Densha Otoko でんしゃ おとこ

Recommendation:
Genre: Romance Comedy (Based on true story made into novel)
Type: Japanese Dramas TV series
Air period: July 7 to September 22 2005
Number of episodes: 11

Synopsis is as follows:

In Densha Otoko also known as "Train Man" ,Ito Atsushi plays as Yamada Tsuyoshi, an otaku (geek) who's hardcore into Japanese anime. While taking a train ride, the beautiful Aoyami Saori (Ito Misaki) is harassed by an obnoxious drunk. On the same train is Yamada. Despite his Otakuness he musters up the strength to stand up for Aoyami. Thankful for Yamada's help, Aoyami sends him these Hermes teacups. Excited, he wants to thank Aoyami. There's one problem. He does not know how to communicate with women nor has he had any significant experience with them! The ecstatic yet confused Yamada doesn't know what else to do so he turns to a BBS known as the Aladdin Channel for help. His message reaches a spectrum of characters on the channel . Touched by his situation, the members give him tips and advice on how to act around Aoyami, whom he code names as "Hermes" on the BBS. He posts his every move on the The Aladdin Channel and is cheered on by his audience as well giving him adequate feedback.


What I think:

Ito Misaki plays a beautiful and elegant Aoyami Saori, aka "Hermes". She is well suited for the role with her slender figure and innocent facial features yet at the same time emitting a sort of snobbishness at first glance. Which makes you wonder how Atsushi's character could ever attain such a woman. Watching Yamada throughout the series was rather awkward with his excessive stuttering and facial expressions which I found quite hateful at times. This train man was just one big train wreck of a character. And even awkward still was his interaction with Aoyami. They had a sort of cute yet gawky chemistry going, just a very unlikely pair indeed. It took 3 episodes of getting used to the whole awkwardness of his character; almost like an acquired taste type of thing. As hateful as his character may have been, Atsushi's performance was very convincing to say the least. Just oozing Otaku. XD

Getting past all of that, the entire series is very entertaining with a colorful cast of characters, especially Yamada's BBS buddies which range from the normal to the WTF is that. The BBS community gave Yamada the confidence to pursue Aoyami and at the same time, touched their very own lives at home with his courage and persistence. Yamada's Interaction with the community seemed to be one of the more entertaining features with him receiving a unique reply from each individual.

As far as twists go, there doesn't seem to be too many of them in this series, everything seems pretty straight forward. To finish things off, this Japanese drama series is not bad and may require some audiences to get past the first few episodes just so they can develop a sort of "acquired taste" for Yamada's Otakuness. Other than that the story is interesting and since it is mostly a comedy it's sure to keep you laughing throughout the series.




Till next post,

-J




**On a side note, Horikita Maki plays as Yamada's somewhat mean sister Aoi. Finding her in dramas where she plays a less significant supporting role is sort of an easter egg for me since I'm such a big fan of hers.