Skunkfrakker's Sexy Party

Nasubi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tomoaki Hamatsu (浜津智明 Hamatsu Tomoaki?, born August 3, 1975), better known as Nasubi (なすび?), is a Japanese comedian who was locked up in an apartment for Susunu! Denpa Shōnen (January 1998 — March 2002), a Japanese reality television show on Nippon Television, after winning a lottery for a “show business related job”. He was forced to enter mail-in sweepstakes until he won ¥1 million (about US$10,000). During this time, he was made to wear no clothes, was cut off from outside communication and broadcasting, and had nothing to keep him company except magazines.
Nasubi lived in front of the camera, with only the possessions he won via the sweepstakes, and the stacks of postcards for entering the sweepstakes. Due to his nudity, an eggplant cartoon graphic was strategically utilized when Nasubi was standing on camera. Nasubi is the Japanese word for “eggplant”—the nickname was chosen due to his 30 cm long and bony face which slants like an Japanese eggplant.
Upon reaching his goal, he was clothed and blindfolded and taken to a surprise location. Nasubi happily went along believing he was going to get a special treat for his hard work. After they unblindfolded him, he found himself in South Korea where he was shown around town and taken to an apartment. He was once again stripped of his clothes and forced to enter sweepstakes, this time to win enough money to get back home. The entire ordeal lasted some 15 months, during which time the diaries on his experience being locked away from the outside world became a best seller in Japan.

I just saw this show for the first time today. In a matter of minutes, I was hooked. I found myself happily watching the first two episodes with English subtitles. After that, I searched for more like a hungry addict, and I couldn’t find any that were translated. So I watched with the original Japanese language because fuck it. Why was I so intrigued by this obviously inhumane excuse for entertainment? Here is a man who “volunteers” to be on a show but finds out the hard way that he is really the subject of a sick experiment. As months pass, his physical appearance and mental state show change.

Perhaps I was fascinated by the tender moments he had, rejoicing in the simple things. It reminded me that most things in life are just luxuries, not necessities. Or perhaps I am just another creepy voyeur like the other millions of viewers who watched this Japanese Truman Show. Whatever the reason, I became obsessed for a day. I couldn’t understand anything being said, but I kept watching. I wanted to witness his moments of joy, which were fleeting but touching. I started to care about him. Maybe because it is a cruel thing to do to a person. I wanted to see him break free. I haven’t found that episode yet, but I will keep looking for it. I know he does in the end, but I want to see his reaction. You know - for closure.

Watch Nasubi in Episode 2 with English subtitles here.

Watch episodes in Japanese on Youtube.

See, that’s what the app is perfect for.