Introduction to the “Denpa Shonen” Experiment
In 1998, 22-year-old comedian Nasubi was randomly selected in a public audition to join the extreme reality show Denpa Shonen, produced by Japanese TV producer Toshio Tsuchiya. The show was infamous for its bizarre and harsh challenges, which tested participants’ limits in extreme ways.
Nasubi’s Grueling Experience
Nasubi’s challenge began with him being confined to a small apartment in Japan. The room was barren, with only a pen, a blank postcard, a phone, and a shelf filled with magazines. There was no toilet paper, no food, and no basic necessities. Nasubi was instructed to strip naked, surrender all personal belongings, and rely solely on a lottery system to obtain essentials. He could only leave the room after winning a prize worth 1 million yen.
At that time, Japan was experiencing an economic downturn, and prize lotteries were a popular trend. Many people were curious to see if it was possible to survive just by winning these prizes. 
The Harsh Reality of the Experiment
Nasubi was unaware of how long the experiment would last. He believed it might be an experiment that would never be aired. However, his life was filmed 24/7 by two cameras. His naked existence was broadcast to all of Japan, with only basic pixelation to cover his private parts. Without his consent, millions of people watched him struggle for survival.
At first, Nasubi had no food or water, surviving on tap water. As time passed, he won small prizes, including a few packs of fruit drinks and 5 kilograms of rice. However, he had no rice cooker, and resorted to using drink boxes as containers to cook the rice, using primitive methods to survive.
The Struggles of Survival
Over time, Nasubi’s prize winnings became more absurd. He received items such as tires, golf balls, a globe, movie tickets, and even a plush seal. These were hardly helpful for someone enduring extreme conditions. He also received an extremely small pair of women’s underwear, which was hardly useful in his situation.
Nine months into the experiment, he finally won a VHS tape, which allowed him to watch TV for the first time. Still, his body grew weaker and weaker as the experiment continued.
By day 80, Nasubi had exhausted his rice supplies and was forced to eat sugary drinks and dog food. He survived on wet dog food for several weeks, becoming physically frail and emotionally distraught.
The Psychological Toll
Nasubi’s ordeal lasted 15 months. From January 1998 to March 1999, he stayed in the room for over a year, only to be released when he reached the required prize amount. Upon leaving the apartment, Nasubi realized that he had gained fame. The show had garnered a staggering viewership of over 30 million people weekly, with Japan’s total population at 126 million at the time.
Although Nasubi was proud of completing the challenge, he felt deeply exploited. The long isolation caused him severe psychological distress, leading to manic depression. He struggled with insomnia and experienced vivid delusions, sometimes believing he had been abducted by aliens. At one point, he even contemplated suicide.
Nasubi’s Return to Hell: The Korean Challenge
Just when Nasubi thought the ordeal was over, the producers took him to South Korea. He thought it was a celebratory trip, but the producers once again demanded that he strip naked and begin another round of challenges. This time, he was tasked with earning enough money to return to Japan.
Despite begging the producers to stop, saying that he felt like his life had ended, they ignored his pleas for three hours before forcing him into another four months of grueling challenges.
The Shocking Revelation
Upon returning to Japan, Nasubi was taken to another apartment and forced to strip once again. Just as he thought he was going back into “hell,” the walls collapsed, revealing a TV studio filled with his fans. Nasubi had become a household name.
Millions of people had watched his naked challenge, and Nasubi had earned 10 million yen in the process. His diaries from the time became a bestselling book. However, despite his newfound fame, Nasubi found it difficult to face his fans. He struggled with malnutrition, slow speech, and a lack of eye contact. It took him months to recover.
Aftermath and Reflection
After the show ended, Nasubi revealed that he suffered severe aftereffects. Every day during the experiment felt like hell, and he would rather die than experience that again. Although the producers never locked the door, he felt mentally and emotionally trapped in the isolated environment. He continued the experiment not because he wanted to, but because he thought it was the safer option.
Nasubi revealed that during the whole ordeal, the production team provided him with no support, and only the two hosts showed any sympathy. It wasn’t until much later that the producers apologized for their actions.
Despite the years passing, Nasubi has come to terms with his traumatic experience, channeling his negative emotions into positive actions. For instance, he climbed Mount Everest to raise funds for his hometown of Fukushima and provided emotional support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, Nasubi openly stated that he would never return to a show like Denpa Shonen.
Final Thoughts: The Cruelty of Entertainment
Nasubi’s experience was made into a documentary called The Contestant, which premiered at film festivals and on streaming platforms. The documentary sparked reflection on the cruelty of reality shows and raised questions about the boundaries of entertainment.
Being imprisoned, exposed, stripped of privacy, and forced to perform 24/7 for the world’s entertainment is a brutal experience. It forces us to reconsider where we draw the line in the pursuit of entertainment. How much is too much? It’s a question that needs serious reflection.
For further information on related topics, you can explore the Wikipedia articles on Denpa Shonen, Toshio Tsuchiya, and Nasubi.
