The Contestant: A Bizarre Reality TV Tale
As Hamatsu Tomoaki prepared to leave his Fukushima home and head to Tokyo in hopes of succeeding as a comedian, his parents gave him this advice: “Whatever you do, don’t get naked.” This may seem unusual. But in light of the events recounted in Clair Titley’s bracing and bizarre documentary, their words feel both prescient and astute about the ease with which humiliation is transformed into entertainment.
Even so, none of the Hamatsus could have imagined the ordeal that he would endure after being cast on Susunu! Denpa Shōnen, a TV show that became an instant hit in 1998 by presenting creatively sadistic competitions as the height of hilarity. Hamatsu’s task was to subsist entirely on winnings from magazine contests, a challenge that meant spending 15 months in a tiny apartment, naked, with only a camera for company. Miserable, malnourished and losing his mind, Hamatsu didn’t even know he was appearing on the show, let alone becoming its biggest star.
A look back at one of the earliest and strangest chapters in the history of reality TV, The Contestant is full of details that seem not just too weird to be true, but too cruel. That includes the decision by the show’s producers to give Hamatsu the nickname Nasubi (‘Aubergine’). A mean epithet referring to the shape of his face, it also gave the show its signature visual gag: an eggplant-shaped graphic used to obscure his genitals on screen – a possible origins story for a certain emoji.
A largely sober tone allows The Contestant to avoid the kitsch that the subject of Japan’s extreme brand of TV competitions typically attracts. It also makes the machinations of Tsuchiya Toshio, producer of Susunu! Denpa Shōnen – presented in new interviews alongside Hamatsu, former BBC Tokyo correspondent Juliet Hindell and other players in this true-life tragicomedy – seem all the more diabolical.
Indeed, the saga here has such an abundance of shocking and surprising turns, the film’s tight construction and modest runtime don’t leave much opportunity to delve more deeply into the questions arising from Hamatsu’s experience and how it anticipates equally sordid if less elaborate means of exploitation in the decades to come. (In the same year Nasubi became a phenomenon in Japan, Big Brother began to transform the medium on another side of the world.) The Contestant is also too reserved when it comes to the process by which Hamatsu recovered his sense of self. Then again, it’s understandable that Titley treads gently with her main subject – clearly the man has suffered enough.
The Contestant arrives in UK cinemas 29 November.
FAQs
1. What was the challenge Hamatsu had to endure on the TV show Susunu! Denpa Shōnen?
Hamatsu’s task was to subsist entirely on winnings from magazine contests, a challenge that meant spending 15 months in a tiny apartment, naked, with only a camera for company.
2. What does the nickname Nasubi mean and how was it related to the show?
The nickname Nasubi means ‘Aubergine’ and was given to Hamatsu by the show’s producers. It referred to the shape of his face and was used as a visual gag on the show.
3. Who are some of the key players interviewed in The Contestant?
The key players interviewed in The Contestant include Hamatsu, former BBC Tokyo correspondent Juliet Hindell, and Tsuchiya Toshio, the producer of Susunu! Denpa Shōnen.
4. How does The Contestant portray the extreme brand of TV competitions in Japan?
The Contestant portrays the extreme brand of TV competitions in Japan with a largely sober tone, avoiding the kitsch typically associated with such shows.
5. What is the significance of the show Susunu! Denpa Shōnen in the history of reality TV?
Susunu! Denpa Shōnen is considered one of the earliest and strangest chapters in the history of reality TV, presenting creatively sadistic competitions as entertainment.
6. How does The Contestant address the exploitation of Hamatsu on the TV show?
The Contestant sheds light on the exploitation of Hamatsu by the show’s producers, highlighting the diabolical nature of the challenges he faced.
7. What parallels are drawn between Nasubi’s experience and the rise of reality TV shows like Big Brother?
The film draws parallels between Nasubi’s experience on Susunu! Denpa Shōnen and the transformation of the medium by shows like Big Brother, showcasing the evolution of reality TV.
8. How does The Contestant approach the recovery of Hamatsu’s sense of self?
The Contestant is somewhat reserved in its approach to the process by which Hamatsu recovered his sense of self, treading gently on the subject due to the suffering he endured.
9. What is the overall tone of The Contestant and how does it impact the storytelling?
The overall tone of The Contestant is largely sober, allowing for a more serious exploration of the bizarre events surrounding Nasubi’s experience on the TV show. It enhances the storytelling by presenting the narrative in a more nuanced light.
10. How does The Contestant contribute to the broader conversation around reality TV and exploitation?
The Contestant adds to the broader conversation around reality TV and exploitation by delving into the extreme challenges faced by contestants like Nasubi, raising important questions about ethics and entertainment.
Conclusion
The Contestant offers a compelling look back at one of the earliest and strangest chapters in the history of reality TV, shedding light on the exploitation and challenges faced by contestants like Nasubi. With a sober tone and a focus on the diabolical nature of the show’s producers, the film presents a gripping true-life tragicomedy that leaves viewers pondering the darker side of entertainment. While it may not delve deeply into all the questions raised by Nasubi’s experience, The Contestant serves as a thought-provoking exploration of reality TV and the human cost of fame.