SASUKE is a sports variety special spun off from Kinniku Banzuke; it was part of Kinniku Banzuke until its cancellation in 2002. SASUKE airs between Japanese television drama seasons, approximately two competitions per year. Edited versions of SASUKE air around the world in countries such as Taiwan, the United States (where it is titled Ninja Warrior), Great Britain (also titled Ninja Warrior), France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Greece (titled by the original name SASUKE), Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Serbia.

Contestants go through what is dubbed 'The world's toughest obstacle course' Which test their speed, strength, stamina and determination. Each competition is divided into 4 stages, where participants will only proceed to the next stage if they finished the previous stage. The first stage is a general timed obstacle course. The second stage is somewhat difficult. The third stage is where it gets really tough. It requires ridiculous amounts of upper body strength and stamina. And the last stage is a race against the clock to climb the Sasuke tower after taking all the punishment from stage 3.

The Japanese Sasuke has been held 29 times with only 3 people ever achieving total victory (kanzen seiha). They are Akiyama Kazuhiko (crab fisherman, Sasuke 4), Nagano Makoto (fisherman, Sasuke 17) and Urushihara Yuuji (shoe salesman, Sasuke 24 & 27) I think this is what appeals to most people about Sasuke; anybody can win. All 3 kanzen seihashas are regular people whose jobs have nothing to do with fitness.