Trivia

The show originally began airing in Japan in late 1997 under the name SASUKE (1997), but was not broadcast in the United States until nine and a half years later, starting in February 2007. It consists of four stages which the competitors must complete. Each special is broadcast (in Japan) as a three hour event, broadcast in half hour segments. In the United States, the specials are heavily edited down, creating three or four 30 minute episodes for each season's competition.