Based on the original book, Densha Otoko the TV series came out after a successful version of the novel was released in theatres. Not a continuation, but another telling of the story, this version of Densha Otoko spans 11 episodes and lets us get to know the characters and Aladdin~chan users on a much more personal level (in my personal opinion).

Saori & Tsuyoshi

For those of you not familiar with Densha Otoko, Tsuyoshi is the definition of otaku: he is obsessed with gaming, anime, manga and all things associated with the culture. His pants don’t quite fit, he has not taste in clothes, his glasses are too big and the is completely awkward in front of women. One day Tsuyoshi intervenes as he sees the lovely Saori being hassled by a drunkard on the train. Summoning up all his courage, he steps in & saves the lovely princess. As a thank you, Saori sends him a lovely set of teacups.

But since Tsuyoshi is not a social butterfly, he turns to people on the Aladdin Channel BBS board for advice and support as he tries to become who he thinks Saori would want. Here he posts under the user name “Densha Otoko” (Train Man) and refers to Saori as “Hermes”, the brand of teacups she sent him. In return for their help, he tells his anxious fans virtually every single detail of their relationship.

Tsuyoshi's Otaku Friends

As in all love stories, there are those who would rather not see this relationship become anything more than just a friendship. Sakurai Kazuya is madly in love with Saori, and has been trying to woo her, very unsuccessfully for a while. And then there is his friend, Matsunaga, who doesn’t want to lose his friend to a woman.

Densha Otoko TV is not just about Tsuyoshi & Saori’s relationship, but also about how the other people from the BBS board start to view their personal relationships with people they love/have loved in the past. It’s these stories intermingled with the tale of Densha and Hermes that really set this version apart from the movie.

GONZO, one of the top Japanese anime studios, created the anime opening sequence for Densha Otoko, featuring a character named Mina. Mina was the star of a fictional anime series of which Tsuyoshi was a huge fan. All sorts of toys, posters and other items were created exclusively for the TV show. GONZO eventually created an anime series for Mina. The opening song for Densha Otoko is Twilight from Electric Light Orchestra.

You can also check out the manga version of Densha Otoko, which has been brought to North America thanks to Viz Media.

Original Air Dates: July 7 to Sept 22, 2005
Number of Episodes: 11
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Broadcast Network: Fuji TV