What was the origin for the term 水{みず}色{いろ} to be associated with youth, adolescence and puberty? I am particularly interested in the phrase {}{}{}{}. Did it come from the old manga that used the phrase as its title, or has the phrase been carrying that particular cultural connotation long before the manga? So how and when did the term start to be associated with youth, adolescence and puberty? p/s: While on the same topic, I'd like to share this interesting chart on how different cultures interpret different colors: <

I do not think that the word (; cyan) is associated with youth, adolescence or puberty in Japanese. As YOU wrote, (; usually blue in the modern Japanese, sometimes refers to green) is associated with immaturity and youth. But does not have this connotation.

I had never heard of the phrase . Unless I am much mistaken, it is only used as the title of manga by Yuu Yabuuchi and not a common phrase in Japanese.