{"id":22614,"date":"2023-10-27T18:27:58","date_gmt":"2023-10-27T09:27:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=22614"},"modified":"2023-10-27T18:28:00","modified_gmt":"2023-10-27T09:28:00","slug":"20231027-22614","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/20231027-22614\/","title":{"rendered":"Degradation, \u201chuman rockets\u201d – dark moments of Japanese television remembered in light of Nasubi\u2019s story gaining worldwide attention\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The worldwide premiere of the 2023 documentary film \u201cThe Contestant\u201d brought the world\u2019s attention to the darkness of the infamous Japanese variety show Susunu! Denpa Sh\u014dnen, earning it names such as \u201cpublic torture,\u201d and \u201cthe evilest show in history.\u201d Such reactions from overseas have caused the Japanese public to look back on the dark history of Heisei era (1989-2019) variety shows. In an article by JPRIME<\/a>, a Japanese writer reminisces on other variety shows of the time that showed disregard for people\u2019s safety and dignity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Variety and reality television don’t really have a history of being ethical anywhere around the world, but a show that particularly stands out for its disregard of human rights and dignity is the Japanese Susunu! Denpa Sh\u014dnen, which infamously forced an amateur comedian called Nasubi to live in isolation for 15 months, naked and relying only on prizes won in sweepstakes to survive. The whole process was televised, unbeknownst to Nasubi, and edited in demeaning ways before being broadcast to the nation. (Related Article<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What would nowadays be regarded as a complete violation of human rights, and most definitely not fit for airing on television, was once simply accepted as entertainment \u2013 the 2023 documentary \u201cThe Contestant,\u201d revived this memory as it told the story of Nasubi\u2019s suffering during the program, and reactions of the public were understandably horrified. But Denpa Sh\u014dnen wasn\u2019t an isolated case in this sense, as many TV shows of the Heisei era treaded well beyond what can be considered acceptable today in order to secure ratings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the topic of \u201cthe abnormal TV shows of the Heisei era,\u201d Tamotsu Narita, a writer experienced in television, mentions the variety\/game show \u201cThe Tunnels’ Thanks to Everyone\u201d that aired from 1997 to 2018, on which, as Narita mentions, \u201canything was acceptable.\u201d Instances of sexual harassment of idols and actresses, as well as power harassment, bullying based on appearance and violent scuffles were all an everyday occurrence, and not only in the background of the show, but in its very contents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\uff62\u8fd1\u672a\u6765\u8b66\u5bdf072\uff63\u306e\u30ca\u30ca\u5f79\u3067\u6065\u305a\u3044\u30bb\u30ea\u30d5\u3092\u8a00\u308f\u3055\u308c\u3066\u3044\u305f\u677e\u5d8b\u83dc\u3005\u5b50@retoro_mode<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/UrwbFkHhdM<\/a><\/p>— JUNK. (@tHgInDiMdNuOr) August 7, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>