Makoto Nagano

{{nihongo|Makoto Nagano|長野誠|Nagano Makoto| born March 30, 1972, in Kitakata, Miyazaki}} (sometimes known as the World's Strongest Fisherman) is a Japanese commercial fisherman,{{Citation needed|date=March 2018}} captain, and musician. He is captain of his vessel {{nihongo|F/V Konpira Maru 50|第50金比羅丸}}, and was previously captain of the {{nihongo|F/V Konpira Maru 28|第28金比羅丸}}. He is regularly seen on the Japanese television show Sasuke (Ninja Warrior) where he was one of the "SASUKE All-Stars," a group of favored competitors who were thought to possess the greatest potential in completing the obstacle courses. He can also be seen on the lesser known spinoff to Ninja Warrior, Viking: The Ultimate Obstacle Course, where he was one of few competitors to make it to the final round.{{Citation needed|date=March 2018}}

Winning in the 17th Sasuke competition (2006) he is the second of only four victors of the competition.[http://www.neatorama.com/2007/01/16/makoto-nagano/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717151023/https://www.neatorama.com/2007/01/16/makoto-nagano/|date=2023-07-17}} April 7, 2007{{cite web |url=http://sasukemania.com/0901120.html |title=Sasuke-究極のサバイバルアタック『Sasuke』サスケオフィシャルサイト |accessdate=2010-01-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102022011/http://sasukemania.com/0901120.html |archivedate=2010-01-02 }}{{cite AV media |title=Yuuji Urushihara does it again |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrWdY38IfTE |via=Youtube |date=11 June 2011 |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 November 2016 |archive-date=6 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506043527/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrWdY38IfTE |url-status=live }} By the time he retired in July 2017, he had competed in 26 versions of Sasuke, and has since competed in a 27th version in 2020.

''Sasuke'' career

=Training=

Nagano spent 300 days a year training on his fishing ship for the Sasuke competitions.

=Retirement=

Leading up to the 32nd competition in 2016, Nagano formally announced his retirement from Sasuke, with his "last run" making up a significant portion of the broadcast and promotional material for the tournament. This involved several gifts from fans and fellow competitors alike, including a "finish" button normally found at the end of the courses. Additionally, a special retirement ceremony was held following his run, concluding with his friends and fellow competitors throwing him into a water pit, mirroring his total victory celebrations in Sasuke 17.{{Citation needed|date=March 2018}}

By the time he retired in July 2017, he had competed in 26 versions of Sasuke.{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/fitness/exercise/here-are-the-only-six-people-to-ever-have-completed-the-final-ninja-warrior-course/news-story/59bcd53a352427777d47ff6efa230c00 |title=Here are the only six people to ever have completed the final Ninja Warrior course |author=Rebecca Sullivan |date=July 27, 2018 |website= |publisher=New.co.AU |access-date= |quote= |archive-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307151044/http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/fitness/exercise/here-are-the-only-six-people-to-ever-have-completed-the-final-ninja-warrior-course/news-story/59bcd53a352427777d47ff6efa230c00 |url-status=live }} As of 2020, he holds the record for reaching the final stage a total of five times.

After retirement, Nagano became a consultant and analyst for the program, appearing on the sidelines in every tournament since. In late 2020, it was announced that he was coming out of retirement to compete in the 38th tournament, his first Sasuke competition in four years.

=Sasuke World Cup 2024=

In 2024, He was selected to competed in Sasuke World Cup 2024 as Team Japan Legend as Captain team alongside Yamamoto Shingo, Katsumi Yamada (Sasuke All stars), Kane Kosugi, and one female in this team from Kunoichi or Women Ninja Warrior is Yuko Mizuno.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

U.S. appearance

In September 2008 Nagano made his first United States appearance at the Chibi-Pa Festival in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Music career

Nagano released his first album, Yujou To Tatakaino Kiseki, in 2011.{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/yujou-to-tatakaino-kiseki/429346666|title=Yujou To Tatakaino Kiseki by Makoto Nagano|date=May 11, 2011|via=music.apple.com}}

''Sasuke'' appearances

This list shows all the competitions Nagano participated in, along with his contestant number, and the stage and obstacle where he was eliminated.

class="wikitable"
Competition !Start position !Obstacle !Stage
7th \|87 \|Failed Warped Wall \|First
8th \|41 \|Failed Warped Wall \|First
9th \|61 \|Failed Pipe Slider \|Third
10th \|999* \|Failed Jump Hang \|First
11th \|96 \|Failed Final Rope \|Final
12th \|100 \|Failed Final Rope (by 0.11 seconds) \|Final
13th \|100 \|Failed Final Rope \|Final
14th \|100 \|Failed Jumping Bars \|Third
15th \|100 \|Failed Metal Spin \|Second
16th \|100 \|Failed Devil's Swing \|Third
17th \|99 \|Total Victory (2.56 seconds to spare) \|Final
18th \|96 \|Disqualified on Shin-Cliff Hanger** \|Third
19th \|100 \|Failed Flying Chute \|First
20th \|2000* \|Failed Downhill Jump \|Second
21st \|100 \|Failed Gliding Ring \|Third
22nd \|100 \|Failed Slider Jump \|First
23rd \|100 \|Failed G-Rope † \|Final
24th \|100 \|Failed Jumping Spider \|First
25th \|99 \|Failed Circle Slider \|First
26th \|99 \|Failed Jumping Spider \|First
27th \|100 \|Failed Ultimate Cliff Hanger \|Third
28th \|100 \|Failed Second Warped Wall \|First
29th \|100 \|Failed Second Warped Wall (injured) \|First
30th \|2999* \|Failed Swap Salmon Ladder \|Second
31st \|98 \|Failed Warped Wall \|First
32nd \|100 \|Failed Lumberjack Climb (Time Out) \|First
38th \|98 \|Failed Dragon Glider \|First
40th \|3998* \|Failed Second Warped Wall (Time Out) \|First
41st \|96 \|Failed Quad Steps \|First
42nd \|98 \|Failed Dragon Glider \|First

class="wikitable"

Competition

!Start position

!Obstacle

!Stage

7th

|87

|Failed Warped Wall

|First

8th

|41

|Failed Warped Wall

|First

9th

|61

|Failed Pipe Slider

|Third

10th

|999*

|Failed Jump Hang

|First

11th

|96

|Failed Final Rope

|Final

12th

|100

|Failed Final Rope (by 0.11 seconds)

|Final

13th

|100

|Failed Final Rope

|Final

14th

|100

|Failed Jumping Bars

|Third

15th

|100

|Failed Metal Spin

|Second

16th

|100

|Failed Devil's Swing

|Third

17th

|99

|Total Victory (2.56 seconds to spare)

|Final

18th

|96

|Disqualified on Shin-Cliff Hanger**

|Third

19th

|100

|Failed Flying Chute

|First

20th

|2000*

|Failed Downhill Jump

|Second

21st

|100

|Failed Gliding Ring

|Third

22nd

|100

|Failed Slider Jump

|First

23rd

|100

|Failed G-Rope †

|Final

24th

|100

|Failed Jumping Spider

|First

25th

|99

|Failed Circle Slider

|First

26th

|99

|Failed Jumping Spider

|First

27th

|100

|Failed Ultimate Cliff Hanger

|Third

28th

|100

|Failed Second Warped Wall

|First

29th

|100

|Failed Second Warped Wall (injured)

|First

30th

|2999*

|Failed Swap Salmon Ladder

|Second

31st

|98

|Failed Warped Wall

|First

32nd

|100

|Failed Lumberjack Climb (Time Out)

|First

38th

|98

|Failed Dragon Glider

|First

40th

|3998*

|Failed Second Warped Wall (Time Out)

|First

41st

|96

|Failed Quad Steps

|First

42nd

|98

|Failed Dragon Glider

|First

† - Nagano failed on the First Stage due to a malfunction on the Slider Jump. Since this was the fault of the course and not Nagano, he was given a second attempt at the First Stage, which would be the first time in Sasuke history that someone had been given a second chance after failing in the same competition. In his second attempt he would complete the First Stage and end up getting all the way to the Final Stage.

* In the 10th Competition, the contestant numbers ranged from 901 to 1000 to show that 1000 competitors have attempted Sasuke. Thus, rather than 99, Nagano's contestant number was 999. Similarly, in the 20th Competition, the numbers ran from 1901 to 2000 to indicate that 2000 competitors have attempted Sasuke{{'s}} First Stage. Nagano's number was 2000 here rather than 100. Then, in the 30th Competition, the numbers went from 2901 to 3000 to indicate that 3000 competitors have attempted Sasuke{{'s}} First Stage, and Nagano's number was 2999 rather than 99. In the 40th competition, the contestant numbers ranged from 3901 to 4000 to make clear that there had now been 4000 competitors that have attempted Sasuke's First stage. Nagano was therefore awarded the number 3998 to compete with instead of 98.

** When Nagano tried to cross the second gap in the redesigned Cliff Hanger, he accidentally grabbed the top frame with his left hand. Rather than continue on with the 3rd Stage, he announced his mistake, gracefully disqualifying himself from the competition. However, in unaired version, the producers asked Nagano to compete again the Third Stage, but Nagano declined it.