Today's Densha Otoko Moment: Slow Dance

So yeah, I love Densha Otoko (Shiraishi Miho ROCKS!). But then, I'm an otaku. Just to further demonstrate to y'all the immense power of my otaku-ness (wanna see my license?), I shall now share a Densha Otoko-related discovery that only a hardcore otaku would even notice, much less be amused by:

In the last episode of the 2005 drama Slow Dance (as its name suggests, a very slow-paced, grinding drama about the nature of relationships, social reality, and pursuit of your dreams in the stressful, nerve-wracking world of Japanese adulthood), the fianceé of the minor character Ichisaka-san (a timid, awkward 50-ish man who leads a rather uneventful life) remarks to male lead Serizawa Riichi (who was Ichisaka's driving school instructor in the early episodes and offered enough encouragement -- through both words and action -- that Ichisaka finally managed to get his driving license after having failed to do so 10+ times previously) that her man had been "going on the 'net" a lot lately -- and that he now keeps saying strange things like 'kita----' (watch Densha Otoko!) or 'moe~'." Nukumizu Youichi, who plays Ichisaka, also plays one of the more prominent "Net no Juunin" (ネットの住人 - residents of the 'Net/cyberlurkers; those guys provide some of the funniest and most entertaining moments of that show) on Densha Otoko, so that line was a rather subtle reference to the awesome Densha drama, which is amusing. What's even more amusing, Slow Dance happened to be a direct competitor of Densha Otoko's (i. e. the two dramas aired at the same prime time slot on competing broadcast stations), and it's highly unusual that you'd see a show reference its fierce competitor, even if the two of them share the same minor actor...











Nukumizu-san selling takoraisu (i.e. octopus rice) in Slow Dance











Ruminating shortly before Densha Otoko's "ore, tabidatsu yo" scene

P. S. - Just noticed that Densha Otoko returned the favor in its later episodes as well. Note the "Tako Raisu" katakana in the laptop sticker in the pic above... or just look at this pic, which was ripped straight out of the last ep of Densha TV:



(Apparently the makers of Densha Otoko got to use imagery of Nukumizu's Slow Dance "fianceé" as well; curiouser and curiouser...)




P. P. S. -- Did a little research and found out that Slow Dance actually aired on Thursdays whereas Densha Otoko aired on Mondays, so the two were not direct competitors. Also Densha Otoko credits Nukumizu's character as "Ichisaka Susumu," so we seem to have a simple crossover scenario on our hands. Sore ijou, sore dake. Mystery solved.