Be Free!

Be Free! is a seminal manga series written and illustrated by Tatsuya Egawa, first serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Morning magazine starting in the late 1980s. The narrative follows a young, unconventional teacher named Masahiko Sugawara who employs unorthodox methods to challenge the rigid and oppressive educational system of his time. Emerging during a period of shifting social values in Japan, the series utilized a provocative and often irreverent tone to critique the strict conformity expected of both students and faculty in Japanese schools.

Egawa's artistic style in Be Free! is noted for its expressive character work and its ability to balance crude humor with genuine social commentary. The manga was widely recognized for its willingness to push boundaries, often incorporating mature themes and intense emotional arcs that set it apart from standard school-life dramas of the era. Its success helped cement Egawa's reputation as a provocative storyteller and paved the way for his later, even more controversial works in the seinen manga genre.