>>1271903Rainbow is written by George Abe and illustrated by Masasumi Kakizaki. Abe wrote the series based on his own experience in prison. The manga follows the boys' lives during their time in the school and the years after they leave, highlighting the struggles the lower class faced in post-war Japanese society.
As a manga with manga sensibilities, the villains along the way are shown as brutal people who hinder progress or reduce opportunities. This makes it more uplifting morally than current american street society that promotes gang society as a positive, shoplifting from stores as a positive, and doing the infamous "peaceful protests" as a positive.