When you think of Shōjo manga, you think of one of a few names: Nakayoshi, Hana to Yume, LaLa, Ciao, Margaret, or this one called Ribon.
Ribon (りぼん, a misspelling of the word "Ribbon") is a monthly shoujo magazine that was established in 1955 and is still ongoing to this day. It is one of Japan's three major shoujo manga magazines alongside Nakayoshi (published by Kodansha) and Ciao (published by Shogakukan), and the second oldest of which, only being surpassed in age by Nakayoshi. The stories are then published into separate books and released around the 15th of every month under the label "Ribon Mascot Comics". It has become one of the most successful shoujo magazines in Japan, establishing many classic series and entries in the Magical Girl and Romantic Comedy genres, many of which have become popular franchises in their own right.
While Nakayoshi was generally held to the same standard as Shonen Jump for showcasing its magical girl output and its anime adaptations going toe-to-toe with Shonen Jump by giving the world some of the most well-known of both categories, Ribon is, in reality, Shonen Jump's true shoujo equivalent, as both alongside fellow shoujo magazine Margaret are owned by Shueisha. To many, it's certainly not as obvious, as many of Ribon's classics have flown under the radar outside of Japan.
The magazine was at its prime during the late 80s and early 2000s, reaching its peak between 1991 and 1994. The magazine has also had its share of spinoff titles, but all of them have since been retired, with the last and longest-running, Ribon Original, first published in 1981 and giving way in 2006. Several series would later find sequels, spinoffs, or would take part in a Shared Universe in Shueisha's josei magazines Cookie and Cocohana.
Ongoing Series:
- Chibi Maruko-chan (1986) (The magazine's signature series, being both its best-selling and its longest-running, later spawning an equally long-running anime series. While the series stopped regular production in 1996, it was later revived in 2002 and has had an irregular release schedule since. Became the winner of the 13th Kodansha Manga Award's shojo category.)
- HIGH SCORE (1994) (Initially published in "Ribon Summer Vacation Fun Special Issue" before begining serialization the following year).
- Animal Yokocho* (2000)
- Onna no Ko tte (2011)
- Zekkyou Gakkyuu Tensei* (2015)
- Honey Lemon Soda (2015)
- Love Mushrooms* (2017)
- Not Your Idol* (2018) (A bimonthly series that can also be found in Shonen Jump+)
- Ui x Kon (2019)
- no words. (2023)
Past Series:
1950s:
- Rumi-chan's Classroom (1958)
- Head Detective Momoko (1958-1959)
- Tomboy Angel* (1959-1962)
- Marippe-sensei (1959)
- Yarikuri Apartment (1959)
1960s:
- Maki's Whistle* (1960-1963)
- Himitsu no Akko-chan* (1962-1965) (The very first magical girl series to be published as a manga.)
- Sally the Witch (1966-1967) (Its anime adaptation would go on to be the first animated magical girl series.)
1970s:
- Maya's Funeral Procession* (1972)
- Suna no Shiro* (1977-1979, 1980-1981)
1980s:
- The Leisure Club* (1981-2002) (Originally serialized in Ribon before being moved around to Maragret and Chorus. Was the winner of the 10th Kodansha Manga Award's shojo category, and was the first Ribon series to win this title.)
- Tokimeki Tonight (1982-1994, 2015)
- My Dad Is a Worrier* (1983, 1984-1988)
- 15-nenme* (1986)
- Love Letter (1986-1987)
- Kaze ni Nare!* (1987-1988)
- Escape (1988)
- Handsome Girlfriend* (1988-1992)
- Chime (1989-1990)
- Koitsura 100% Densetsu (1989-1992)
- Until the Next Ballad* (1989)
- Whisper of the Heart* (1989)
- Marine Blue no Kaze ni Dakarete* (1989-1992)
1990s:
- Silver Harmony* (1990-1992)
- Hime-chan's Ribbon* (1990-1994, 2015)
- Mayumi! (1990-2003) (Was published simultaneously in Ribon Original.)
- I'm No Angel* (1991-1994)
- Akazukin Chacha (1991-2000)
- Usubeni no Arashi* (1992)
- Marmalade Boy (1992-1995) (Arguably the magazine's most well-known series overseas.)
- Lunatic Acrobatic Troupe* (1993-1994) (Moved to Ribon Original from the April 1994 issue onwards)
- You and Scandal* (1993-1995)
- Kuma-chan (1993-2003) (Added from Ribon Original and was published simultaneously in both magazines.)
- Kodocha* (1994-1998, 2015) (The winner of the 22nd Kodansha Manga Award's shojo category.)
- Passion Girls (1994-1996)
- Secret Princess* (1995-1996)
- Nurse Angel Ririka SOS (1995-1996)
- Neighborhood Story* (1995-1998)
- Kero Kero Chime (1995–1998)
- Baby Love (1995–1999)
- Dragon King Magic* (1996-1997)
- Medaka School* (1996-2005)
- I.O.N (1997)
- Mint na Bokura (1997-2000)
- Good Morning Call (1997-2002)
- Phantom Thief Jeanne* (1998-2000)
- Last Quarter* (1998-1999)
- Fancy Lala (1998)
- Gals! (1998-2002)
- Short-Tempered Melancholic (1998-2000) (anthology of one-shots; all of them were originally published in this magazine)
- Detective Revolution* (1999-2005)
- Marble Kids (1999)
- Berry x Berry (1999) (Not the be confused with the Hana to Yume series Berry Berry)
- Partner (1999-2000)
- The Mansion of Water* (1999) (a Kodocha spinoff based on the in-universe film produced during the similarly-titled arc)
- St. ♡ Dragon Girl (1999-2003)
2000s:
- Random Walk (2000-2001)
- Time Stranger Kyoko (2000-2001)
- Full Moon* (2002-2004)
- Ultra Maniac (2002-2004)
- Aishiteruze Baby (2002-2005)
- Pochi (2003)
- Chocomimi (2004-2019)
- The Gentlemen's Alliance (2004-2008)
- Charisma Doll (2004-2005)
- Demashita! Powerpuff Girls Z (2006-2007)
- CRASH! (2007-2013)
- Stardust Wink (2008-2012)
- Mistress Fortune (2008)
- Momo* (2008-2011)
- Yumeiro Pâtissière* (2008-2011)
- Zekkyou Gakkyuu* (2008-2015)
- Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura (2008-2012)
- Hime-chan's Ribbon Colorful* (2009-2010)
2010s:
- Pretty Rhythm (2010-2012)
- Boku wa Ookami (2010-2012)
- Rozen Maiden: Dolls Talk (2012-2014)
- Meow-o-san* (2015-2024) (Bi-monthly series)
- Little Witch Academia: The Midnight Crown (2015)
- Acro Trip (2017-2022)
Manga from Ribon Original
- Mayumi! (1990-2003) (Was published simultaneously in the main magazine.)
- Kuma-chan (1993-2003)'' (Would later be added to the main magazine, where it was published simultaneously.)
- Lunatic Acrobatic Troupe (1994-1995) (Moved from the main magazine.)
- The Style of the Second Love (1996)
- Take Off!!! (2000) (Published as a spinoff of Detective Revolution.)
- Chocomimi (2003) (started here before moving to the main magazine in 2004.)
- Mimi o Sumaseba: Shiawase na Jikan (1995)
Manga from Ribon Special
- Cat Island (1994) (Published in the 1994 Spring Special issue.)
- Rin Rin Ring (2003) (Published in the 2003 Autumn Special issue as a spinoff of Detective Revolution.)
- Outburst Dreamer Boys
Manga from Ribon Teens
- Kuma-chan (1996-1998)
Outside Titles Labeled Under "Ribon Mascot Comics"
- Colorful Palette (2000-2005)
- Tokimeki Midnight (2002-2009)
- Nana (2000-2009)
- Honey Bitter (2004-2018)
- Good Morning Kiss (2006-Present)
- Deep Clear (2010)
- Tokimeki Tonight Sore Kara (2021-Present)
Noteworthy Staff:
- Ai Yazawa
- Arina Tanemura
- Koi Ikeno (Tokimeki Tonight, Nurse Angel Ririka SOS)
- Megumi Mizusawa (Chime, Hime-chan's Ribbon, Secret Princess)
- Mihona Fujii: (Spicy Girl, Passion Girls, Ryuō Mahōjin, Yuki no Hanabira, Himitsu no Hanazono, Super Princess, Gals!)
- Miho Obana (Shiranami no Gensou, Kodocha, Cat Island, The Mansion of Water, Partner, Andante, Pochi)
- Min Ayahama (Akazukin Chacha)
- Momoko Sakura (Chibi Maruko-chan)
- Naoko Takeuchi*
- Wataru Yoshizumi (Quartet Game, Handsome Girlfriend, Marmalade Boy, Mint na Bokura, Ultra Maniac)
