competitors need to jump through the checkerboard, dodge the falling
01:38stones, and navigate the neon grid. Finally, they must survive the broken bridge to complete the
01:44course. Time is a factor, so competitors will need to hop to it. Who will be jump for joy, and who's
01:51in for a spring-loaded fall?
02:15The next challenger is Kazuma Harada. This 11-year-old has trained diligently to master the pogo stick.
02:23He even uses it as transportation when shopping for groceries. But kangaroo is a far cry from a casual
02:30trip to the supermarket. Can Kazuma Harada be the first to conquer the course?
02:44Kazuma Harada, 11 years old.
03:08Harada's training was evident, and the young competitor looked solid on the course.
03:13But in this event, every hop must be perfect, and Harada clipped a hurdle and tumbled out of contention.
03:21Next at the starting gate is young Shotaro Morimoto. At 6 years old, and with only 4 months of pogo
03:28experience, Shotaro is hoping that what he lacks in skill, he can make up for with determination.
03:43Shotaro Morimoto, 11 years old.
04:13Shotaro Morimoto, 11 years old.
04:15Shotaro Morimoto, 11 years old.
04:18Shotaro Morimoto, 11 years old.
04:38Shotaro proved that determination can only take you so far, as his skills came up short on the narrow bridge.
04:47The final competitor is 19-year-old college student and self-proclaimed kangaroo fanatic, Ryo Yazaki.
04:53Can this event's biggest fan hop all the way to the finish?
05:17Shotaro Morimoto, 11 years old.
05:47Shotaro Morimoto, 11 years old.
06:17Shotaro Morimoto, 11 years old.
06:29Kangaroo requires competitors to have perfect control of their pogo stick, because one wrong hop could result in one painful fall.
06:37Today, eager challengers took on the course, but none had the skills needed to endure the entire gauntlet.
06:47Shotaro Morimoto, 11 years old.
07:05When unbeatable Banzuke returns, Whelan and Deelan has never looked so dangerous.
07:18Welcome back to Muscle Banzuke.
07:20In order to remain on the champion's list, the athletes are fighting bravely.
07:25In the second event, balance and focus are required.
07:29And there is only one wheel on the bike.
07:33And that is...
07:37Like a Pierrot!
07:39In this challenging course, competitors are required to overcome nine different obstacles while riding a unicycle.
07:45First, a slalom course.
07:47Then, the unicyclers must ascend and descend a steeply sloped hill, followed by the zigzag bridge.
07:53Next, they must navigate the corner staircase, cross a series of spring platforms, and avoid the swinging pendulum.
08:00Then, they will be asked to jump across a gap and climb the final staircase.
08:04Ultimately, they must cross the grooved bridge to reach the finish line.
08:08Does anyone have what it takes to wheel and deal their way to victory?
08:16Good luck!
08:2029-year-old Takanobu Matsu.
08:22He has a 19-year history of unicycling.
08:25He has won many competitions and has a long career.
08:37His speed has slowed down a bit, but he has regained his speed.
08:43Takanobu Matsu has a 19-year history of unicycling.
08:46He has managed to climb the hill.
08:49And he has managed to hold on to the saddle.
08:56The next challenger is Seiji Ishii.
08:59Everyone in his family rides a unicycle.
09:01Will he add another award to his impressive collection?
09:12Seiji!
09:13Seiji, calm down!
09:15Seiji!
09:16Seiji!
09:17Seiji!
09:18Seiji!
09:19Seiji!
09:20Seiji!
09:21Seiji!
09:22Seiji!
09:23Seiji!
09:24Seiji!
09:25Seiji!
09:26Seiji!
09:27Seiji!
09:28Seiji!
09:29Seiji!
09:30Seiji!
09:31Seiji!
09:32Seiji!
09:33Seiji!
09:34Seiji!
09:35Seiji!
09:36Seiji!
09:37Seiji!
09:38Seiji!
09:39Seiji!
09:40Seiji!
09:42Seiji!
09:43Seiji!
09:44Seiji!
09:47Seiji!
09:48Seiji!
09:49Seiji!
09:50Seiji!
09:51Seiji!
09:58Seiji Ishii survived the L-shaped bridge.
10:01Then, figuring he had victory in the bag, he raised his right hand.
10:05It was all downhill from there.
10:08Up next is Yuichi Ono. He is the three-time Japanese champion and world record holder in unicycle sprinting, but does he stand a chance against this brutal course?
10:38Up next is Yuichi Ono. He is the three-time Japanese champion and world record holder in unicycle sprinting, but does he stand a chance against this brutal course?
11:08Up next is Yuichi Ono. He is the three-time Japanese champion and world record holder in unicycle sprinting, but does he stand a chance against this brutal course?
11:38Up next is Yuichi Ono. He is the three-time Japanese champion and world record holder in unicycle sprinting, but does he stand a chance against this brutal course?
12:08In Laica Pierrot, even the smallest slip-up means instant failure. Many tried, but only one competitor rolled across the finish line.
12:29Yuichi Ono blazed through every obstacle while hardly breaking a sweat. The world record holder has now earned a place on the Banzuke, the list of champions.
12:40Yuichi Ono has continued to face all kinds of challenges. He has left his name in history.
12:47There are still more challenges to come, and a new champion may appear.
13:10Welcome back to the Banzuke. Our blood is boiling and we want to win.
13:16Now, let's take a look at the last event.
13:24Daruma 7
13:26In this challenge, a Daruma is balanced precariously atop identical blocks. Competitors must swing a hammer to knock each block free from the bottom up, but they'll need to plan carefully.
13:37If the Daruma topples, then the game is over.
14:07The next competitors are high school students. 15-year-old Emi Ishikawa and her advisor, Makiko Doi.
14:37Next up is Noriaki Horikoshi, age 24. He is Japan's leading weightlifter and competed in both the Barcelona and Atlanta Olympics. Horikoshi can lift more than 650 pounds. Will he be more than a match for the Daruma?
15:07The first attempt is a success!
15:17He has stepped on a big stage called the Olympics, but he is still nervous at first.
15:28This is also a little unfair.
15:37This is more of a one-on-one than a one-on-one. Noriaki Horikoshi is showing off his strength.
15:44If a muscular Kongo appears in this world, then this is what weightlifting is all about.
15:50The Olympic representative, Noriaki Horikoshi.
15:56There is no one who can beat him in terms of strength.
16:00This also went well!
16:03But his opponent, Kongo, has not come all the way to the bottom.
16:09This is the 4th attempt.
16:25He has held on! Kongo has held on!
16:29This is Horikoshi, who has competed with the greatest men in the world.
16:39After removing the 4th block, Horikoshi left the Daruma hanging by a thread.
16:44Not even the tenacious weightlifter could overcome that.
16:51Coming up, the Daruma looked precariously balanced as always.
16:55But Horikoshi removed 4 blocks. Can anyone make it to 5?
17:26Now at bat is Hideyasu Kawai and his co-worker Shoji Kaneko.
17:31These corporate hotshots are looking to promote themselves to Daruma 7 VIPs.
17:36Instead of relying solely on his arms, he is using the rotation of his waist to hit the Daruma with all his strength.
17:48This is the dead one!
17:50How is it?
17:51The first attempt was a success.
17:54However, as you can see, the 7th block is large and slanted to the side.
17:59This makes the 2nd attempt even more difficult.
18:04It's a tornado! It's a tornado! It's slanted!
18:07Kawai may consider batting lessons, as his funky swing led to defeat on only the 2nd block.
18:15Next is Yasuo Sasai, age 57.
18:19Can this metal worker be the first to conquer the Daruma 7 challenge?
18:49Let's see how he does it.
18:53And another one!
18:56The youngster wants to learn from him.
19:00He has 32 years of experience in bowling.
19:02Is he going for another hit?
19:04No, he's going for a double.
19:07Sasai's strategy is unreadable.
19:11He's going for it!
19:15Right under Kongo.
19:18As the number of hits decreases, the weight of the ball changes.
19:23A double!
19:25Not all downswings are good.
19:27Upperswings can also change the ball.
19:30Kongo fell!
19:34This is frustrating!
19:37The Daruma 7 challenge is more difficult than it looks.
19:40Many challengers have won the hammer, but no one has broken all 7 blocks.
19:47Therefore, our event is over.
19:51Let's check the scores.
19:55In Kangaroo, competitors hopped into action, hoping to reach the finish line.
20:00However, only one competitor could even get as far as the break zone.
20:05In Daruma 7, no one could solve the entire puzzle.
20:10Olympic weightlifter Noriaki Horikoshi put forth the best effort.
20:14However, after 4 blocks were cleared, the tower came tumbling down.
20:19No new champions will add their names to the list for this event.
20:24In Like a Pierrot, only one athlete managed to survive the full course.
20:29Yuichi Ono wheeled to the finish in record time,
20:32and he will find his name etched on the list of champions,
20:35alongside previous winner Fuyuki Tsuchiya.
20:38Congratulations, Yuichi Ono!
20:40A true champion not only finds his strength in his body, but also in his heart.
20:46Until next time, this is Kato Keiga.
20:49The door to becoming a champion is sealed.
