Report: “Rainbow – Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin” – Chapter 1 (Full)
(Prepared 13 April 2026)
Title: "The Stride Toward Tomorrow" (or similar)
Setting: 1955, Shōnan Special Reform School.
Main events:
The horror of Chapter 1 doesn't stem from the prison bars or the guards, but from the man in charge: Dr. Sasaki.
The manga does an exceptional job establishing him as a predator. Unlike a generic villain, Sasaki presents a veneer of polite civility, making his true nature all the more terrifying. Chapter 1 sets the stage for the abuse of power that defines the early arcs of Rainbow. The tension in the scenes where the boys realize they are trapped with a monster is palpable on the page.
Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin is not a "feel-good" read. Chapter 1 is a punch to the gut. It introduces a world where the "bad guys" wear badges and the "criminals" are children trying to survive.
However, it is precisely this darkness that makes the light of their friendship so blindingly bright. If you are ready to witness one of the greatest tales of camaraderie in manga history, starting with Chapter 1 is the only way to go.
Have you read the first chapter of Rainbow? What was your first impression of Dr. Sasaki? Let us know in the comments below! rainbow nisha rokubou no shichinin chapter 1 full
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Title: Diving into Darkness: A Deep Dive into Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin Chapter 1
Slug: rainbow-nisha-rokubou-no-shichinin-chapter-1
Posted on: [Today’s Date]
Category: Manga Reviews / Seinen Analysis
If you think you’ve seen “dark” anime or manga, you probably haven’t met Mario, the sadistic guard of Shounan Special Reform School. Today, we are cracking open the brutal, beautiful, and heartbreaking world of Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin starting with Chapter 1.
For the uninitiated, Rainbow (not to be confused with the children’s singer or the shoujo manga) is a legendary seinen manga by George Abe (story) and Masasumi Kakizaki (art). Set in 1955 post-war Japan, it follows seven teenagers who are thrown into a hellish juvenile detention center.
Here is the full breakdown of Chapter 1: “The Rainbow’s Grip.” Report: “Rainbow – Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin” –
The year is 1955. Post-war Japan is still rebuilding, but the scars run deep—not just in the cities, but in the souls of its people. The story opens not on a bustling Tokyo street, but inside the walls of the Shounan Special Reform School. This is not your typical juvenile detention center. It is a gulag for teenagers.
From the first panel, Kakizaki’s art is suffocating. The lines are thick, heavy, and unapologetically ugly. The walls of the cells are damp, the lighting is nonexistent except for the cruel glare of a guard’s flashlight, and the shadows seem to have a weight of their own. This isn't the stylized darkness of Berserk or the gothic horror of Hellsing. This is the grimy, realistic, stomach-churning darkness of a prison where hygiene is a distant memory and violence is the only language.
The chapter immediately introduces us to the hierarchy of this hell. On one side, you have the boys—six teenagers (Mario, Smokey, Baremoto, Heita, Suppon, and the protagonist, Rokurouta Sakuragi, nicknamed "Rock"). On the other side, you have the guards, led by the monstrous Ishihara.
The title Rainbow (Niji) is ironic here. There is no treasure at the end of this rainbow. The six boys are locked in a windowless, stinking cell (Rokubou – Cell No. 6). They are beaten, starved, and treated like animals.
Key Scene from Chapter 1: The Physical Exam The chapter wastes no time establishing the horror. Doctor Ishihara Mario conducts "medical inspections" that are actually public humiliation sessions. He strips the boys of their dignity, pokes and prods them, and administers horrific "vitamin shots" that are clearly meant to cause pain.
It is in this scene that we meet Sakuragi. While the younger boys tremble, Sakuragi stands tall. He doesn’t flinch. He stares the doctor down. This single act of defiance sparks a tiny flame of hope in the dark cell.
The first chapter, often titled "The Rainbow" or "The Six of Cell 2", opens not with hope, but with the clang of iron bars.
The Setting: 1955, Shounan Special Reform School. This is not a rehabilitation center; it is a living hell disguised as a juvenile detention facility. Corrupt guards, brutal beatings, starvation, and sexual abuse are the daily curriculum. Introduces the six main juvenile delinquents: Mario, Minami,
The Protagonists: We are immediately introduced to six teenagers—Mario Minakami, Noboru Takasaki (called "Barefoot" due to his stubborn refusal to wear shoes), Ryuuji Endo (the brawler), Jouji "Joe" Saeki (the calm strategist), Toru "Rotten" Ishihara (the joker), and Souichi "Heitai" Yamaguchi (the cowardly but kind-hearted one).
In Chapter 1, they are gathered into Cell 2 under the sadistic watch of a guard named Ishihara (no relation to Rotten). The chapter wastes no time in establishing the hierarchy of pain. The boys are stripped of their names, their dignity, and their future.
But the chapter’s soul is introduced when the seventh man appears: Rokurouta Sakuragi, nicknamed "Aniki" (Big Brother). Sakuragi is already a legend in the reformatory. He is older, wiser, and covered in scars that tell stories of defiance. Unlike the others, who are broken or hiding, Sakuragi walks into the cell with his head high.
The key moment of Chapter 1 occurs late at night. The six younger boys are shivering from cold and fear. Sakuragi looks at each of them, then at the ceiling. He traces an imaginary arc with his finger and says:
"When this rain stops, a rainbow will appear. That rainbow will be our goal. No matter how long it takes, we’ll all walk under that rainbow together."
From that moment, the six become seven. The chapter ends with the first act of rebellion—small, almost pathetic, but symbolic—they refuse to bow to the head guard. And for that, they are beaten nearly to death.
By the final page of Chapter 1 full, you are emotionally exhausted. But you are also hooked.