Nakayoshi (なかよし, lit. "Good Friend") is a monthly shōjo manga magazine published by Kodansha in Japan. First issued in December 1954, it is a long-running magazine with over 60 years of manga publication history. Notable titles serialized in Nakayoshi include Princess Knight, Candy Candy, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura and Pretty Cure. Roughly the size of a phone book (hence the term "phone book manga"), the magazine generally comes with furoku, or small gifts, such as pop-out figures, games, small bags, posters, stickers, and so on. The furoku is an attempt to encourage girls to buy their own copies of the magazine rather than just share with a friend.
 October 1999 issue of Nakayoshi featuring art by Natsumi Ando | |
| Categories | Shōjo manga[1][2] |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Circulation | 103,333[2] (July-September, 2016) |
| First issue | December 1954 |
| Company | Kodansha |
| Country | Japan |
| Based in | Tokyo |
| Language | Japanese |
| Website | nakayosi |
It is one of the best-selling shōjo manga magazines, having sold over 400 million copies since 1978. In the mid-1990s, Nakayoshi retailed for 400 yen and had an average of 448 pages. The estimated average circulation of Nakayoshi at this time was 1,800,000.[3] Its circulation peaked at 2,100,000 in 1993.[4] In 2007, its circulation was 400,000.[5] During the 1990s, then editor-in-chief, Yoshio Irie attempted to move the magazine away from "first love" stories and introduced several fantasy manga such as Sailor Moon. During that period, Nakayoshi pursued a "media-mix" campaign, which involved close coordination of the magazine, anime productions based on the manga, and character merchandising.[6] Nakayoshi is also published on the 3rd of each month.
Serializations
editCurrent
edit- Anyway, I'm Falling in Love with You (2020–present)
- Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Aqua (2021–present)
- Gifted (2021–present)[7]
- The Witch Maid Knows the Queen's Secret (2023–present)
- Wonderful Pretty Cure! (2024–present)
- Shugo Chara! Jewel Joker (2024–present)
Past
editCirculation
edit| Year / Period | Monthly circulation | Magazine sales |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 1,600,000[10] | 19,200,000[10] |
| 1979 | 1,800,000[11] | 21,600,000[11] |
| 1980 | 1,700,000[12] | 20,400,000[12] |
| 1981 | 1,400,000[13] | 16,800,000[13] |
| 1982 | 1,200,000[14] | 14,400,000[14] |
| 1983 | 1,200,000[14] | 14,400,000[14] |
| 1984 | 1,250,000[15] | 15,000,000[15] |
| 1985 | 1,250,000[16] | 15,000,000[16] |
| 1986 | 1,250,000[17] | 15,000,000[17] |
| 1987 | 1,250,000[18] | 15,000,000[18] |
| 1988 | 1,350,000[19] | 16,200,000[19] |
| 1989 | 1,350,000[20] | 16,200,000[20] |
| 1990 | 1,200,000[21] | 14,400,000[21] |
| 1991 | 1,200,000[22] | 14,400,000[22] |
| 1992 | 1,400,000[23] | 16,800,000[23] |
| January 1993 to March 1993 | 1,750,000[24] | 5,250,000[24] |
| April 1993 to March 1994 | 2,100,000[4] | 25,200,000[4] |
| April 1994 to December 1994 | 1,750,000[24] | 15,750,000[24] |
| 1995 | 1,500,000[24] | 18,000,000[24] |
| 1996 | 1,100,000[24] | 13,200,000[24] |
| 1997 | 780,000[24] | 9,360,000[24] |
| 1998 | 530,000[24] | 6,360,000[24] |
| 1999 | 500,000[24] | 6,000,000[24] |
| 2000 | 500,000[24] | 6,000,000[24] |
| 2001 | 520,000[24] | 6,240,000[24] |
| 2002 | 550,000[24] | 6,600,000[24] |
| 2003 | 490,000[24] | 5,880,000[24] |
| 2004 | 500,000[24] | 6,000,000[24] |
| 2005 | 460,000[24] | 5,520,000[24] |
| 2006 | 418,500[25] | 5,022,000[25] |
| 2007 | 400,000[5] | 4,800,000[5] |
| January 2008 to September 2008 | 343,750[26] | 3,093,750[26] |
| October 2008 to September 2009 | 306,667[26] | 3,680,004[26] |
| October 2009 to September 2010 | 252,084[26] | 3,025,008[26] |
| October 2010 to December 2010 | 250,000[27] | 750,000[27] |
| January 2011 to September 2011 | 198,910[26] | 1,790,190[26] |
| October 2011 to September 2012 | 170,834[26] | 2,050,008[26] |
| October 2012 to September 2013 | 152,667[26] | 1,832,004[26] |
| October 2013 to September 2014 | 137,500[26] | 1,650,000[26] |
| October 2014 to September 2015 | 124,542[28] | 1,494,504[28] |
| October 2015 to September 2016 | 104,083[29] | 2,180,004[29] |
| October 2016 to September 2017 | 96,608[30] | 2,075,004[29] |
| October 2017 to March 2018 | 89,125[31] | 534,750[31] |
| 1978 to March 2018 | 414,137,226 |
International versions
editAn Indonesian language version, Nakayoshi: Gress!, is published monthly by Elex Media Komputindo in Indonesia. The series has been canceled effectively in January 2017.
Related magazines
edit- Bessatsu Friend
- Shōjo Friend (defunct)
Video games
editThere have been multiple video games based on various manga series running in Nakayoshi, in addition to games based on individual titles themselves.
- Nakayoshi to Issho, Famicom
- Welcome Nakayoshi Park, March 3, 1994, Game Boy
- Panic in Nakayoshi World, November 18, 1994, Super Famicom
- Nakayoshi All-Stars: Mezase! Gakuen Idol!, December 18, 2008, Nintendo DS
References
edit- ^ Jason Thompson (2007). Manga: The Complete Guide. Del Rey Books. pp. xxiii–xxiv. ISBN 978-0-345-48590-8.
- ^ a b "Girl's Manga" (in Japanese). Japanese Magazine Publishers Association. September 2016. Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
- ^ Schodt, Frederik (1996). Dreamland Japan: Writings on Modern Manga. Berkeley, CA: Stone Bridge Press. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-880656-23-5.
- ^ a b c 『雑誌新聞総かたろぐ 1994年版』
- ^ a b c Japan Magazine Publishers Association Magazine Data 2007 Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Schodt, Frederik (1996). Dreamland Japan: Writings on Modern Manga. Berkeley, CA: Stone Bridge Press. pp. 92–93. ISBN 978-1-880656-23-5.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (June 9, 2023). "Tadashi Agi's Gifted Manga Gets Live-Action Show". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
- ^ "不死鳥系アイドル・加護ちゃんの半生をマンガで振りかえるのだぴょん!!【B級ニュース】". Kono Manga ga Sugoi! (in Japanese). February 23, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- ^ 麻雀×女子高生のゆるっとかわいい日常、アニメ「ぽんのみち」コミカライズ新連載. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
- ^ a b 『雑誌新聞総かたろぐ 1979年版』
- ^ a b 『雑誌新聞総かたろぐ 1980年版』
- ^ a b 『雑誌新聞総かたろぐ 1981年版』
- ^ a b 『雑誌新聞総かたろぐ 1982年版』
- ^ a b c d 『雑誌新聞総かたろぐ 1983年版』
- ^ a b 『雑誌新聞総かたろぐ 1984年版』
- ^ a b 『雑誌新聞総かたろぐ 1985年版』
- ^ a b 『雑誌新聞総かたろぐ 1986年版』
- ^ a b 『雑誌新聞総かたろぐ 1987年版』
- ^ a b 『雑誌新聞総かたろぐ 1988年版』
- ^ a b 『雑誌新聞総かたろぐ 1989年版』
- ^ a b 『雑誌新聞総かたろぐ 1990年版』
- ^ a b 『雑誌新聞総かたろぐ 1991年版』
- ^ a b 『雑誌新聞総かたろぐ 1993年版』
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "コミック誌の部数水準". Yahoo! Japan. Archived from the original on March 6, 2007. Retrieved March 6, 2007.
- ^ a b "Manga Anthology Circulations 2004-2006". ComiPress. December 12, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 日本雑誌協会 JMPAマガジンデータによる1号当たり平均部数
- ^ a b 出版指標年報2011より
- ^ a b "JMPAマガジンデータ : 女性 コミック". Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Archived from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ a b c "JMPAマガジンデータ : 女性 コミック". Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
- ^ "JMPAマガジンデータ : 女性 コミック". Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
- ^ a b "印刷部数公表". Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
External links
edit- Nakayoshi Official Website (in Japanese)
- An Incomplete List of Kodansha Comic's Nakayoshi Works (By Artist) - 2008 archive (in Japanese)