Naked and alone: the comedian trapped in a reality TV show

Lives Less Ordinary

BBC

Society & Culture, Documentary, Personal Journals

4.6 • 814 Ratings

🗓️ 2 December 2024

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Nasubi had no idea his 15-month fight to survive was being broadcast on Japanese TV.

In the late 1990s aspiring comedian Tomoaki Hamatsu, nicknamed Nasubi, lived inside a small room for 15 months surviving off sweepstake competition winnings. He was naked, alone and hungry. He was also completely unaware he had become the most famous television personality in Japan, his life broadcast to millions of viewers each week.

A documentary about Nasubi's experience has been made called The Contestant.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: May Cameron

Get in touch: [email protected] or WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're about to listen to a BBC podcast, but this is about something else you might enjoy.
0:05.4	My name's Katie Lecky and I'm an assistant commissioner for on demand music on BBC Sounds.
0:10.7	The BBC has an incredible musical heritage and culture and as a music lover, I love being part of that.
0:17.4	With music on sounds, we offer collections and mixes for everything, from workouts to helping
0:22.7	you nod off, boogie in your kitchen, or even just a moment of calm. And they're all put together
0:28.6	by people who know their stuff. So if you want some expertly curated music in your life,
0:34.9	check out BBC Sounds.
0:37.6	Yeah! in your life. Check out BBC Sounds. Imagine reality TV TV in its wild west infancy. It's the late 90s and Japan is in deep recession.
0:59.2	There's a show on television that everyone's talking about. It's called Demposhonan and it recruits
1:05.0	aspiring comedians and puts them through grueling survival tasks. Those who make it onto Dempashon
1:11.2	win money and overnight fame.
1:14.2	The most well-known of these contestants
1:15.8	is a man that everyone calls Nassabi.
1:20.1	Hey, do-do-n-n-Nas-Bis.
1:22.2	So, we're going to,
1:23.9	so, I'm going to, yes,
1:24.4	I'm going to, yes.
1:35.9	Before Nassabi becomes the name on everyone's lips he's just Tomaaki hamatsu a 22 year old who wants to make people laugh he's auditioning to get on the latest segment of the show.
1:46.0	The producers say it's something they've never tried before.
1:49.3	It's so experimental, they tell him.
1:51.4	It probably won't make it to air.
1:53.3	But as soon as Nassaby wins the audition,
	...

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