Densha Otoko

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

Densha Otoko (Train Man in English) is a franchise that, as of the time of this writing,[when?] consists of a book, a film, a television drama, and five different manga adaptations, all of which are based on forum posts in 2ch.

The main character is a nameless otaku living in Akihabara. One evening, as he is taking the train home, he sees a drunk Salaryman accosting a woman. He intervenes, and in gratitude, the woman asks for his address and mails him an expensive Hermès tea set as a thank-you gift. The otaku relays this information on the forum he frequents, whereupon he is given the moniker "Train Man". He seeks the advice and support of his fellow forumgoers to tidy himself up and ask "Hermès" out.


The following tropes are common to many or all entries in the Densha Otoko franchise.
For tropes specific to individual installments, visit their respective work pages.

-- Matilda-san... Matilda-san... MATILDA-SAN!!!

The 2005 live-action film contains examples of:

  • Beautiful All Along: In the movie at least, Densha turns out to be a hottie after getting a haircut, contacts, and a fresh wardrobe.
  • Surprisingly Good English: Hermes speaks fluent English in a British accent.
  • Those Two Guys: The 2channers, consisting of Those Three Otaku, a hikkikomori, a nurse, and a man and woman who are revealed to be husband and wife late in the movie.

The 2005 TV series contains examples of: