Densha Otoko (TV Drama)

電車男 Also known as "Train Man".

This is an article about the TV drama. For the movie, please try Densha Otoko (Movie)

A TV series based on a book based on events that supposedly happened in real life. A popular story for the year 2005. There was also a movie version released prior to the TV series.

Aired from July 7, 2005 to September 22, 2005 (11 Eps. + Specials)

Average rating 21.0%.

Plot

This drama is a fictionalized retelling of a story that supposedly happened on Japan's 2chan boards. It's about the courtship of an otaku salaryman with an OL that he happens to save on a train. The story is mostly about his interactions with the online board, as Net denizens give him advice and encourage his relationship.

Differences In Story

In the drama, the boards are known as A-chan. The stalker story is based on a real incident, but is a lot more elaborate in the drama version. Obviously, all the parts that happen off the Internet are fabricated to fill in the story gap.

Characters

Densha Otoko 電車男/ Yamada Tsuyoshi 山田 剛司

Played by Itou Atsushi

Nicknamed Densha Otoko/Trainman because he saves Hermes from a molester on a train. A young otaku man. Birthday is on July 7, 1982 on Japan's Tanabata holiday.

Hermes エルメス/ Aoyama Saori 青山 沙織

Played by Itou Misaki

Nicknamed Hermes by the Net denizens because she sends Densha a set of Hermes tea cups. Birthday is August 21, 1979. Her profession is an OL.

Tsuyoshi's Coworkers

Jinkama Misugu 陣釜 美鈴

Played by Shiraishi Miho 白石 美帆

Jinkama's promiscuous coworker. She takes great delight in bullying and teasing Tsuyoshi, even though deep down she probably cares for him.

Kuroki Fumito 黒木 文人

Played by Satou Jirou 佐藤二朗

Tsuyoshi's superior.

Oikwawa Naoto 及川 尚人

Played by Maekawa Yasuyuki 前川泰之

Tsuyoshi's coworker.

Tsuyoshi's Otaku Comrades

Matsunaga Yuusaku 松永 勇作

Played by Gekidan Hitori 劇団ひとり

Tsuyoshi's otaku friend. Has an ankle fetish.

Kawamoto Shinji 川本 信二

Played by Sugawara Eiji 菅原永二

An anime otaku. Isn't aware that he's an otaku. Refers to people with the -shi honorifice.

Takeda Karin 武田 花梨

Played by Koide Saori 小出早織

The voice actress who plays the main character in Tsuyoshi's favorite anime "Getsumen Toheiki Miina".

Tsuyoshi's Family

Yamada Aoi 山田 葵

Played by Horikita Maki 堀北真希

Tsuyoshi's younger sister. Hates otaku.

Yamada Kouki 山田 恒生

Played by Kishibe Shirou 岸部シロー

Tsuyoshi's dad.

Yamada Kasumi 山田 香澄

Played by Toda Keiko 戸田恵子

Tsuyoshi's mother. Only appears in the last episode to say some famous lines from Gundam.

Played by the voice actress for Matilda from Gundam.

Yamada Matilda 山田 マチルダ

Born in Deluxe. Birthday April 18, 2006. Named after Matilda from Gundam.

Kakeru カケル

A boy in Tsuyoshi's neighborhood who's his game friend. He calls Tsuyoshi an old man. It turns out that his father is the conductor on A Channel. When bored, he recites station names. Kakeru is the Japanese verb for trains moving.

Mitsuru ミツル

Another game friend.

On the July 25, 2005 episode of the quiz show "Nep League" the Densha Otoko team consisting of Itou Atsushi, Sudou Risa, Satou Eriko, Hayami Mokomichi, and Kishibe Shirou participated.

Saori's Coworkers

Mizuki Yuuko 観月 裕子

Played by Sudou Risa 須藤理彩

Sawazaki Kaho 沢崎 果歩

Played by Satou Eriko 佐藤江梨子

Saori's Family

Aoyama Keisuke 青山 啓介

Played by Hayami Mokomichi 速水もこみち

Saori's younger brother.

Aoyama Yuki 青山 由紀

Played by Akiyoshi Kumiko 秋吉久美子

Saori's mother.

Aoyama Kengo 青山 健吾

Played by Yamashita Shinji 山下真司

Saori's father. Born May 4, 1952.

Yamasaki Terumitsu 山崎 照光

Played by Fujimura Shunji 藤村俊二

Saori's grandfather.

Other People Related to Saori

Sakurai Kazuya 桜井 和哉

Played by Toyohara Kousuke 豊原功補

Took care of Saori and Kengo during their "homestay". Like an older brother to them.

Imura Shunpei 井村 駿平

Played by Ookura Kouji 大倉孝二

Saori's stalker in episode 5.

Seno 瀬野

Played by Katsurayama Shingo 葛山信吾

Ep. 3-4.

Maezono 前園

Played by Kitamura Kazuki 北村一輝

Appears in Deluxe. The young president of the IT firm Cyber Next.

The Net Denizens

Tsuyoshi's group of supporters on the Net board A Channel.

Minamoto Munetaka 皆本 宗孝

Played by Oguri Shun 小栗旬

Ascii artist.

Ushijima Sadao 牛島 貞雄

Played by Rokkaku Seiji 六角 精児

The Hanshin Tigers fan.

Asano Shinpei 浅野 真平

Played by Yamazaki Shigenori 山崎 樹範

A shut-in.

Hashizume Ryouko 橋爪 涼子

Played by Sakurai Chizu 桜井 千寿

Usually uses no handle name, but sometimes goes by "I'm a girl".

Ichisaka Susumu 一坂 進

Played by Mekumizu Youichi 温水 洋一

Tominaga 富永

Played by Gashuuin Tatsuya 我修院 達也

Travels around the world.

Couple (Male) カップル男

Played by Nasubi なすび

Couple (Female) カップル女

Played by Tamura Tagame 田村 たがめ

Conductor 車掌

Played by Doi Yoshio 土井よしお

Father of Kakeru.

Middle-aged Man 中年男性

Played by Kakeda Makoto 掛田 誠

Is always drinking sake.

Army Otaku 軍事オタク

Played by Murakami Wataru 村上航

Prep School Student 予備校生

Kagami Moe 鏡萌

Played by Nomizu Iori 野水 伊織

A cosplay girl. Usually wears glasses.

Muscle Man 筋肉猛男

A fighter ota.

Kishiwada 岸和田

Played by Namioka Kazuki 波岡 一喜

A punk ota.

Kawabata Yasunari 川端やすなり

Freeter フリーター

Played by Honda Makoto 本田 誠人

Usually in a manga cafe.

External Links

http://www.fujitv.co.jp/b_hp/denshaotoko/

DVD Box site from Pony Canyon

Japanese Wiki