This guy is a fisherman in Kagoshima and does most of his training in his free time by climbing around the boat (supposedly). He got to the final stage about five years ago and then didn't get back until last year, where he cleared it. So this year, they re-did the whole course (except the final stage) specifically to beat this guy. I've got a spoiler at the end of this comment explaining what happened, so if you want to be in suspense watch the vids first please.
BTW, in the renewed first stage, five people got injured this year, including two dislocations and one guy got a complicated fracture in his leg from dropping off the rope in the very beginning.
As for Nagano, he got DQed on the Cliffhanger because he grabbed the top of the last part instead of just grabbing the ledge. Two other guys besides him made it to the third stage and they all dropped out at the exact same spot.
Comments
1) this guy is my hero
2) American television is sorely lacking in this sort of compelling human drama
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BTW, in the renewed first stage, five people got injured this year, including two dislocations and one guy got a complicated fracture in his leg from dropping off the rope in the very beginning.
As for Nagano, he got DQed on the Cliffhanger because he grabbed the top of the last part instead of just grabbing the ledge. Two other guys besides him made it to the third stage and they all dropped out at the exact same spot.