Manga has the power to transport you to fantastical worlds, but every so often, a series drags you into a grim, unflattering corner of reality and forces you to look. Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin (Rainbow: The Seven from Cell Six), written by George Abe and illustrated by Masasumi Kakizaki, is precisely that kind of story. Serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday starting in 2002, Rainbow is a brutal, poignant, and ultimately uplifting tale of seven juvenile delinquents struggling to survive Japan’s post-WWII reform school system.
Chapter 1, often subtitled “The Song of Freedom” in fan translations, is not a gentle handshake. It is a punch to the gut. It sets the tone for the entire series: unflinching violence, profound camaraderie, and the flicker of hope in absolute darkness.
If you are searching for "Rainbow Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin Chapter 1," you are likely either a curious newcomer or a fan looking for analysis. This article will break down the plot, themes, character introductions, and artistic mastery of the very first chapter.
The genius of Chapter 1 is that it introduces all seven protagonists simultaneously without feeling crowded. Each boy gets a distinct silhouette and attitude. rainbow nisha rokubou no shichinin chapter 1
| Name | Nickname | Defining Trait in Ch. 1 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Mario Minakami | Mario | The protagonist. Stoic, resilient, with a boxer’s instinct. He is our eyes. | | Noboru Yamaguchi | An-chan | The leader. Calm, wise, and mysterious. He carries the hope. | | Tetsuya Hirono | Tetsuji | The hothead. Quick to anger, but loyal. | | Ryouichi Ishimatsu | Joe | The smooth-talker and womanizer. Uses humor as armor. | | Intetsu Komuro | Sakigake | The brawler. Large, intimidating, but simple-hearted. | | Saburou Koyama | Heitai | The soldier. Rigid, disciplined, hides trauma. | | Soukichi Banba | Barefoot | The optimist. Youngest, most naive, yet surprisingly brave. |
Beyond the seven, Chapter 1 also introduces the monstrous Sasaki, whose first act is to smash a boy’s hand with a metal pipe for talking back. There is no ambiguity here: Sasaki is pure evil.
The chapter opens in Shio, Japan, in 1955. The country is still rebuilding from the ashes of World War II. Poverty is rampant, and the social safety net is weak. We are introduced to the Sukoya Reform School—a hellish institution masquerading as a place of correction. Manga has the power to transport you to
The protagonist is Mario Minakami, a 17-year-old former boxer. He is escorted into Cell Six (Rokubou) alongside six other boys: Noboru “An-chan” Yamaguchi, Tetsuya “Tetsuji” Hirono, Ryouichi “Joe” Ishimatsu, Intetsu “Sakigake” Komuro, Saburou “Heitai” Koyama, and Soukichi “Barefoot” Banba. They are all there for various crimes born of desperation.
Immediately, Chapter 1 establishes the prison’s sadistic hierarchy. The guards are not rehabilitators; they are tyrants. The chief antagonist, Ishihara (a corrupt doctor), and the brutal guard, Sasaki (nicknamed "The Devil"), rule through fear, starvation, and torture.
The new boys are stripped, beaten, and thrown into their cell. That night, something unexpected happens. An-chan, the oldest and most enigmatic of the group, begins to hum a melody. He asks Mario if he knows the song. Mario recognizes it as “Tsubasa o Kudasai” (Give Me Wings)—a popular post-war folk song about freedom and flying away from sorrow. Chapter 1, often subtitled “The Song of Freedom”
One by one, the other boys join in. In the darkness of Cell Six, bleeding, hungry, and terrified, seven strangers harmonize. The guards pound on the walls, but they don’t stop. This moment—the first chapter’s climax—is pure magic. It is a declaration of defiance. They are not animals. They are still human. They will not have their spirits broken.
The chapter ends with An-chan declaring, “From now on, we are brothers.”
The year 1955 is specific. These boys are the orphans of WWII. Their crimes—theft, violence, survival—are symptoms of a broken nation. Chapter 1 doesn’t spell this out; it shows it through their scars and silent stares.
While George Abe’s story is brutal, Masasumi Kakizaki’s art elevates it to a nightmare masterpiece. In Chapter 1, pay attention to: