Japanese TV resurrects the dead in bizarre new format

A new Japanese television program, Resurrection Makeover, allows participants to meet actors impersonating their deceased loved ones after extensive makeup sessions. The show has been described by industry insiders as oscillating between macabre and absurd. In one episode, a widow opens her door to find an actor portraying her late husband singing their favorite song, leading to cathartic tears and embraces. The format reflects a different cultural concept of entertainment in Japan, where what may seem bizarre or embarrassing elsewhere is considered merely amusing or even brilliant. The article also discusses other Japanese game shows that use play as a filter to address social issues, such as a contest to stay awake the longest, highlighting Japan's sleep deprivation problem, and a show where husbands must identify their wives among three women after a radical makeover, touching on marital relations. Another format challenges contestants to distinguish a real artwork from a quick sketch, playing with the public's understanding of contemporary art.