Japanese reality TV docu has nudity, suicide references.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
a lot
Suicide references. Main character mentions thoughts of taking their life. References to bullying at school, including being beaten up. Person blindfolded and told to strip naked by producers of a TV show, which is aired live without informed consent. Cruel, bullying behavior also includes presenters making fun of a character's face shape, and viewers enjoying watching degrading acts, such as them being forced to eat dog food. Footage of earthquake and tsunami of 2011, including water sweeping vehicles and structures down streets and people visiting graves. Mention of the Fukushima nuclear accident, with footage of the aftermath, as well as footage of a character in earthquake and avalanche in Nepal, with a camera capturing people being buried in snow.
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Frequent male nudity -- the main character spends most of the documentary naked. Full nudity is shown from behind, though genitals are covered either with a cushion or animated shapes on screen, such as a circle or an eggplant emoji, when the character is seen from the front. Nudity is not in a sexual context.
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Variety of Japanese magazines shown on a shelf and food brands delivered to the main character, which they hold up to the screen. Windows 98, Game Boy Color, Tamagotchi, Ralph Lauren Polo sweatshirt, and Pokémon all mentioned or shown on-screen. Denpa Shonen: A Life in Prizes reality TV show referenced throughout, and videos and diaries were available and became best sellers when the show was broadcast in the late 1990s and early 2000s. BBC mentioned and one talking head is a BBC journalist.
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
very little
Person on street briefly smokes cigarette.
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Some people will do anything to succeed. Reality TV can show cruelty and disrespect toward its stars, and often encourages people to take pleasure in the suffering of others. Courage and perseverance are important character strengths, but perseverance without limits can also lead to being taken advantage of and becoming mentally and physically unwell. Love and connection with others can help you feel valued and offer hope. It's important to know yourself and that what you bring is unique. Purpose and self-worth can be powerful driving forces. Helping others can develop your own inner strength.
Positive Role Models
a little
Nasubi is keen to be liked and accepted, and learns as a child that by making people laugh he can fit in and stay safe from bullies. As an adult he's vulnerable to the manipulation of TV producers due to his eagerness to please, and feels powerless to say no to things he doesn't want to do. He shows great perseverance, but to his own detriment on the show, which leaves him mentally and physically unwell. He gradually learns to use his strengths to help others, and that self-worth can be found in acting according to his values rather than in fame and approval. Producer Tsuchiya prioritizes making "great TV" and pushing people to their limits over their well-being or anything else. He even describes himself as like "the devil" on one occasion, referring to his godlike powers over the show and Nasubi, but acknowledging he used them for cruelty and suffering. He shows some remorse later and makes gestures of help in promoting Nasubi's fundraising attempts, though doesn't imply he would do anything differently.
Diverse Representations
very little
Lead character bullied and mocked for his appearance, with people saying he has a long face and using "weird," "gross," and "eggplant" to tease him, alongside TV hosts measuring his head with a tape, using animation to stretch their faces as an impression, and "long" being written up on screen next to him. Men in the TV industry have jobs as producers and directors, while attractive younger women are presenters on-screen. Talking heads are a mixture of men and women, with a female BBC journalist among them. Written and directed by British filmmaker Clair Titley, the documentary is about a moment in Japanese culture explored through a Western lens.
Parents need to know that The Contestant is a fascinating, but disturbing, documentary about a Japanese reality TV show, Denpa Shonen: A Life in Prizes, which involved a person asked to strip naked and then shut in a room alone for 15 months, surviving on the winnings of magazine sweepstakes. It involves deep manipulation and broadcasting without informed consent, as well as cruel behavior toward the main character, Tomoaki Hamatsu -- nicknamed Nasubi -- who eats dog food on-screen, is mocked by presenters, and suffered in terms of both physical and mental health. The film features frequent full male nudity, though the character's genitals are covered by shapes like circles or an eggplant on-screen. Buttocks are shown. On one occasion Nasubi passes wind loudly and it's a source of laughter from presenters. Numerous Japanese magazines and food brands are seen, as well as Game Boy Color, Tamagotchi, and Ralph Lauren Polo. In addition to the reality TV show, there is footage of the 2011 Japanese tsunami, nuclear disaster, and Nepal earthquake and avalanche. Though the movie focuses heavily on the cruel behavior of producers and raises questions about the role audiences play in keeping such things on TV, Nasubi shows courage and perseverance, and later finds inner strength in helping others. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Katherine R.Parent of 10, 14, 18+, 18+, 18+ and 5-year-old
May 17, 2024
age 13+
What's the Story?
In THE CONTESTANT, a documentary crew revisit the people involved in Japanese reality TV show Denpa Shonen: A Life in Prizes, which saw wannabe comedian Tomoaki Hamatsu -- nicknamed Nasubi -- stripped naked and left alone in a room, challenged with surviving on the winnings of magazine sweepstakes alone.
Given the way reality TV has developed over the years, it doesn't seem surprising that more than 15 million viewers tuned in each week back in 1998 to watch a naked man shut in a room. However, it's the extent of the "challenges" (more honestly, abuse) he was subjected to that will likely shock viewers of The Contestant. Challenged to survive solely on prizes from magazine sweepstakes, Nasubi was "great TV" and "a gift," according to callous producer Tsuchiya, as he was gradually dehumanized to the point of eating dog food and contemplating suicide. His every move was aired without informed consent, he was publicly ridiculed, and his physical and mental health pushed to the limits for the sake of entertainment. It raises a lot of ethical questions, for sure, though many viewers will find themselves watching in what is surely a similarly voyeuristic way the second time around as the documentary airs the most outrageous original footage. What it does offer is a limited glimpse into Nasubi's life and achievements after the show, perhaps offering back some of the power and autonomy that was stripped from him some 25 years ago, when he unwittingly became a "star."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the ethical implications raised in The Contestant. What did you think of the reality show? At what points did it cross a line? Do you think it would be made today?
How did the show fit in to the reality TV genre more widely? Are there other shows you think use manipulation and cruelty for entertainment? Are there any that have good points and positive messages?
How did Nasubi demonstrate perseverance and courage? Why are these important character strengths? Do they have potential downsides? Can you think of times you've shown them in your own life?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Kat Halstead
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