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Disturbing documentary about 'most evil reality show ever' now streaming on BBC
Viewers have been shocked after discovering the details of a one-off reality series that saw its star locked up alone in a room for an entire year.
In 1998 aspiring comedian Tomoaki Hamatsu attended an audition for the Japanese reality show named Susunu!Denpa Shonen or, Do not proceed, Crazy Youth.
The task he was presented with was to temporarily cut himself off from the outside world and spend all of his time entering mail-in sweepstakes until he won ¥1 million (about £6,000).
Although he was given the option to call it quits whenever he wanted, he decided to stay for months, determined to complete the task at hand, doing so while completely naked.
For nearly a year, Hamatsu lived off winnings from magazine competitions, having to earn essential items like food, clothing and toilet paper too.
Despite thinking his actions were going to air at a later date, it turned out the TV network was airing the footage live to around 17 million viewers a week in a segment called A Life in Prizes.
This fact was revealed to him after being surprised by an enthusiastic studio audience at the conclusion of the show when he was taken into what he believed was another apartment, with the walls then falling apart around him.
At the time he also picked up the nickname Nasubi, which he still uses today, after his genitals were covered by an eggplant (Nasubi in Japanese) in the show.
The shocking story is the centre of the The Contestant, which details what unfolded at the time, whilst also investigating 'the ethical concerns of reality entertainment in the 21st century'. This week it was added onto BBC iPlayer.
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However, after tuning in, people have made it clear what happened at the time was truly 'evil'.
'Watched The Contestant and can't believe something this deceptive and cruel was allowed. He was completely humiliated for trash reality TV,' user sneeeerr posted on X.
'I'm horrified by all of this… this isn't fun or funny…,' Deja shared.
'That producer is evil,' June added.
Another said the show was 'absurdly cruel', while others said they'd been left 'in tears'.
Speaking to Time recently, Nasubi said 25 years after the experience, he is trying to move forward despite still holding 'hatred' towards the producer who led the show. More Trending
'I've realised that I cannot change the past but by changing how I think about who I am today I can always change the future,' he said.
'When you put energy into other people rather than just focusing on yourself you become stronger than you could ever imagine.'
The Contestant is streaming on BBC iPlayer.
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This article was originally published on May 7, 2024.
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