Pink (1989 manga)

Not to be confused with the manga of the same name by Akira Toriyama.

Pink
Illustration of a tired young woman in a frilly dress. She is holding a crocodile skin suitcase and is leaned slightly forward. She looks somewhere off screen. To her right in pink is the text "Pink" above the text "kyoko okazaki"
Re-released cover of Pink featuring Yumiko
ピンク
(Pinku)
Genre
Created byKyoko Okazaki
Manga
Written byKyoko Okazaki
Published byMagazine House
English publisher
ImprintMag Comics
MagazineNew Punch Zaurus
DemographicJosei[2]
PublishedSeptember 1989

Pink (Japanese: ピンク, Hepburn: Pinku) is a 1989 Japanese manga by Kyoko Okazaki. Originally published by Magazine House, the manga follows the life of Yumiko, who works as both a call girl and an office lady. The story explores her relationships and how they are shaped by the social and economic climate of Tokyo in the 1980s. Pink is considered to be one of the first josei manga, a subset of manga aimed at adult women.[3]

Pink was developed and published at the height of the Japanese asset price bubble, a period characterized by heavy consumerism and unchecked optimism.[4] This sudden boom in the economy fueled a surge in disposable income, leading to a desire for luxury goods. Set against a backdrop of materialism, Pink explores themes of youthful rebellion, and critiques the excessive pursuit of extravagance.[5]

Pink was well received by both critics and audiences alike for its social commentary and realistic portrayal of Tokyo in the 1980s.[6] Considered Okazaki's breakthrough work,[7] Pink significantly influenced both josei and shojo (targeted towards teenage girls) manga genres. Pink was re-released in Japan on July 29, 2010, with a new cover.[8] An English translation published by Vertical Inc was released on November 15, 2013.[9]

  1. ^ "Pink by Kyoko Okazaki". Kodansha. 2013-11-26. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  2. ^ McClain, Carrie (2022-10-04). "5 Messy but Brilliant Josei Manga Titles You Need In Your Life". Black Nerd Problems. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  3. ^ "Pink by Kyoko Okazaki". www.penguin.com.au. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  4. ^ Lee, Andrew (2013-12-07). "Pink". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  5. ^ Langsdale, Samantha; Coody, Elizabeth Rae, eds. (2020). Monstrous women in comics. Horror and monstrosity studies series. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi. p. 196. ISBN 978-1-4968-2762-3.
  6. ^ "Beautiful Disaster: The Artistic Legacy of Kyoko Okazaki". Hakutaku. 2018-04-09. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  7. ^ "Kyōko Okazaki, Pink". John Pistelli. 2016-03-21. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  8. ^ 著, 岡崎 京子. "pink 新装版". マガジンワールド (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  9. ^ "Pink by Kyoko Okazaki". www.penguin.com.au. Retrieved 2024-05-15.