I'm not sure that I would like the book (or the "soundtrack on CD, TV series, play or several independent spinoffs") but hey, who am I? I am intrigued, however, because as you may have guessed, Train Man is a blook.
Essentially an "Extreme Makeover"- or "Beauty and the Geek"-style story, a shy guy rescues a girl from a drunk on a train. She wants to reward/repay him but he's a nerd, a virgin?, a whatever. Desperate, he posts to an internet forum, Japanese BBS 2channel, (which happens to be the largest internet forum in the world) and asks for help in wooing and winning the girl. During the next two months an estimated million readers[!] followed the online discussion and contributed advice about showers, haircuts, clipping toenails, and breath mints.
Somewhere along the line, the author decided he had enough material for a book. He collected [I don't know how] all the bits and pieces that make up the book. Whether he approached Shinchosha Publishing Company or they approached him is also unknown.
The Train Man blook stats are impressive:
Since its 2004 release in print, the book "Train Man" has sold more than one million copies, with retail sales of $11 million, according to the publisher, Shinchosha Publishing Co. The train man character and the chat site mediator have shared some $1.1 million in royalties, although neither is credited as author. ... The book is available in Chinese and Korean translations and is currently being translated into Thai, Italian and English. (Wall Street Journal)
Is it true?
The film's website has in their Notes: "Train Man began as a series of threads on the Japanese BBS 2channel, which happens to be the largest internet forum in the world. Supposedly a true story, the threads were eventually compiled into a bestselling novel ... ."
Note the word "supposedly." In January this year, Wired echoed the skepticism:
"Some say he's real, others insist he was cooked up by some clever 2Channel posters. The book's publisher, Shinchosha, agreed to set up an email interview with Train Man, but acted as an anonymizing go-between." As with so many things online, who cares if it's true as long as it's entertaining?
The Money
I'll take up the issue of anonymity in my post about Waiter Rant. But for now, this is what happens if you don't step forward to pick up the check:
Originally a series of message posts on popular Japanese forum 2-chan, no one knows if Trainman is a true story, or an elaborate hoax.Since the original creator of Trainman has never revealed his or her identity, the publishers of the Trainman manga and book, as well as the distributor of the movie, have agreed to put the royalties generally reserved for the creator into a special fund benefiting victims of the Chuetsu earthquake. (Anime News Network)
What have we learned?
Chat and forum imply interaction, but there's no reason why a blogger couldn't invite the same kind of participation. It's that sense of collaboration which builds an audience for the blog as well as for the blook.
In this case, Mr. Anon created a persona and evidently did a darn good job maintaining the illusion. He queried; people responded. [Repeat as necessary until you have enough material for a blook.] He also found a topic which resonated.
* Brian Ashcraft titled one of his posts about the train man of Japan, "Love Train." I liked the title so I borrowed it.
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