Post by demonraze on Feb 26, 2007 15:59:43 GMT 8
Densha Otoko (Train Man)
Synopsis: A lonely and shy otaku is returning home by train, and admires a beautiful woman in the same compartment. When a drunk harasses her, the shy otaku finds himself intervening to protect her. Returning home, he posts a remark about his experience to a popular BBS. A few days later, he receives a gift of two expensive Hermés teacups from the woman. With the aid of his online friends, he undertakes to remake himself into someone who can win her heart. Thus begins an unlikely story of an otaku who decides to cast away his otakudom for love. Supposedly based on a true story.
(Source: Anime News Network)
Classification: J-Drama
Genres:Drama, Romance, Slice of Life
Number of Episodes: 11 + 2
Review and Synopsis:
I'll try to be spoiler-free as much as possible. Densha Otoko is the story of Tsuyoshi Yamada (played by Atsushi Itoh), a 23-year-old hardcore otaku and Akiba-kei (tambay ng Akihabara District). This guy's looks are that of the sterotypical geek, has less than 1% of self-confidence, works a nutsy job and gets looked down by his @$$h0le of a boss, his co-workers and even his own sister(in short, think Sugarfree's "Hari ng Sablay" personified). While riding the train home from Akihabara, he happens to notice a beautiful lady reading Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons" (played by Misaki Itou) sitting opposite him. As he admires her, a drunk man starts comes in and begins harrassing the passengers. When the drunk starts harrassing the beautiful woman Tsuyoshi was admiring, the scared otaku musters up enough courage to tell the drunk to stop. This causes the drunk man to focus his attention on Tsuyoshi and proceeds to beat him up. The commotion draws the attention of the conductor who took control of the situation. Tsuyoshi ends up being thanked by the other passengers, and after their insisting, reluctantly gives his home address so they can send a "thank you" present.
After getting home, Tsuyoshi posts the events of what just happened on a "Lonely Hearts Club"-like thread on BBS 2Channel. A few days later, he recieves a parcel containing a pair of teacups. After realizing who sent him the package, he panics and posts on the thread that the teacups came from the beautiful lady he saved on the train, and they're no ordinary teacups but really expensive ones with a brand name of Hermes. He finds out that the girl happened to place her cellphone number on the contact info for the postal slip. He now tries to decide whether to call the girl or not, all the while asking for advice from the regulars of online thread...
I think I'll stop there for now. If I continue, I'll just end up spoiling the story for all those who haven't seen the series. I was introduced to this series by my friend and I ended up watching all 11 episodes straight last weekend. The story is very touching that I lost count how many times I felt teary-eyed and all. Its a given that the love story is there, but its not the all-mushy type like most romance genre. The thing I noted the most is that us otakus and mecha fanboys like us can relate to the story. I was moved by the extraordinary friendship of the characters in the series. BTW, check out Tsusyoshi's room. My girlfriend joked that eventually my room would looked like that more or less. I highly recommend watching "Densha Otoko", be it with your friends family or significant others. I'm sure you'll fall in love with the story too.
Synopsis: A lonely and shy otaku is returning home by train, and admires a beautiful woman in the same compartment. When a drunk harasses her, the shy otaku finds himself intervening to protect her. Returning home, he posts a remark about his experience to a popular BBS. A few days later, he receives a gift of two expensive Hermés teacups from the woman. With the aid of his online friends, he undertakes to remake himself into someone who can win her heart. Thus begins an unlikely story of an otaku who decides to cast away his otakudom for love. Supposedly based on a true story.
(Source: Anime News Network)
Classification: J-Drama
Genres:Drama, Romance, Slice of Life
Number of Episodes: 11 + 2
Review and Synopsis:
I'll try to be spoiler-free as much as possible. Densha Otoko is the story of Tsuyoshi Yamada (played by Atsushi Itoh), a 23-year-old hardcore otaku and Akiba-kei (tambay ng Akihabara District). This guy's looks are that of the sterotypical geek, has less than 1% of self-confidence, works a nutsy job and gets looked down by his @$$h0le of a boss, his co-workers and even his own sister(in short, think Sugarfree's "Hari ng Sablay" personified). While riding the train home from Akihabara, he happens to notice a beautiful lady reading Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons" (played by Misaki Itou) sitting opposite him. As he admires her, a drunk man starts comes in and begins harrassing the passengers. When the drunk starts harrassing the beautiful woman Tsuyoshi was admiring, the scared otaku musters up enough courage to tell the drunk to stop. This causes the drunk man to focus his attention on Tsuyoshi and proceeds to beat him up. The commotion draws the attention of the conductor who took control of the situation. Tsuyoshi ends up being thanked by the other passengers, and after their insisting, reluctantly gives his home address so they can send a "thank you" present.
After getting home, Tsuyoshi posts the events of what just happened on a "Lonely Hearts Club"-like thread on BBS 2Channel. A few days later, he recieves a parcel containing a pair of teacups. After realizing who sent him the package, he panics and posts on the thread that the teacups came from the beautiful lady he saved on the train, and they're no ordinary teacups but really expensive ones with a brand name of Hermes. He finds out that the girl happened to place her cellphone number on the contact info for the postal slip. He now tries to decide whether to call the girl or not, all the while asking for advice from the regulars of online thread...
I think I'll stop there for now. If I continue, I'll just end up spoiling the story for all those who haven't seen the series. I was introduced to this series by my friend and I ended up watching all 11 episodes straight last weekend. The story is very touching that I lost count how many times I felt teary-eyed and all. Its a given that the love story is there, but its not the all-mushy type like most romance genre. The thing I noted the most is that us otakus and mecha fanboys like us can relate to the story. I was moved by the extraordinary friendship of the characters in the series. BTW, check out Tsusyoshi's room. My girlfriend joked that eventually my room would looked like that more or less. I highly recommend watching "Densha Otoko", be it with your friends family or significant others. I'm sure you'll fall in love with the story too.
keeping the site active as a place to dump info for easier backtracking. 