Nakayoshi

Nakayoshi (なかよし) 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 and Cardcaptor Sakura. 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.

It is one of the best-selling shōjo manga magazines, having sold over 400million 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. Its circulation peaked at 2,100,000 in 1993. In 2007, its circulation was 400,000. 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. Nakayoshi is also published on the 3rd of each month.

Current

 * Vampire Dormitory (2018–present)
 * Anyway, I'm Falling in Love with You (2020–present)
 * Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Aqua (2021–present)
 * Gifted (2021–present)
 * The Witch Maid Knows the Queen's Secret (2023-present)
 * Wonderful Precure! (2024-present)
 * Shugo Chara! Jewel Joker (2024-present)

1954–1979

 * Sazae-san (1958-1960)
 * Princess Knight (1958)
 * Angel's Hill (1960–1961)
 * Sarutobi Ecchan (1971)
 * Candy Candy (1975–1979)
 * Ohayō! Spank (1979–1982)

1980–1989

 * Aoi-chan Panic! (1983–1984)
 * Attacker You! (1984–1985)
 * Anmitsu Hime (1986–1987)
 * Goldfish Warning! (1989–1993)

1990–1999

 * Miracle Girls (1990–1994)
 * Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (1991–1997)
 * Azuki-chan (1992–1997)
 * Magic Knight Rayearth (1993–1996)
 * Saint Tail (1995–1996)
 * Cardcaptor Sakura (1996–2000)
 * Delicious! (1996–1999)
 * Dream Saga (1997–1999)
 * Yume no Crayon Oukoku (1997–1998)
 * Cyber Team in Akihabara: PataPi (1998)
 * UFO Baby (1998–2002)
 * Ghost Hunt (1998–2010)
 * Super Doll Licca-chan (1998–1999)

2000–2009

 * Ojamajo Doremi (2000)
 * Ultra Cute (2000–2003)
 * Tokyo Mew Mew (2000–2003)
 * Zodiac P.I. (2001–2003)
 * Mōtto! Ojamajo Doremi (2001)
 * Instant Teen: Just Add Nuts (2001–2002)
 * Musume Monogatari: Morning Musume Official Story (2001–2004)
 * Shin Dā! Dā! Dā! (2002)
 * Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch (2002–2005)
 * Mamotte! Lollipop (2002–2005)
 * Koinu Dan no Monogatari (2002)
 * Kamichama Karin (2003–2005)
 * Ashita no Nadja (2003)
 * Futari wa Pretty Cure (2004–2005)
 * Futari wa Pretty Cure Max Heart (2005–2006)
 * Cherry Juice (2004–2006)
 * Pixie Pop (2004–2005)
 * Kitchen Princess (2004–2008)
 * Sugar Sugar Rune (2004–2007)
 * Kedamono Damono (2004-2007)
 * Hell Girl (2005–2008)
 * Shugo Chara! (2005–2010)
 * Futari wa Pretty Cure Splash Star (2006–2007)
 * Modotte! Mamotte! Lollipop (2006–2007)
 * Okko's Inn (2006–2012)
 * Kamichama Karin Chu (2007–2008)
 * Yes! PreCure 5 (2007–2008)
 * Yes! PreCure 5 GoGo! (2008–2009)
 * I Am Here! (2007–2009)
 * Shugo Chara-chan! (2008–2010)
 * Fresh Pretty Cure! (2009–2010)
 * Arisa (2009–2012)
 * New Hell Girl (2009)
 * Missions of Love (2009–2012)

2010–2019

 * HeartCatch PreCure! (2010–2011)
 * Shugo Chara! Encore! (2010)
 * Hell Girl R (2010–2013)
 * Sabagebu! (2010–2016)
 * Suite PreCure (2011–2012)
 * Smile PreCure! (2012–2013)
 * Kamikamikaeshi (2012-2016)
 * DokiDoki! PreCure (2013–2014)
 * HappinessCharge PreCure! (2014–2015)
 * Fairy Tail: Blue Mistral (2014–2015)
 * Stella: Nana and the Magic English Words (2014-2016)
 * Go! Princess PreCure (2015–2016)
 * Hōzuki no Reitetsu: Shiro no Ashiato (2015–2020)
 * Witchy PreCure! (2016–2017)
 * Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card (2016–2024)
 * Kirakira Pretty Cure a la Mode (2017–2018)
 * Hug! Pretty Cure (2018–2019)
 * Star Twinkle PreCure (2019–2020)
 * Bacteria at Work! (2017–2020)

2020–

 * Healin' Good Pretty Cure (2020–2021)
 * Tropical-Rouge! Pretty Cure (2021–2022)
 * Delicious Party Pretty Cure (2022–2023)
 * Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure (2023–2024)
 * Pon no Michi (2023–2024)

International versions
An 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

 * Bessatsu Friend
 * Shōjo Friend (defunct)

Video games
There 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