Chibi Maruko-chan

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The Kodansha Manga Award (講談社漫画賞, Kōdansha Manga Shō) is an annual award for serialized manga published in the previous year, the event is sponsored by the publisher Kodansha.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Number of sales and date that number was acquired from in notes for each. Some of them I have personally estimated a higher figure than the date says.

To play after reading

good and bad, to play after reading

To play after reading

Note: Due to the number of missing manga from the database I will add the ones that would be included in the stack at the bottom of this description. And will leave room in the stack for these manga in the case that they are added in the future.

There are a number of works that I've not been able to read at all or read completely in the list so my commentary on those entries is limited, also my Japanese reading skill is limited currently so that limits some of the commentary as well. Also the list is mainly focused on the older titles as my knowledge on newer titles is relatively limited when it comes to shoujo manga.

Related links:
History of "Shoujo" Anime - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/16071
List of Shoujo manga released before 1980s - https://myanimelist.net/clubs.php?cid=84956

The beginnings of the history of girls comic magazines in Japan can be traced to the early 1900s with one of the first notable magazines "Shoujo no Tomo" gaining popularity among the female audience. The strong visual presence and the character design that are usually associated with shoujo manga draw their roots also to that period. Among the early pioneers of the visual approach "Jun'ichi Nakahara" is usually mentioned due to the influence of his design and approach to the character when it comes to shoujo manga.

This list attempts to collect some of the most important works when it comes to the history of shoujo manga, starting from the beginning. This is done so that people who are interested in or new to the history of "Shoujo" manga can gain atleast some kind of understanding of the history and the development throughout the years.

I will try to write my short spoiler free review/thoughts for each of the entries on this list to explain further why I think the entry is important as far as the history of "shoujo" manga is concerned.

Important manga missing from the database:

1957 - Shoujo Club - Fuichin-san (フイチンさん) - Ueda Toshiko (上田としこ)
https://myanimelist.net/manga/148274

Most early shoujo mangaka were men, and shoujo manga didn't have a particular "identity" in 1950s, as it was mostly just used as "a springboard" for authors aiming for the more popular shounen magazines. However Ueda Toshiko took everyone by storm as a female author with "Fuichin-san" one of the "big hits" in the evolving 1950s - 1960s shoujo manga scene.

The story focuses on the character "Fuichin" and is set on a period near WW2 in Manchuria. It is said that Ueda Toshiko drew some inspiration from her own experiences in Manchuria durin that period.

1958 - Shoujo - Tokyo Paris (東京・パリ) - Takahashi Macoto (高橋真琴)

Takahashi Macoto is often credited with popularizing the usage of glitter or star shaped visual in the eyes of the characters when it comes to the visual design of the character. The works of Takahashi Macoto usually put heavy emphasis on his detailed art and design of the characters.

1960 - Shoujo - Maki no Kuchibue (マキの口笛) - Maki Miyako (牧美也子)
https://myanimelist.net/manga/142707/Maki_no_Kuchibue

Maki Miyako drew popularity in early 1960s scene with hit works such as Maki no Kuchibue. The work features a dramatic approach to the world of "dance" and "performance". The visual approach in the art used by Maki Miyako was also emphasised in the series with intricate portrayals of fashion and passion.

The popularity of this work and her art resulted in Maki Miyako being let in charge for the original design of the Licca-chan toy doll franchise which debuted in 1967.

1962 - Shoujo - Shimai Futari (姉妹ふたり) - Maki Miyako (牧美也子)

1963 - Ribon - Chibikko Tenshi (ちびっこ天使) - Yokoyama Mitsuteru (横山光輝)

The series featured a "pair" of "angels" who were able to use magic, they came down to earth and caused all sorts of mischief with their powers. Often considered something of a precursor to the acclaimed series "Mahoutsukai Sally"

1966 - Ribon - Honey Honey no Suteki na Bouken (ハニーハニーのすてきな冒険) - Mizuno Hideko (水野英子)
https://myanimelist.net/manga/112823/Honey_Honey_no_Suteki_na_Bouken

1967 - Ribon - Sweet★Lala (スイート★ラーラ) - Kitajima Yoko (北島洋子)

1967 - Margaret - Comet-san (コメットさん) - Yokoyama Mitsuteru (横山光輝)
https://myanimelist.net/manga/139540

1969 - (Unknown) - Ballet Hoshi (バレエ星) - Tani Yukiko (谷ゆき子)
https://myanimelist.net/manga/142708/Ballet_Hoshi

1969 - Margaret - Glass no Shiro (ガラスの城) - Watanabe Masako (わたなべまさこ)
https://myanimelist.net/manga/129561

Shojo ＆　josei manga with thin romantic elements or no romantic elements

This may be a good choice for those who don't like the romantic elements of shojo manga…

This is from what I found, so I may have missed something.

This is from what I found, so I may have missed something.

A list of best-selling manga and light novels targeted at female audience.
Info taken from Wikipedia and some manga sites/blogs

List of manga that were mentioned in the book 少女マンガはどこからきたの? Manga that are not in MAL are listed as text in this description.


Year - Title - Magazine - Author

1937 - Kamuro-san - Shoujo Gahou - Ueda Toshiko

1947 - Shin Takarajima - Osamu Tezuka

1951 - Boku-chan - Shoujo Book - Ueda Toshiko

1951 - Matako to Shin-chan - Kobe Newspaper - Mure Akiko

1952 - Aki-chan - Kobe Newspaper - Mure Akiko

1952 - Shoukouji - Watanabe Masako

1953 - Ribbon no Kishi - Shoujo Club - Osamu Tezuka

1954 - Haha wo Yobu Uta - Sato Tomoe

1955 - Canary-san - Shoujo - Higashiura Mitsuo

1955 - Chougutsu no Yume - Shoujo Club - Mure Akiko

1955 - Kinoko-chan - Shoujo Club - Higashiura Mitsuo

1956 - Paris Tokyo - Takahashi Macoto

1957 - Fuichin-san - Shoujo Club - Ueda Toshiko

1957 - Yamabiko Shoujo - Shoujo Book - Watanabe Masako

1957 - Class no Otemba Nikki - Shoujo - Imamura Yoko

1958 - Tokyo Paris - Shoujo - Takahashi Macoto

1958 - Mama no Violin - Shoujo Club - Chiba Tetsuya

1958 - Futatsu no Uso - Nakayoshi - Koshiro Takeshi

1959 - Mou Uso wo Tsukanai - Izumi - Mure Akiko

1959 - Yuka wo Yobu Umi - Shoujo Club - Chiba Tetsuya

1959 - Chaco-chan no Nikki - Shoujo - Imamura Yoko

1959 - Shiawase no Hitomi Keiko no Maki - Watanabe Masako

1960 - Hana no Inochi - Aoi Tori - Mure Akiko

1960 - Hoshi no Tategoto - Shoujo Club - Mizuno Hideko

1960 - Chinkoro Nee-chan - Shuukan Asahi Geinou - Tominaga Ichiro

1960 - Ponkotsu Oyaji - Manga Sunday - Tominaga Ichiro

1960 - Yuutsuki no Yamabiko - Shoujo Club - Higashiura Mitsuo

1960 - Maki no Kuchibue - Ribon - Maki Miyako

1960 - Yuki no Hanabira - Shoujo Club - Maki Miyako

1961 - Hana no Ko Mari - Nakayoshi - Koshiro Takeshi

1961 - Eri no Akai Kutsu - Shoujo Book - Nishina Kimiko

1962 - Koori no Shiro - Shoujo Club - Kitajima Yoko

1962 - 1・2・3 to 4・5 Roku - Shoujo Club - Chiba Tetsuya

1963 - Camelia-kan - Ribon - Watanabe Masako

1963 - Nile no Oukan - Shoujo Friend - Kitajima Yoko

1963 - Suteki na Cola - Margaret - Mizuno Hideko

1963 - Ribon no Waltz - Ribon - Maki Miyako

1963 - Furisode Kenshi - Shoujo Friend - Higashiura Mitsuo

1964 - Hustle Yu-chan - Margaret - Imamura Yoko

1964 - Youko Series - Yashiro Masako

1964 - Suki Suki Bikki-sensei - Margaret - Mochizuki Akira

1964 - Shiroi Hana ni Tsuzuku Michi - Nakayoshi - Hanamura Eiko

1964 - Yuki no Kuru Hi ni - Nakayoshi - Koshiro Takeshi

1965 - Sayonara Sankaku - Ribon - Sato Tomoe

1965 - Shiroi Troika - Margaret - Mizuno Hideko

1965 - 5-nen Hibarigumi - Ribon - Sato Tomoe

1965 - Hana no Kan - Ribon - Watanabe Masako

1965 - Boyfriend Test - Kazaguruma - Sato Tomoe

1965 - Are ga Papa no Hoshi - Shoujo Friend - Takemoto Mitsuru

1966 - Futari no Hanamonogatari - Ribon - Takemoto Mitsuru

1966 - Kanna no Hoshi - Shougaku 4-nensei - Mochizuki Akira

1966 - Honey Honey no Suteki na Bouken - Ribon - Mizuno Hideko

1966 - Kiri no Naka no Shoujo - Margaret - Hanamura Eiko

1966 - Waga Ai wo Hoshi ni Inorite - Shougaku 5-nensei - Hanamura Eiko

1967 - SWEET★LALA - Ribon - Kitajima Yoko

1967 - Aniki Kanpai! - Ribon - Minamoto Tarou

1968 - 2-tsu no Present - Izumi - Mure Akiko

1968 - Ashita no Joe - Shuukan Shounen Magazine - Chiba Tetsuya

1968 - Sign wa V! - Shoujo Friend - Mochizuki Akira

1968 - Shoujo Liza - Hanamura Eiko

1969 - Youkina Tenkousei - Ribon - Sato Tomoe

1969 - Glass no Shiro - Margaret - Watanabe Masako

1969 - Futari no Erika - Shougaku 5-nensei - Kitajima Yoko

1969 - Fire! - Seventeen Monthly - Mizuno Hideko

1971 - Futari wa Koibito - Shoujo Friend - Minamoto Tarou

1972 - Akai Rucksack - Ribon - Sato Tomoe

1972 - Versailles no Bara - Margaret - Ikeda Riyoko

1977 - Yuuhigaoka no Souri Daijin - Shuukan Shounen Champion - Mochizuki Akira

1978 - Ai no Ryuusa - Hanamura Eiko

1985 - Akujo Seisho - Josei Jishin - Maki Miyako

1988 - Genji Monogatari - Maki Miyako

1993 - Kinpeibai - Mystery Jour - Watanabe Masako

Every manga mentioned in Manga in Theory and Practice by Hirohiko Araki

Burai the Kid - https://myanimelist.net/manga/144818/Burai_the_Kid (not approved)

This list will skew a bit older as Japanese companies can be hit or miss about reporting digital manga sales, whereas they hold physical sales as the gold standard. Even then, they can be inconsistent in reporting sales for manga. Due to this, there could definitely be more Shojo/Josei manga out there that have sold ≥ 10 million volumes, especially if a good chunk of those sales were digital.

Additionally, this list will skew toward longer-running series as those in general have an easier time surpassing the 10 million mark compared to shorter series that are still widely popular (eg Paradise Kiss, due to its shorter length, hasn't surpassed 10 million volumes sold since to complete the series it requires readers to buy fewer volumes).

I'm not going to write exact numbers since those are in constant flux, but I'll note levels of 10 million+, 20 million+, etc to denote when a manga has surpassed a certain level of sales.

List is arranged in order of MAL members for each title

Wasn't enough room among the 50 slots to include these:

- Love me, love me not (20 million+)

- The Bride of Deimos (10 million+)

- Ppoi! (10 million+)

- Kodocha (10 million+)

- Angel Sanctuary (10 million+)

- Hana no Asuka Gumi (10 million+)

- Life (10 million+)

- Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai (10 million+)

- LDK (10 million+)