SASUKE

This has to be one of my favourite shows on television these days, its got everything; action, drama, humour, Makoto Nagano and that other guy, you know the one i mean, always wears a petrol station uniform.

Anyway, the show consists of 4 rounds, each more dastardly than the last. Contestants face a barrage of fearsome obstacles such as the warped wall, the cliffhanger, the pipe slider and lastly their own incompetence. Unless that is, your name is Makoto Nagano.

While each round is difficult, stage 3 in particular separates the ninja warriors from the octopus men. Few have prevailed, and even fewer have went on to achieve total victory. Just ask Katsumi Yamada, the man who redefined the term 'runner up'. Despite never achieving total victory, he devoted his life to conquering the course, and eventually earned himself the title of 'Mr Sasuke', the uncrowned king of ninja warrior.

So watch this show if you enjoy watching athletes at the top of their game, performing stunts that wouldn't be out of place in a 1980's Jackie Chan movie. Alternatively, if you wanna catch a glimpse of the rare and illusive octopus man, this is perhaps the only place to see it.