Ribon

This article is about the magazine. For the American screenwriter, see Pamela Ribon.

For other uses, see Ribbon (disambiguation).

Ribon (りぼん, lit. "Ribbon") is a monthly Japanese shōjo manga magazine published by Shueisha on the third of each month. First issued in August 1955, its rivals are Nakayoshi and Ciao. It is one of the best-selling shōjo manga magazines, having sold over 590 million copies since 1978. Its circulation was in the millions between 1987 and 2001, peaking at 2.3 million in 1994.^[5] In 2009, the magazine's circulation was 274,167.^[6] In 2010, the circulation dropped to 243,334.^[7]

Ribon

Cover of the May 2006 issue (featuring Love-Berrish! by Nana Haruta)
Categories	Shōjo manga[1][2]
Frequency	Monthly
Circulation	132,000 (January–December 2021)[3]
Founded	1955[4]
Company	Shueisha
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese
Website	Ribon Waku-Waku Station

The magazine's pages are printed on multicolored newsprint. Often exceeding 400 pages, the issues are distributed with a sackful of goodies (furoku) ranging from small toys to colorful note pads themed around manga serialized in the magazine. In some issues, readers can send in stamps for mail order gifts (zen-in). The manga series from the magazine are later compiled and published in book form (tankōbon) under the Ribon Mascot Comics (RMC) imprint. Ribon has also inspired multiple spin-off magazines, including Bessatsu Ribon (1966–1968);^[8] Ribon Comics, renamed Junior Comics (1967–1968);^[9][a] Ribon Comic (1968–1971);^[10][b] Ribon Deluxe (1975–1978);^[11] and Ribon Original (1981–2006).^[12]

Serializations

Current

• Animal Yokochō (2000–present)
• Onna no Ko tte. (2011–present)
• Zekkyō Gakkyū Tensei (2015–present)
• Honey Lemon Soda (2015–present)^[13]
• Not Your Idol (2018–present)^[14]

Past

1955–1979 Arabesque (1971–1973)[c] Himitsu no Akko-chan (1962–1965) Rumi-chan Kyōshitsu (1958)[17] Sally the Witch (1966–1967) Shiroi Heya no Futari (1971)[d] 1980–1989 Tokimeki Tonight (1982–1994) Chibi Maruko-chan (1986–1996) Handsome na Kanojo (1988–1992) Whisper of the Heart (1989) 1990–1999 Hime-chan's Ribbon (1990–1994)[19] Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai (1991–1994)[19] Akazukin Chacha (1991–2000)[19] Marmalade Boy (1992–1995)[19] Anata to Scandal (1993–1995)[19] Kodomo no Omocha (1994–1998)[19] Nurse Angel Ririka SOS (1995–1996) Neighborhood Story (1995–1998)[19] Kero Kero Chime (1995–1998) Baby Love (1995–1999)[19] I.O.N (1997) Mint na Bokura (1997–2000) Good Morning Call (1998–2002) Fancy Lala (1998) Last Quarter (1998–1999) Phantom Thief Jeanne (1998–2000) Gals! (1998–2002) St. Dragon Girl (1999–2003)

2000–2009 Time Stranger Kyoko (2000–2001) Full Moon o Sagashite (2002–2004) Ultra Maniac (2002–2004) Aishiteruze Baby (2002–2005) St. Dragon Girl Miracle (2003–2005) ChocoMimi (2004–2019)[20] Cactus's Secret (2004–2005) The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross (2004–2008)[21] Love-Berrish! (2005–2007) Rockin' Heaven (2005–2008)[22] Demashita! Powerpuff Girls Z (2006–2007) Crash! (2007–2013) Chocolate Cosmos (2007–2008) Hello Kitty Doki (2007–2008) Hello Kitty Peace (2008) Mistress Fortune (2008)[21] Momo: Welcome to the World-end Garden (2008–2011)[22] Zekkyō Gakkyū (2008–2015) Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura (2008–2012)[23][24] Stardust Wink (2009–2012)[25][26] Hiyokoi (2009–2014)

2010–2019 Blue Friend (2010–2011) Pretty Rhythm (2010–2012)[27] Nagareboshi Lens (2011–2014) Sugar Soldier (2011–2015) Rozen Maiden: Dolls Talk (2012–2014) Romantica Clock (2012–2016) ChocoTan! (2012–2017) Tsubasa to Hotaru (2013–2017)[28] Little Witch Academia: Tsukiyo no Ōkan (2015) Acro Trip (2017–2022) Love Letters Written in June (2018)[29][30] Ui × Kon (2019–2025)[31] 2020–2029 In the Name of the Mermaid Princess (2020–2023)

Circulation

Year / Period	Monthly circulation	Magazine sales
1978	1,350,000[32]	16,200,000[32]
1979	1,350,000[33]	16,200,000[33]
1980	1,500,000[34]	18,000,000[34]
1981	1,500,000[35]	18,000,000[35]
1982	1,500,000[36]	18,000,000[36]
1983	1,500,000[36]	18,000,000[36]
1984	1,700,000[37]	20,400,000[37]
1985	1,800,000[38]	21,600,000[38]
1986	2,000,000[39]	24,000,000[39]
1987	2,200,000[5]	26,400,000[5]
1988	2,000,000[40]	24,000,000[40]
1989	2,300,000[41]	27,600,000[41]
1990	2,300,000[42]	27,600,000[42]
January 1991 to March 1991	2,300,000[43]	6,900,000[43]
April 1991 to March 1992	2,400,000[44]	28,800,000[44]
April 1992 to March 1993	2,400,000[45]	28,800,000[45]
April 1993 to March 1994	2,400,000[46]	28,800,000[46]
April 1994 to December 1994	2,300,000[5]	20,700,000[5]
1995	2,160,000[5]	25,920,000[5]
1996	1,750,000[5]	21,000,000[5]
1997	1,630,000[5]	19,560,000[5]
1998	1,350,000[5]	16,200,000[5]
1999	1,350,000[5]	16,200,000[5]
2000	1,350,000[5]	16,200,000[5]
2001	1,260,000[5]	15,120,000[5]
2002	980,000[5]	11,760,000[5]
2003	860,000[5]	10,320,000[5]
2004	729,167[47]	8,750,004[47]
2005	537,500[47]	6,450,000[47]
2006	400,000[47]	4,800,000[47]
2007	376,666[48]	4,519,992[48]
2008	330,000[49]	3,960,000[49]
January 2009 to September 2009	274,167[6]	2,467,503[6]
October 2009 to September 2010	243,334[50]	2,920,008[50]
October 2010 to September 2011	209,334[51]	2,512,008[51]
October 2011 to September 2012	212,500[48]	2,550,000[48]
October 2012 to September 2013	201,667[52]	2,420,004[52]
October 2013 to September 2014	202,500[53]	2,430,000[53]
October 2014 to September 2015	195,834[54]	2,350,008[54]
October 2015 to September 2016	181,667[55]	2,180,004[55]
October 2016 to September 2017	172,917[56]	2,075,004[56]
October 2017 to March 2018	152,500[57]	915,000[57]
1978 to March 2018		593,579,535

Notes

1. The January 1968 debut issue was released in 1967.
2. The January 1969 debut issue was released in 1968.
3. The first part was serialized in Ribon from 1971 to 1973; the second part was serialized in Hana to Yume from 1974 to 1975.^[15][16]
4. Published in the spin-off magazine Ribon Comic.^[18]