Densha Otoko: Volume 1 - The Story of the Train Man Who Fell in Love with a Girl [Paperback]

Hitori Nakano (Author), Wataru Watanabe (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 11, 2006 | Series: Densha Otoko (Book 1)

Densha has never had a girlfriend. Most of his days are spent immersed in electronics and worshipping the beautiful, yet two-dimensional, women in his life. However, fate takes a turn for Densha one ordinary night on an ordinary train ride. He falls in love at first sight with Hermes, a gorgeous fellow passenger. When a drunken rider tries to harass her, Densha surprises himself by coming to her rescue. They end up exchanging information, so Hermes can properly show her gratitude for his help. Immediately upon returning home, Densha gets online and divulges all of the nights juicy details to a chat room he frequents. His cyber friends encourage him to ask Hermes out and the two begin dating. The chat room becomes his relationship touchstone and advice haven. Will Denshas friends be able to help transform him from a nerd to a Casanova?

Product Details

• Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: CMX (October 11, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401211410
• ISBN-13: 978-1401211417
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.5 x 7.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,920,908 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Train Man stumbles through his first attempt at dating..., October 30, 2006

By 

N. S. Michael (New Mexico) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Densha Otoko: Volume 1 - The Story of the Train Man Who Fell in Love with a Girl (Paperback)

...Densha Otoko is based on a Japanese internet meme that may or may not have happened in real life. The story goes that the Train Man, who is a seriously introverted otaku, helped several office ladies fend off a rude drunkard. Afterwards, one of the gals sends him a really expensive gift in thanks. Touched, and more than a little attracted as she was very cute, Train Man calls her and, with MUCH HELP from his internet buddies, starts to court her.

Both Viz and CMX are putting out rival versions of the story in manga form. This is the review for the CMX title.

First of all, the story... Train and Hermes (as they are never referred to by name) do their little dance fairly sweet and innocently. A lot of time is spend showing you just how much of an Otaku (obsessive, introverted fan, a.k.a. Uber-Geek) that Train really is.

Much panel time also goes to his various chatroom buddies who are all egging him on and offering advice. In theory, it may sound like the "blind leading the blind" as all of these chatters are supposed to have the same problems in dealing with members of the opposite sex, but their various bits of advice that come from their specialties and/or jobs come together and help put Train on the right track to romance.

Volume 1 leads us all the way up until just before Train's big dinner date, spending almost all of it's pages on his attempts to even talk to the lovely Hermes and his various trips to the hair salon, clothing store and scouting out a restaurant. In this version, as opposed to the Viz release, Train seems much more weak and indecisive... less sure of himself. It makes his change seem admirable, but much less realistic.

The art varies between crisp/realistic and foggy/unrealistic in typical manga form... most prominent whenever Train panicks (which is often) and when the chatlogs take over the panels and chatacters by using emoticons to represent them. The art also feels a little childish in comparison to the other release. The style very much makes me feel as if I'm reading a manga aimed at pre-teens instead of the more mature set. Not that that's a bad thing, just an observation.

I bought both releases and find myself unable to recommend one over the other save for on one point. More action happens in the Viz version... we get to see the first date until completion and on into the second dinner where she brings and friend. It also has more pages, clocking in around 20 higher than this, the CMX version.

Personally, I'm buying both to see how each artist interprets the events, but I'd recommend previewing both to take a look at the art and see which one you like better.