Golden Boy (manga)
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:About Template:Infobox animanga/Header Template:Infobox animanga/Print Template:Infobox animanga/Video Template:Infobox animanga/Print Template:Infobox animanga/Footer Golden Boy is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tatsuya Egawa. It was serialized in Shueisha's [[Seinen manga|Template:Transliteration manga]] magazine Super Jump from 1992 to 1997, with its chapters later collected in ten bound volumes. The series follows Kintaro Oe, a 25 year old freeter and university dropout who roams Japan working various odd jobs. During his travels, Kintaro meets several women whose lives he dramatically changes, despite his invariably poor first impressions.
The series was adapted into a six-episode original video animation (OVA) produced by Shueisha and KSS that was released in 1995. A sequel to the manga, Golden Boy II, was serialized in Business Jump from September 2010 to May 2011.
Plot
Kintaro is a freeter, and has done various jobs as he quests around Japan in pursuit of knowledge. His ventures include computer programming, housekeeping, teaching, the culinary arts, and most of all, studying. Kintaro is also often seen demonstrating the skills he has learned in previous chapters to overcome challenges faced in the current one. He is also adept in martial arts, but does not fight unless he is angered, and ordinarily just takes a beating. Much of the humor derives from situational elements, such as encounters between Kintaro and the women gone awry, and interactions between Kintaro's libido and imagination. Recurring gags include Kintaro's fetish for toilets (especially those recently used by beautiful women), his exaggerated facial expressions, and comical entries in his notebook. The notebook entries include explicit drawings of the women he encounters and bits of wisdom such as "'C' base is not sex", and "The human head cannot turn 360 degrees." Regarding the series, Tatsuya Egawa writes: "Before leaving kindergarten, I wrote these words in my notebook: 'I really like to study.' Often I wonder when it was that our schools forgot the true meaning of 'study', something which is now so often misunderstood by teachers and parents. Learning ought to be both stimulating and entertaining".
Characters
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Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by Tatsuya Egawa, Golden Boy was serialized in Shueisha's [[Seinen manga|Template:Transliteration manga]] magazine Super Jump from 1992 to 1997.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Shueisha collected its chapters in ten Template:Transliteration volumes, released from June 4, 1993,<ref name="vol1"/> to January 9, 1998.<ref name="vol10"/> Egawa initially planned to conclude the manga after the Kongouji story arc, coinciding with the third volume. However, its popularity in Super Jump led the editorial department to insist that he continue the series. Egawa agreed on the condition that he be given creative freedom for the remainder of the series, but its popularity waned due to his shift in tone and focus. By 1997, Golden BoyTemplate:'s popularity was waning, and Super Jump editors informed Egawa that the manga was to be canceled, giving him three chapters to end the story abruptly. Angered by the sudden cancellation, Egawa concluded the story abruptly on a cliffhanger and provided an author's note alongside the final chapter stating that he would likely "never draw for Super Jump again."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
A sequel to the manga, Template:Nihongo, was serialized in Business Jump from September 15, 2010,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> to May 18, 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Shueisha collected its chapters in two tankōbon volumes, released on February 18 and July 19, 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Volumes
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Original video animation
Adapted by Shueisha and KSS into an original video animation (OVA) series, Golden Boy was first released in Japan on VHS and later on laserdisc. The closing theme is "Study A Go! Go!" by Golden Girls. The series was licensed in North America by ADV Films, and was released on VHS, in both subtitled and dubbed editions, later releasing two DVD volumes on April 23 and June 18, 2002,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and a complete series release on May 25, 2004.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The license was later transferred to Media Blasters for a DVD release on November 6, 2007,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and then Discotek Media for a DVD release on November 6, 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In August 2025, Discotek Media announced that it will release the series on Blu-ray.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Episodes
Reception
The Golden Boy OVA was generally well received by English-language reviewers. It is widely known for its mature content: while the OVA is not strictly a hentai animation, it does feature instances of partial female nudity, orgasms, and female masturbation. In contrast, the manga becomes almost pornographic starting in the second volume.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jeff Ulmer of DigitallyObsessed calls it "hilarious",<ref name="doc-1">Template:Cite web</ref> and Luis Cruz of AnimeOnDVD says it is "surprisingly well-written for an erotic comedy,"<ref name="aod">Template:Cite web</ref> and that it "easily deserves the 'Essential' moniker bestowed upon it" by ADV. Cruz goes on to say that the series' jokes "feel like a natural extension of both the characters and the plot...".<ref name="aod" /> Mike Toole of AnimeJump says "the mixture of realistic storytelling with Kintaro's deranged personality is always a hoot to watch."<ref name="animejump">Template:Cite web</ref> Of Kintaro himself, Toole says he "has a simple everyman appeal",<ref name="animejump" /> and Cruz contends that Kintaro's "charming character"<ref name="aod" /> is what makes the anime coherent. Toole says that Golden Boy "is worthwhile for the final episode alone",<ref name="animejump" /> and Ulmer feels that it "took the cake".<ref name="doc-2">Template:Cite web</ref> Golden Boy popularized anime in Russia after being a huge success on its MTV Russia.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
References
External links
Template:Super Jump Template:Business Jump Template:Hiroyuki Kitakubo Template:A.P.P.P.