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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Beth Ure & Sam Elliott-Gibbs

Inside bizarre life of 'naked hermit' who shuns clothes - and why he fled civilisation

The Japanese hermit who spent 30 years naked on a deserted island has returned to his paradise home after being forced back into civilisation by the government.

Masafumi Nagasaki, 87, shunned clothes and other people in late 80s to enjoy an incredible life in peace on his own.

The pensioner said goodbye to his family and friends three decades ago before being told in 2018 that he had to return for his own safety.

Now, he has been allowed to go back to his former home on the Island of Sotobanari, Yaeyama Islands, after his time in the real world left him anxious and unhappy.

Masafumi is feeling free again after ditching his clothing once more to live happily ever after on the tropical island - and says it's where he wants to die.

Masafumi Nagasaki spent nearly 30 years living on his own on a remote island before being forced back into civilisation (REUTERS)

Alvaro Cerezo, 41, a Spanish explorer, found Masafumi while searching for remote islands, and later fought for his right to return with Japanese authorities.

Alvaro said: "He had been struggling so much in civilisation, when we finally managed to get him moved back it was amazing.

"We had meetings for about three weeks with his doctors and the local authorities, and they eventually agreed to let us take him back.

"Obviously they were against letting him die on the island.

He has now decided that he wants the island to be his final resting place (REUTERS)

"As soon as we told him the plan, he jumped with joy and broke down in tears of gratitude. His face lit up like an excited little kid when he learnt he was getting to go back.

"During the ride he often looked up, smiling at the sky and thanked life with folded hands.

"As soon as we landed on the island, he began cheering and celebrating."

Alvaro first discovered Masafumi when he was exploring the region for deserted islands for his company, Docastaway, which abandons brave holidaymakers on far-flung desert islands to survive completely alone for days or weeks at a time.

He said: "I spent a few days on the island with him back in 2014, getting to know him and his lifestyle.

He was forced back on the mainland in 2018 - but hated it and missed his old life (Docastaway / MERCURY PRESS)

"At the time I didn't share the interview we recorded out of respect for his privacy.

"It was only in 2018 I shared it after discovering he'd been forced to leave the island, to share his story and try and garner support.

"He had always said he wanted to die on the island, so hearing he had been forced to leave was very difficult."

He is believed to have worked as a photographer before fleeing civilisation to live on the island of Sotobanari, which is just over a thousand yards wide.

Now, he has been allowed to return to his home on the Island of Sotobanari (Docastaway / MERCURY PRESS)

Masafumi struggled to adapt to life in civilisation after spending 29 years fending for himself.

Alvaro said: "In a quintessential society like that of the Japanese, there was hardly anyone who could either understand his eccentric way of life or his extreme desire to live naked on a desert island.

"As a result, most people in his neighbourhood looked at him with contempt and a little bit of fear.

"He spent most of his days confined in his room hiding away from the noisy world.

His affinity to nature led him to turn vegetarian and he eats mainly rice cakes (Docastaway / MERCURY PRESS)

"His tiny room became like his desert island where he could isolate himself as it was the only place where he was able to live with his clothes off and feel free like he did for the last 29 years.

"When he felt too trapped in his room every now and then he used to go out and collect rubbish from the street as he was horrified by the pollution and all the waste that humans had created."

Nagasaki has decided that he wants the island to be his final resting place.

"Finding a place to die is an important thing to do, and I've decided here is the place for me, " he said.

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