Product Details

• Actors: Takayuki Yamada, Miki Nakatani
• Directors: Shosuke Murakami
• Format: Dolby, Anamorphic, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: Japanese (Stereo)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: VIZ Pictures, Inc.
• DVD Release Date: February 6, 2007
• Run Time: 102 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000KN9FAS
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,767 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Train Man : Densha Otoko" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A supposedly true combination of a romance and a Pygmalion story, Densha Otoko began as an on-line tale that captivated audiences in Japan: there's a novel, a TV show, and a manga series, in addition to this feature. The title character is a textbook otaku, an anime and video game nerd who divides his time between the electronics stores in Tokyo's Akihabara district and the computer in his cluttered room. One day on a commuter train, he prevents an obnoxious drunk from bothering a pretty girl. She sends him a set of Hermès teacups as a thank-you and a tentative romance begins. Train Man has no idea how to behave with a girl, so an on-line posse tells him how to dress and what to say. Ultimately, his example inspires them to go out into the world. Director Masanori Murakami effectively uses a split screen to create the on-line community. Takayuki Yamada makes a wonderfully maladroit Train Man: when he calls Hermès for the first time, he holds the phone as if he were about to commit seppuku. Miki Nakatami infuses Hermès with a winning mixture of gentleness and independence. This touching romance will delight Gen-Y and -Z members, whose lives are bound to the Internet. (Unrated, suitable for ages 13 and older: minor violence, alcohol and tobacco use)--Charles Solomon

Product Description

Computer engineer Otaku (the Japanese term for "geek") is an average young man, dressed in unstylish clothes and dorky glasses. But as luck would have it, he encounters a pretty young woman on a commuter train and saves her from a lecherous molester, falling in love with her at first sight. A few days later he receives a thank-you message from the woman along with a set of Hermes teacups. Having never had a girlfriend or received a gift from a girl in his life, Otaku seeks out his pals on his BBS website for advice using his codename Train_Man (Densha Otoko): "How should I ask her out?" Deeply interested in Train Man's first love, his BBS pals eagerly supply him with advice. Encouraged by their support, Train_Man undergoes a total makeover for his first-ever date with "Hermess". Little does he know that he is about to ignite an Internet phenomenon...

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A wholly innocuous trifle, but a fun one all the same February 1, 2007

By Calvin McMillin

Format:DVD

To put it simply, the 2005 romantic comedy Train Man is a fairy tale for geeks. As derisive as that comment may sound, it's not really meant as a criticism, just a factual description. Supposedly based on a true story, Train Man (a.k.a. Densha Otoko) centers on a twenty-two year old manga enthusiast known only by the online handle "Train Man" (Takayuki Yamada). Unlucky in love for his entire life, Train Man has consoled himself to the fact that he probably won't be getting a girlfriend anytime this millennium, so he decides to embrace his nerdy fate and spend his free time prowling for toys in Akihabara.

One evening, our hero's prospects for romance begin to change when he spots a lovely woman (Miki Nakatani) being harassed by a drunken commuter. In a moment of awkward heroism, Train Man intervenes on her behalf. Although he's certainly no Superman, he does delay the drunkard long enough for security to show up. Later, to Train Man's complete surprise, the woman asks for his address so she can properly thank him for his good deed. So energized by this encounter is Train Man that he posts his story on a message board, an act which eventually earns him a faithful, albeit anonymous readership. Little does he know, however, that his story has only just begun.

Things pick up quickly when Train Man receives a set of expensive Hermes teacups in the mail. The sender? You guessed it - the woman on the train. Both ecstatic and highly confused by this surprising turn of events, Train Man turns to his online pals for help, who post back bits of advice on what his next move should be. After much debate, he finally summons up the courage to call her, and amazingly, she agrees to meet him for dinner.... But in preparing for his first ever real date with a woman, Train Man smartly makes a few cosmetic adjustments on the advisement of his online peers. It isn't long before he gets a stylish haircut, purchases some designer threads, and doffs his glasses in favor of some contact lenses. The transformation from geek to chic is surprisingly fast, but no matter what he looks like, it's clear that Train Man is still a socially-inept otaku, as his jitteriness and all-around dorkiness in the presence of the woman he dubs "Hermes" is strikingly apparent. Still, Train Man begins to make progress with Hermes, but unfortunately, his deep-seated insecurities just might mess the whole thing up. It's clearly time for Train Man to grow up, but will he do it in time?

On its premise alone, Train Man is essentially a G-rated version of The 40-Year-Old-Virgin culturally suited to fit Japanese tastes. While both films maintain an underlying message that love is more important than lust, the main character in Train Man seems to operate in a world where sex isn't even something that would cross his mind, a factor which greatly contributes to the fairytale quality of the film. And while technology, particularly computers, is crucial to the plot, Train Man is, at its core, an old-fashioned romance about finding one's true love. Some may balk at the simplicity of the story, but in some ways, that's part of the charm.

As far as performances go, Takayuki Yamada makes for a fine Train Man, particularly once the She's All That-style makeover takes place. It's easy to act nerdy when the character is dressed to the nines in Akihabara geek wear, but once he makes the transformation into a more presentable stud, it would be easy for an actor to slip out of the required geekiness necessary for his performance. However, that's not the case with Yamada; the incongruity between what Train Man looks like post-makeover versus his actual behavior helps give this geek fantasy some semblance of realism. No matter how polished Train Man looks, he's still an otaku at heart.

Also carrying the film along with Yamada is Miki Nakatani, who has the unenviable task of making her character's interest in Train Man seem believable. As likeable as Train Man is as a character is, his appeal seems somewhat elusive. Yes, he's a nice guy, but he's also annoyingly skittish, and as the finale proves, a bit of a crybaby to boot. However, the "crying" scene does make for a funny reversal of expectations as Hermes must console the weeping Train Man with several comical "there, there" reassurances. And while the believability of a relationship between Hermes and Train Man is precarious at best, it would be completely unbelievable if not for Nakatani's performance. She is able to project an inner life, if not an entire past history with men for her character that is not in the script, which gives some indication of why she values Train Man so much.

One of the more interesting aspects of the film is how it focuses not only on Train Man's mission, but also on his ability to touch the lives of his readership. Among his online supporters, there's a young shut-in, a nurse who seems to be recovering from a failed relationship, three overgrown otakus who've had worse luck in life than Train Man, and a husband and wife who don't realize they're posting on the same board. As each of these characters participate in Train Man's strange coming-of-age story, his amazing strides with Hermes opens their eyes to what's missing in their own lives, showing them that if he can get a girlfriend, then just about anything is possible. Although, these "sidestories" could probably be developed even better in a television drama, the small glimmers of their lives given in Train Man are a welcome presence and enhance the main storyline immensely.

After all is said and done, Train Man is more or less just a fun little underdog story, thanks in large part to the likeable performances from its cast members. Sure, things are a bit too chaste and simplistic considering the situation, but in some ways, that's part of the appeal. Unlike the protagonist, the film Train Man may not dramatically change your life, but in its all-too-true rendering of the anxieties of dating, on some level it's sure to speak to everyone's inner geek. Read more ›

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A movie for everyone May 12, 2007

By kaneda

Format:DVD

A wonderful, sweet movie, with superb performances by Takayuki Yamada and Miki Nakatani. Unlike American romantic comedies which culminate with the two main characters getting together in bed, this film focuses not only on the awkwardness and difficulties of first love, but the impact one person has on the live of others. As Train Man's fellow chat-room members (who are invisible to him) help him and cheer him on, we the viewers see their own lives change as well, as they gain courage to move on and become better human beings.

As a Japanese film, this story works well. If Hollywood gets hold of it and Americanizes it, like they did with 'Shall We Dance?' it will be ruined!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!!! March 8, 2007

By Paul T. Vlosich II

Format:DVD

This movie is a story about how the Internet can influence the lives of its users, both positively and negatively. Train Man (hereafter referred to as Densha Otoko) is a 22-23yo otaku [anime geek] who's never had a relationship in his life. This suddenly when he helps save a beautiful woman from a drunkard on the train ride home. That's where he gets his name from.

From there, Densha goes onto 2chan, the Internet's largest bulletin board system forum. He asks for advice and eventually, thousands of people across the net encourages him and cheers him on as he fights the standards and himself in his quest for true love.

This story is apparently true, but after hearing the commentary, I would say it's existence on the Internet is totally true...but in real life? I'm not so sure. However, whether it actually is true or not, the story of Densha Otoko changed thousands of lives across Japan and even the world.

If you love romance and don't mind English subtitles in a foreign film, then this film is a pure delight. Highly highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Done English Translation (Subtitles) November 18, 2007

By Momoko

Format:DVD

Being a native speaker of the Japanese language, I watched the film with Japanese voice and English subtitle. Often, with other movies, I find myself frustrated with translation being not so accurate, but this film didn't irritate me. It is impossible for translation to convey the exact context, and therefore one can achieve the BEST possible translation. I say that the best possible translation effort was made with a success in this film. The quality of translation matters when one watches foreign films.

As a comedy I think this film is entertaining. They used this film as one of films shown for Japanese Film Festival in Miami, and I could see other audiences having good time in the theater. I thought the film conveys the culture of Japanese high-tech communication in a proper fashion. Although I am not exactly a nerd (some of my friends say I am, but I insist that I am not), I have had an experience a few years ago where I had to receive support from a certain group of anonymous Japanese persons online, who understood a very specific issue, and I think my overcoming that issue had a lot to do with the online support from people I didn't even know their names.

It is true that Japanese online community has unbelievably strong bond and influences to us in a way that wasn't so before Internet came along. That I can say for sure from my own experience.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Geeks in love... August 4, 2007

By Michael Valdivielso

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Train Man is a very funny, touching and twisted story of a young guy who falls in love with an older woman. The only problem is he is a Otaku who has no social skills. In fact, outside of the world of computers, anime and the world wide web, he has no other skills to speak of. So the people on 2ch, the most popular and largest bulletin board in Japan and the world, decide to help him with hints, advice and encouragement. In the end his own actions also encourage them to turn off the computers, step outside and face the real world.
With Otaku commentary, an ASCII art dictionary, culture tips and Train Man manga information, this disc has a lot of extras. I enjoyed watching this film and would suggest it to everybody into Japanese culture, Otaku culture or just enjoys a good love story. Even if it isn't true.