Nasubi
Encyclopedia
, better known as , is a Japan
ese 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 disappeared from TV variety circuit and became 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.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
who was locked up in an apartment for "Susunu! Denpa Shōnen
Susunu! Denpa Shonen
was a Japanese reality TV show which aired from November 1, 1998 to September 29, 2002 on the Nihon TV network and has once again started airing on the Internet from October 2009....
" (January 1998—March 2002), a Japanese reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
show on Nippon Television
Nippon Television
is a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
after winning a lottery for a "show business related job". He was forced to enter mail-in sweepstakes
Sweepstakes
The United States consumer sales promotion known as a sweepstake has become associated with marketing promotions targeted toward both generating enthusiasm and providing incentive reactions among customers by enticing consumers to submit free entries into drawings of chance...
until he won ¥
Japanese yen
The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling...
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
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
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 disappeared from TV variety circuit and became a dramatic stage actor, founding the stage troupe "Eggplant Way", and performs across Japan. He has starred in Densha Otoko
Densha Otoko
is a Japanese movie, television series, manga, novel, and other media, all based on the purportedly true story of a 23-year-old otaku who intervened when a drunk man started to harass several women on a train...
, Trick, Atashinchi no Danshi
Atashinchi no Danshi
is a Japanese drama produced by Fuji Television starring actress Maki Horikita. The producer, director, and screenwriter for the series consists of the same team that created the successful 2007 drama Hanazakari no Kimitachi e...
, and recently portrayed the character Watcherman in Kamen Rider W.
See also
- Za GamanZa Gamanwas a Japanese television show from the 1980s. It is not particularly well known or remembered in Japan, but it became famous in other countries, particularly Britain, due to its appearance on the British television programmes Clive James on Television, and subsequently Tarrant on TV under the name...
, another popular Japanese gameshow that also focused on the suffering of contestants.