This video recounts the disturbing story of Tomoaki Hamatsu, known as Nasubi, a Japanese comedian subjected to extreme psychological torture on the late 90s game show "Susunu! Denpa Shōnen." In a segment called "A Life of Prizes," Nasubi was forced to live naked and isolated in a small apartment for 15 months, surviving solely on winnings from mail-in sweepstakes. The initial goal was to win 1 million yen (approx. $8000 USD in 1998). His ordeal, including struggles with starvation, loneliness (befriending a stuffed seal), and lack of basic necessities, was broadcast weekly to an average of 17 million viewers and later turned into a 24/7 live stream, of which Nasubi himself was unaware. After completing the initial challenge in 335 days, producers tricked him into a similar challenge in Korea, repeatedly moving the goalposts to prolong his suffering. The show culminated in a final cruel act where he was revealed, naked and confused, to a live studio audience. The experience left lasting psychological scars on Nasubi, despite the show's immense popularity and pioneering role in live-streaming history.
The Torturous Tale of Nasubi: A Game Show Nightmare
00:00:02 Introduction to the Horror: A popular late 90s Japanese game show ("Susunu! Denpa Shōnen") featured a segment where a man, Nasubi, was tortured through isolation for over a year, broadcast weekly to 17 million viewers and later live-streamed 24/7.
00:02:00 The Setup: Aspiring comedian Tomoaki Hamatsu (later nicknamed Nasubi, meaning eggplant) won a raffle in 1998 for what he thought was his big break. He was taken to a small apartment and instructed to strip naked to participate.
00:02:30 The Challenge: Nasubi had to survive alone, naked, with only water provided, winning 1 million Yen (approx. $8,000 USD in 1998) worth of goods, including food, solely through mail-in magazine sweepstakes before he could leave.
00:03:37 Grueling Duration: It took Nasubi 335 days to complete the initial 1 million Yen challenge. The entire ordeal, including a second phase, lasted 15 months.
00:04:46 Ignorance of Broadcast: Nasubi knew he was being recorded but believed only edited highlights would air. He was completely unaware that his suffering was being broadcast live, 24/7, to the nation.
00:06:12 Early Struggles: His first win was fiber jelly after initially trying to win clothes. He faced intense hunger and isolation from the start.
00:08:07 Resourcefulness Born of Desperation: After winning 5kg of rice but having no pot, Nasubi initially ate it raw before devising methods to cook it using scavenged containers and indirect heat.
00:11:30 Deprivation and Humiliation: After two months and over 11,000 entries, his first clothing win was a pair of used women's panties that didn't fit. Basic hygiene items like a toothbrush were won only after three months.
00:12:32 Coping with Extreme Loneliness: Isolated for months, Nasubi personified a stuffed seal he won, naming it Binasu and treating it as his only companion.
00:16:38 Superficial Health Checks: Producers brought in a doctor who gave Nasubi a clean bill of physical health, ignoring the profound psychological torture he was enduring.
00:18:19 Surviving on Dog Food: When his rice ran out, Nasubi was forced to survive primarily on dog food for months, raising questions about whether producers manipulated winnings for "comedic" effect or withheld essential items.
00:21:16 Secret Relocations & Deterioration: When paparazzi discovered his location, producers blindfolded and moved Nasubi to identical apartments twice, deceiving him about the reason. His mental state visibly deteriorated, showing signs of delirium and loss of social skills after months of isolation.
00:23:43 Pioneering Live Streaming: Following the first relocation, producers launched a 24/7 live web stream, using a team with joysticks to constantly censor Nasubi's genitals in real-time.
00:26:45 A Glimmer of Entertainment: After 10 months, Nasubi finally won a PlayStation console, allowing him to play the single game and controller he had won months prior. He played intensely for four days straight, inadvertently becoming one of the world's first video game live streamers.
00:30:31 Betrayal in Korea: After 335 days, Nasubi completed the 1M Yen challenge. Producers pretended to celebrate by taking him to Korea, only to trap him in another identical room, naked, forcing him into a new challenge: win enough via Korean sweepstakes (which he couldn't read) to fly home.
00:32:43 Moving the Goalposts: Nasubi completed the Korea challenge quickly. Producers, wanting more content, repeatedly and secretly increased the prize value needed, demanding he upgrade his ticket from economy to business, then to first class, without telling him he'd already succeeded.
00:35:38 The Cruel Finale: Upon finally returning to Japan, Nasubi was blindfolded, disoriented with noise-cancelling headphones, and placed in a mock-up of his room on a stage. Instinctively stripping naked, the walls dropped to reveal a laughing live studio audience. He was utterly confused and bewildered, unaware his entire ordeal had been public entertainment.
00:36:45 Lasting Aftermath: The show was cancelled shortly after. Nasubi suffered long-term effects, including discomfort in clothes and severely damaged social skills, hindering his comedy career despite his diary becoming a bestseller. The producer expressed no regret, though he offered a hollow apology.