Nasubi

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 $10,000 USD). 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. Nasu is the Japanese word for eggplant - the nickname was chosen due to his 30 cm long and bony face which slants like an 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.

Ironically, with the rigors he went through in order to become a famous comedian, Nasubi was unable to succeed in the TV variety world. Instead, he became a local talent in his native Fukushima as well as a dramatic stage actor, founding the stage troupe "Eggplant Way", and performs across Japan. He has starred in Densha Otoko, Trick, Atashinchi no Danshi, and recently portrayed the character Watcherman in Kamen Rider W.

See also

• Za Gaman, another popular Japanese gameshow that also focused on the suffering of contestants.

External links

• The Show's official website Containing summarized transcript of all episodes - with Thumbnails.
• syberpunk.com Nasubi An article with all the details on Nasubi's experience.
• Article about the show and Japanese culture
• Nasubi (archived), Quirky Japan Homepage.