The Contestant

In 1998, Japanese TV show Dempa Shonen aired a segment called A Life In Prizes. It featured a naked man (save for an aubergine emoji covering his genitals) in a small apartment, tasked with surviving on winnings from magazine and radio competitions. While images of the man, Tomoaki Hamatsu (also known as Nasubi), celebrating his prizes while overenthusiastic presenters commented on his actions are as quintessentially Japanese as other zany shows like Takeshi’s Castle, his experience was far from the fun time it was framed as. In documentary The Contestant, filmmaker Clair Titley explores Nasubi’s fascinating story to shed light on the shady practices he was subjected to during his time on the show. Despite its rich subject matter, this film never delves too deeply into the issues it raises.

Although reality TV has become a common part of a modern TV diet, it was relatively new then, with Life In Prizes predating both The Truman Show and Big Brother. It’s easy to see why the novelty of Nasubi’s situation attracted an audience of millions, quickly turning him into a phenomenon. While viewers cheered him on as he strived to meet his prize goal of a million yen, the attention Tiley draws to his shrinking frame and untamed hair growth through montage underscores the physical toll his experience had while revealing interviews with him expand upon the mental torment he suffered.

Much like The Truman Show, Tiley’s documentary taps into ideas surrounding the ethics of televising someone’s life. The comparison is especially apt since Nasubi isn’t even aware that he’s being broadcasted. The segment’s creator is Toshio Tsuchiya, who like Ed Harris’s Christof, is seen as a god-like being with complete power over his creation. Although he claims to have set out to make an inspirational comedy, the methods he used were downright manipulative.

Unlike The Truman Show, The Contestant’s discussion of its themes rarely extends beyond showing the abusive relationship between star and creator. Rather, the final part of this feature is about Nasubi’s work to help those effected by the earthquake in Fukushima. It’s a commendable conclusion to the former reality star’s tale, but one which feels disconnected from the rest of the documentary.

The Contestant is a constantly entertaining and thought-provoking examination of ethics in media. Its only downside is that it doesn’t go further with what it wants to say.

Andrew Murray

The Contestant is released nationwide on 29^th November 2024.

Watch the trailer for The Contestant here: