A Race Through Japan Leaves the Father-Son Team Out in the Cold (Mud)

Our teams ended the last leg in the Australian Outback in the mining town of Broken Hill. Not much of a Pit Stop, because they immediately board a train for an overnight trip to Sydney. The teams will leave the station as they would the Pit Stop, with first-place Zev & Justin finding out they are to fly to Tokyo, Japan. They must then find a parking garage with a clue box. Justin remembers his last Amazing Race trip to Japan, having to eat a Wasabi roll. The Globetrotters and Cowboys are on the next train, although Jen & Kisha should have made that train too (tsk, tsk, can’t lollygag around, ladies!) Margie & Luke decide to go to a travel agency at the train station, and Mel & Mike join them. Mel says that every hour he gets to stay in one place makes him stronger. “I’m old, but we can make it.” Kynt is wearing a cowboy hat today, to show that Jet & Cord “aren’t the only ones that can rock a cowboy hat.” They’ll be checking Travelocity (how nice to mention one of the sponsors!) Jaime & Cara hit the travel agency, and Gary & Mallory take off for the airport. Ron & Christina are excited to be going to Tokyo, with Christina telling us that she’s engaged to Azaria, who she met on Season 12 (he raced with his sister and they placed 6th). In the taxi, Zev & Justin discuss that the Globetrotters and Cowboys are right behind them, and Zev says they need “a cool name. We’re the special kids.”

Mel & Mike find a flight that lands 15 minutes earlier than the one Margie & Luke are looking at, but it stops in Hong Kong. The teams will have 3 hours to make the connection in Hong Kong. At the airport, Flight Time & Big Easy catch up with Zev & Justin at a free internet kiosk and find out the same thing. Mel is a little apprehensive about booking the flight through Hong Kong, as is Justin, who says “what’s 15 minutes in the grand scheme of things?” Jet & Cord grab the direct flight, as do Jen & Kisha. It seems none of the teams are willing to take the flight that stops in Hong Kong - until we see Kynt & Vyxsin and Jaime & Cara doing exactly that. After some debate at the travel agency, Margie & Luke and Mel & Mike decide to try it as well, with Mel saying he’s thinking it’s a bad idea. The “Special Kids” and Globetrotters check with a travel agent to research the earlier-landing flight a little more, and find out there are only two seats left on it. Big Easy tells them to take it, because “we owe you one, remember?” Justin is still not sure it’s the best idea.

Landing in Hong Kong, the pilot announces that there will be a delay because there’s a problem with the engine that needs fixing. (I thought they were going to change planes - obviously not). They have a 3-hour window, so hopefully that’s enough time....

The straight-through flight lands first (so much for 15 minutes!) The clue at the parking garage tells them to drive themselves to Kamakura, locate the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, and go to the Yabusame Dojo for the next clue. The cars in the garage are on some kind of conveyor belts and they press a button to get their car to their level. Big Easy & Flight Time press their button for their car, and Jen & Kisha press theirs right after, and it ended up that the conveyor stopped at the girls’ car first. It’s a pretty small car, and Big Easy is scrunched in the driver’s seat. We find out the “first” flight landed an hour and a half after the one that landed at 6:15 a.m.

Kisha & Jen, Gary & Mallory and the Globetrotters are driving and have to stop because everyone is lost. Despite his snarky attitude and slow driving, Ron & Christina get to the Shrine - and the clue box - first. The clue is a Roadblock. The team member will have to find out if they are truly “arrow-dynamic.” They must dress as Samurai and learn to perform a Yabusame ritual and techniques for shooting an arrow from atop a wooden horse. They will learn the ritual (which looks like a karate kata, or form) and then will sit on a wooden horse and have to shoot arrows at a target as they are being spun in a circle. They get a clue once they hit a target.

Ron is going to attempt the task, but he’s already complaining that “I don’t have great eyesight. My daughter has better eyesight.” Gary will also attempt the task of doing a thousand-year-old ritual, because “I was born a thousand years ago.” Flight Time and Jen will try it as well.

The other 5 teams are driving through town and seem to be lost, too, and pull over to discuss their location and route. Back at the Dojo, Ron is having major problems with his form, saying the judges were being too strict, and none of the other folks are getting it either. Jen mentions that they are very “detail-oriented.” Zev & Justin show up and Justin will attempt the task.

Jen tells us she’s into detail also, and not only performs the form correctly, but hits her target on the first arrow. Their next clue tells the sisters to drive to Minami-Ashigara and look for the Diutsan Railway Station and locate the Kintaro Statue (a child riding on a bear) for their next clue. Justin and then Gary get through the task next and take off, and we see Kynt & Vyxsin, Mel & Mike and Margie & Luke arrive at the Dojo. Kynt, Luke and Mike will do the task. Kynt loves the Samurai outfit. Ron finally manages to get his form right and sounds like a wounded loon as he shoots his arrow and hits the target. Jet & Cord finally find the Shrine and Jet volunteers to try this task (especially after how wonderfully Cord did the last one). We see Jaime & Cara driving through town and Cara tells driver Jaime to move over a little, she seems to be hugging the left side of the road a bit too much. Next thing we know, their car smacks into something which turns out to be someone’s mirror. They offer to pay for the mirror (which only has a little chip out of the bottom and no mirrow) but the man wants to call the police - plus, the language barrier doesn’t help any either. The police show up and there’s no mention that anyone got a ticket, and after a “long time” Jaime & Cara finally get back on the road.

Zev & Justin and Gary & Mallory find the railway station (and it looks to be by accident) and get to the clue, which is a Detour. Phil tells us that the Japanese have many traditional rituals, with some having religious significance and others are “just for fun.” The two choices are Prayer of Purity or Frog of Life. For Purity, they will take part in a Shinto religious cleansing ritual by putting on proper clothing (which looks like a karate gi, or uniform) and learn not only the verbal prayer, but the physical part of it too. They will then have to stand underneath a waterfall that comes from the melting snow of Mt. Fuji - in 45-degree water - for one minute. In Frog, teams will have to strip down and go into a huge mud pit and search for a frog (not a real one) as onlookers pelt them with mud.

Zev & Justin and Gary & Mallory are off to the mud pits, while the Globetrotters and Ron & Christina will attempt the Prayer of Purity. Kisha & Jen finally get there and decide to search for the frog also. Jaime & Cara make it to the Shrine and Cara will attempt the Yabusame ritual and apologizes to the woman dressing her, saying “sorry if I smell.” Luke and Cord finish their task, and Kynt and Mike finish shortly after.

At the mud pit, Zev & Justin and Gary & Mallory hit the tents to change into their outfits. They’re laughing about wearing their underwear “with a diaper and a headband.” Zev says they look like “very skinny sumo wrestlers.” (I just love Zev. He’s got a quick wit and funny self-effacing humor. The autism he’s stuck with is obviously liveable...) Zev says “let’s find this frog and then eat its legs for good luck.” It does look like fun slopping around in the mud!

At the Shinto ceremony, the Globetrotters seem to get the wording right (I guess, none of them are making a whole lot of sense to me) and are allowed to attempt the physical part. They have to do what looks like another type of form with a bo, which is a stick about 6 feet long and maybe an inch or two in diameter, and kiai (yell) while doing it. (I studied martial arts for 8 years and the kiai is the best part. It’s called “spirit-letting” and is a great way to release frustration and get you moving again). Ron asks Christina if she has their backpack, meaning there will be something about that later.....

Zev & Justin find the frog and Justin does a muddy chest bump on the nice, clean Grand Master after they get their clue. (If I’m the Grand Master Justin is lucky to leave without broken legs!) The clue tells them to drive to Kurihama and find the landmark commemorating the landing of Commander Matthew Perry, which is the Pit Stop. Gary finds the frog and gets their clue from the now cleaned up Grand Master. As Mallory races off, she tells the locals “you’re gonna see a couple of redheads in these outfits and they’re gonna look good, don’t worry.” Zev & Justin spray each other off with hoses, and Justin didn’t want to take the time to put on pants. Zev tells us in an interview “he was wearing underwear. I’m not wearing any underwear.” Justin asks him “now?” Zev says “yeah.” Justin: “that’s hot.” (Okay, best buddies or ... what?) Kisha & Jen run out complaining that it’s freezing, and Jen tells us “it’s 30 degrees outside and I’m wearing a diaper.” Crawling through the mud, Kisha remarks “I guess I’ll remember to keep my mouth shut.”

Mel & Mike and Kynt & Vyxsin will try the Frog as well, and Jaime finally manages to shoot her arrow. Flight Time & Big Easy are in the cold water finishing their ritual, and as they try and leave the water, Big Easy falls down, and starts yelling “I want my mama! I want my mama now!” As they leave, they grab their “backpack,” which looks like Ron & Christina’s fanny pack. (Better that than losing it I suppose). Ron & Christina finish with the waterfall and go to get the fanny pack, and finding it gone, start asking the locals if they’d seen it. As Flight Time & Big Easy take off in the car, they talk about leaving the fanny pack inside the changing room, saying “that would not have been great if we’d have grabbed the wrong bag.” (I hope Ron & Christina find it - I’m not fond of Ron, but I’d hate for them to go out because of this). Ron asks if the Globetrotters took it by accident and wants to know why they would make such a stupid mistake.

Back at the mud pit, Kisha is telling us that “I’ve got dirt in places dirt shouldn’t be right now.” She finds the frog and hugs the Grand Master (I’m wondering if this guy is sorry he signed up for this now!) At the changing huts, Ron finds the fanny pack in the room.

Justin & Zev stop for directions and Justin still has no pants on. He says that he’s never talked to strangers in his underwear before. Jet & Cord fly into the mud pit thinking they’re looking for a real frog and want to spot it jumping and were bummed they weren’t live frogs.

Zev & Justin make it to Phil at the Mat in first place and win a trip to Costa Rica. The interview after has them telling us “we’re in it to win it this time” as Justin puts his arm around Zev and Zev says “don’t touch me.”

At the mud pit, Vyxsin finds the frog and Kynt gives the Grand Master “a big muddy hug.” (That poor guy!) As they leave Kynt mentions that his makeup still held up (sounds like a good opportunity for a commercial for whatever makeup he uses). Margie finds the frog as Gary & Mallory get to the Mat in second place, followed by Flight Time & Big Easy.

Jaime & Cara are racing to the mud pit where Mel & Mike are still looking for the frog and freezing. Mike wants to quit but Mel is pushing on. Ron & Christina get to the Mat in fourth and she tells Phil that the Globetrotters took their fanny pack, and had they taken it by mistake they should have returned it to the original spot, because it caused them a big delay. Phil tells them because the Globetrotters took their fanny pack, he would give them a 30-minute penalty and Ron & Christina were now in third place. Kisha & Jen then end up in fourth place, moving the Globetrotters to fifth. Jet & Cord get sixth.

At the mud pit, Mike is shaking and Mel is still going at it, and they end up in a medical van to warm up. Jamie & Cara show up and start sloshing around in the mud. Kynt & Vyxsin make it to the Mat (Kynt says “I’m still freezing”) and Margie & Luke are happy to find out they’re in eighth place. Jaime & Cara find their frog as Mel & Mike sit in the van, and Mike is till shaking uncontrollably. Jaime & Cara are sure they’re in last place, getting to the Mat and announcing for Phil that “you are the last team to arrive and you have been eliminated.” He tells them they are incorrect and in ninth place.

Mel & Mike make it to the mat and are eliminated, and Mike tells Phil he loved the experience of being able to run the Race twice. Mel says it’s brought them closer together and that’s the best part.

So here’s our order of finish:

1 - Zev & Justin
2 - Gary & Mallory
3 - Ron & Christina
4 - Kisha & Jen
5 - Flight Time & Big Easy
6 - Jet & Cord
7 - Kynt & Vyxsin
8 - Margie & Luke
9 - Jaime & Cara
10 - Mel & Mike (eliminated)

So what will the Globetrotters’ reaction be when they find out about their penalty? Previews tell us that next week “Ron comes unglued.” That was just a matter of time