In 1998, Japanese comedian Tomoaki Hamatsu—nicknamed “Nasubi”—unknowingly became the star of a bizarre and demeaning reality TV show called Susunu! Denpa Shōnen. Hoping it would launch his comedy career, Hamatsu signed on without knowing he’d be filmed 24/7 in isolation, completely naked, surviving only on prizes he won from magazine sweepstakes.

For over a year, Hamatsu lived in a tiny apartment with no contact from the outside world, eating whatever prizes arrived—often barely edible. Though he thought the footage would air later in edited form, it was streamed live to millions, turning him into a national sensation without his knowledge.

The cruel twist came when producers flew him to Korea for a final challenge, only to have the walls fall around him mid-task, revealing a live studio audience and confirming that he’d unknowingly been watched the entire time—earning the show comparisons to The Truman Show.

In the 2023 documentary The Contestant, Hamatsu reflected on the ordeal, admitting he still finds it painful to watch the footage. He described the experience as mentally grueling, especially the loneliness, which he said was the hardest part to endure.

Despite the trauma, he stayed the course out of personal pride and determination. “I didn’t want to quit,” he said. “Physically it was hard, but your body adapts. It’s the solitude that breaks you.”

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