Densha Otoko

Japanese media franchise
the film and franchise

Densha Otoko (電車男) is a Japanese movie, television series, manga, novel, and other media, all based on the purportedly true story of a 23 year old otaku who intervened when a drunk man started to harass several women on a train. The otaku ultimately began dating one of the women. The event, and the man's subsequent dates with the woman, who became known as "Hermès" (エルメス), were chronicled on the Japanese mega BBS 2channel. This led to the compilation of the relevant threads in a book, followed by several manga versions, a movie, a theatrical play later released as a DVD, and finally a TV series. Densha Otoko is a popular example of the "nice guy" class of Japanese geeks who wish to lead normal lives, but are too shy to find a girlfriend, or speak openly only online. Never having done such a thing in his life, the poster was amazed to find the woman thanking him deeply for saving her from harassment. The young woman requested his address, telling him that she wanted to express her appreciation for his act, before they parted ways. Because of this last fact, he consistently posted updates on his situation, asking for advice on everything from restaurant choices to what clothing to wear.

The initial setting of the film is in Akihabara, Tokyo. Mark Schilling of The Japan Times comments that "since Fuji TV intends Densha Otoko for prime time broadcast, Hermess (Nakatani) can only suggest a big sisterly friendliness and affection, meaning that the sexual chemistry between her and Train Man (Yamada) is zero". Pop Culture Shock's Erin Finnegan reported, "when asked if the original novel would ever be imported, manga industry reps at New York Comic Con lamented that 2chan's version of l33t is nearly impossible to translate." The fansite compiling the posts which became the book has been translated into other languages by fans of the story, including into English in 2006. blockquote|text=For Densha Otoko, two manga versions were seinen (geared toward young men); one was shōnen (for boys); and one was shōjo (for girls). Del Rey Manga licensed the shōjo version from Kodansha, with which it has strong ties. Viz Media licensed a seinen version, and CMX licensed the shōnen version.|sign= Kai Ming Cha|source=Publishers Weekly This name is a pun on the Japanese term "Naka no hitori", referring to all the people who are part of message boards on the Internet. Del Rey Books released the novel, renamed as Train Man, on April 24, 2007.

The drama's 11 episodes were aired on Fuji TV from July 7 to September 22, 2005 (with a special episode on October 6, 2005). It also aired in Taiwan's Videoland Japan from January 24, 2006 (with a special episode on December 28, 2006), and in Hong Kong's TVB Jade from April 15, 2006 (with a special episode on January 27, 2007).

Densha Otoko film was directed by Shosuke Murakami. It premiered in Japanese Cinemas by Toho on March 26, 2005. The movie was screened in North American cinemas by Viz Pictures on September 22, 2006. Viz Media released the DVD of Train Man: Densha Otoko on February 6, 2007. The ending theme is "Love Parade (Orange Range song) (Love Parade") by Orange Range. The movie stars Takayuki Yamada as Train Man/Densha Otoko and Miki Nakatani as Hermes. Train Man: Densha Otoko (電車男〜ネット発、各駅停車のラブストーリー〜) is written and illustrated by Hidenori Hara. It was serialized in Shogakukan's Young Sunday from January 6, 2005. It was licensed in North America by Viz Media, which released the manga's three tankōbon volumes between October 10, 2006, and February 13, 2007. It is licensed in Spain by Glènat España as Otaku in Love, in France by Kurokawa and in Germany by Carlsen Comics. Densha Otoko: The Story of a Train Man Who Fell in Love with a Girl (電車男〜でも、俺旅立つよ.〜) is written and illustrated by Wataru Watanabe. It was serialized in Akita Shoten's Champion Red from January 19, 2005. Akita Shoten re released the manga in two tankōbon volumes, both released on October 8, 2013. The manga is licensed in North America by CMX, which released the manga's three tankōbon volumes between October 11, 2006, and April 30, 2007. It is licensed in France by Taifu Comics. Train Man: Go, Poison Man! (電車男 がんばれ毒男!) is written by Hitori Nakano and illustrated by Daisuke Dōke. It was serialized in Akita Shoten's Weekly Shōnen Champion from December 28, 2004. It is available in English as a scanlation. The manga is licensed in North America by Del Rey Manga, which released the manga on November 7, 2006.

Densha Otoko novel sold 260,000 copies in just three weeks and 500,000 copies in two months. Following its popularity, "Chikan Otoko" was produced, the story of a man who is accused of being a groper on public transport, and Napoleon Dynamite was retitled Basu Otoko ("Bus Man") for its Japanese release. Coolstreak Comics' Leroy Douresseaux comments on Densha Otoko: The Story of a Train Man Who Fell in Love With A Girl, saying, "Watanabe understands the visual metaphor of the comics medium, which allows him to deliver his story with a force that captures the quiet awkwardness of two shy people". IGN's A. E. Sparrow comments on the artwork of Densha Otoko: Train Man saying, "Hidenori Hara brings an old school style to his illustration, and there are moments where the complex panel layouts (particularly when several online people are offering advice at once) recall some of Will Eisner's best work." A later review by Sparrow comments that Hidenori Hara's "work seems the most cartoonish of the bunch, with some of the characters looking almost like afterthoughts, but it's that scribbling style that really sets this version of the story apart." He also comments on Hermess looking "like a slightly more pixie ish version of Lisa Hayes from Robotech". Anime News Network's Carlo Santos' review of Train Man: A Shōjo Manga commends it for its "unique character viewpoint and a sweet, lighthearted mood". However, he criticises it for "skimping on plot and character development; sometimes awkward with Internet humor." text=Watanabe draws a Hermess that is among the cutest female manga characters I have ever seen, making her the perfect object of affection for Train. And the facial expressions that he captures throughout this volume are very appropriate and revealing, giving us a great insight into their heads. Plus, not to be outdone, each character looks unique, which is something that many manga artists have a problem with.|sign=Robert Murray|source=Manga Life, review of Densha Otoko: The Story of a Train Man Who Fell in Love With A Girl