CoroCoro Comic
CoroCoro Comic (コロコロコミック, KoroKoro Komikku) is a Japanese monthly manga magazine published by Shogakukan,[3] established on May 15, 1977. Its main target is elementary school-aged boys, younger than the readers of shōnen manga. Several of its properties, like Doraemon and the Pokémon series of games, have gone on to be cultural phenomena in Japan.
Monthly CoroCoro Comic (September 1983 issue) | |
| Categories | Children (elementary school boys)[1] |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Circulation | 1,000,000 (November, December 2017)[2] |
| First issue | May 15, 1977 |
| Company | Shogakukan |
| Country | Japan |
| Based in | Tokyo |
| Language | Japanese |
The name comes from a phenomime korokoro (ころころ) which means "rolling" and also represents something spherical, fat, or small, because children supposedly like such things. The magazine is A5-sized, about 6 cm (2+1⁄4 in) thick, and each issue is 750 pages long. CoroCoro Comic is released monthly with new issues on the 15th of each month (or earlier if the 15th falls on a weekend).
CoroCoro Comic sold 400 million copies as of April 2017, making it one of the best-selling comic/manga magazines.[4] The magazine has three sisters: Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic (別冊コロコロコミック), CoroCoro Ichiban! (コロコロイチバン) and CoroCoro Aniki (コロコロアニキ). Bessatsu and Ichiban! are published bi-monthly, while Aniki, which targeted an older audience, was released quarterly.
On November 20, 2020, CoroCoro Comic cover designer Tariji Sasaki was recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest-running cover designer for a children's magazine.[5]
CoroCoro Aniki ended publication in March 2021.[6]
History
The magazine was launched in 1977 as a magazine for Doraemon, which is one of the most popular manga in Japan. Before then Doraemon had been serialized in 6 Shogakukan magazines targeted to students of 6 elementary school grades that target audience has now increased. It collected stories of Doraemon from these magazines. It celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2007 with an exhibition at the Kyoto International Manga Museum.[7]
Tie-ins
CoroCoro regularly promotes toys and video games related to their manga franchises, releasing stories and articles featuring them. Pocket Monsters/Pokémon's big success in Japan owes to this in a way; the Game Boy game Pocket Monsters Blue was sold exclusively through the magazine at first, which helped CoroCoro's sales as well. CoroCoro is also often a source of information about upcoming Pokémon games and movies.
Other successful tie-ins include:
- Radio controlled car, Mini 4WD (with Tamiya)
- Famicom, Super Famicom, and Game Boy line (with Nintendo and third parties)
- Beyblade, B-Daman (with Takara)
- Bikkuriman (with Lotte)
- Barcode Battler (with Epoch Co.)
Manga series currently being serialized
Manga titles currently serialized in Monthly CoroCoro Comic
- Super Mario-kun (Since November 1990)
- Pocket Monsters / Pocket Monsters SPECIAL (Since April 1996)
- CoroCoro Manga College (Since February 2001)
- Fujiko F. Fujio Masterpiece Theater Doraemon (Since April 2002)
- Kirby of The Stars! More Pupupu Hour! (Since December 2006)
- Denjyarasu Jiisan Jya! (Since April 2010)
- Liar! Gokuo-kun (Since October 2011)
- Zo-Zo-Zo Zombie-kun (Since December 2012)
- Yōkai Watch (Since January 2013)
- Danball Senki Wars (Since April 2013)
- Puzzle & Dragons (Since September 2013)
- Danchi Tomoo 4-koma Park (Since September 2013)
- Punyu-punyu Warrior Myame-myame (Since October 2013)
- Pokémon X and Y: The Legend of the Pokémon Dragon King (Since November 2013)
- Hero Bank (Since November 2013)
- Gundam Build Fighters (Since November 2013)
- 100% Pascal-sensei (Since January 2015)
- Splatoon (Since June 2016)
Manga titles currently serialized in Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic
- Super Mario-kun (Since February 1991)
- Pokémon Pocket Monsters (Since February 1997)
- Denjyarasu Jiisan Jya! (Since June 2010)
- Duel Masters Victory (Since June 2011)
- Animal Crossing: New Leaf (Since October 2012)
- Lapis Lazuli (Since October 2012)
- Big Gathering! We are Oreca! (Since December 2012)
- Yo-Kai Watch (Since January 2013)
- Pokémon Torretta (Since February 2013)
- A Penguin's Troubles Plus (Since April 2013)
- Friendship Attached! Foot Burst (Since April 2013)
- Nyaemon (Since April 2013)
- Really!! Majime-kun! (Since June 2013)
- (Since June 2013)
- Story of Duel Masters: Outrage (Since June 2013)
- Cosmos Stamp (Since August 2013)
- Orecabattle Oreca-Monsters Adventure-Retsuden (Since October 2013)
Manga titles currently serialized in CoroCoro Ichiban
- Super Refreshing TV Life: Oha Suta Boy (Since November 2005)
- Pokémon 4-koma Gag Picture book (Since November 2009)
- Detective Conan Special (Since May 2011)
- Super Mario-kun Theater (Since April 2013)
- Animal Crossing: New Leaf (Since July 2013)
- Yo-kai Watch Yoncoma Pun Club (Since April 2015)
- Secret Society Eagle Talon (Since January 2016)
- Chibi Kasu-kun (Since May 2016)
- Hoshi no Kirby Everything on Today's Diary (Since July 2016)
- Pokémon Special Sun•Moon Saga (Since January 2017)
- Pokémon TCG Sun•Moon Saga (Since January 2017)
- Star Kirby Puzzle Planet (Since January 2017)
Manga
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
- Saru Get You
- Crash Bandicoot
- Donkey Kong
- Duel Masters
- Honō no Tōkyūji: Dodge Danpei
- Kirby of the Stars: The Story of Dedede Who Lives in Pupupu
- Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!!
- Ore wa Otoko da! Kunio-kun (manga based on the Kunio-kun series)
- Pokémon Blue (Japan)
- Spyro The Dragon
- Super B-Daman
- Speed Racer
- Super Mario-kun
- Tamagotchi
- Wataru
- Zoids
2000s
- Duel Masters
- Battle B-Daman
- Beyblade
- Bomberman Jetters
- Crash B-Daman
- Croket!
- Dorabase
- Denjyarasu Jiisan
- Hidemaru the Soccer Boy - Adapted into the anime Forza! Hidemaru
- Inazuma Eleven
- Jak x Daxter ~Itachi de Waruika!!~
- Keshikasu-kun
- Kiyohara-kun
- FF7AC
- Rockman EXE
- Solar Boy Django
- Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
- Ratchet & Clank – Gagaga! Ginga no Gakeppuchi Densetsu
- Shooting Star Rockman
- Sonic! Dash & Spin
- I'm Galileo!
- Kirby of the Stars
- Pokémon Platinum
- Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
- Pokémon Colosseum
- Sap-kun
- Tamagotchi
- Mysterious Joker
2010s
- Baku Tech! Bakugan
- Cross Fight B-daman
- Danball Senki
- Denjyarasu Jiisan Jya!
- Future Card Buddyfight
- Hero Bank
- Inazuma Eleven: Ares no Tenbin
- Metal Fight Beyblade Explosion
- Metal Fight Beyblade 4D
- Metal Fight Beyblade Zero-G
- Pokémon Black and White
- Pokémon Black and White 2
- Pokémon X and Y
- Kamiwaza Wanda
- Splatoon
- Minions[8]
- Rich Police Cash!
2020s
Circulation
| Year / Period | Monthly circulation | Magazine sales |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 1,400,000[9] | 16,800,000[9] |
| 1988 | 1,100,000[9] | 13,200,000[9] |
| 1989 | 1,100,000[9] | 13,200,000[9] |
| 1990 | 880,000[9] | 10,560,000[9] |
| 1991 | 600,000[9] | 7,200,000[9] |
| 1992 | 670,000[9] | 8,040,000[9] |
| 1993 | 500,000[9] | 6,000,000[9] |
| 1994 | 450,000[9] | 5,400,000[9] |
| 1995 | 630,000[9] | 7,560,000[9] |
| 1996 | 1,350,000[9] | 16,200,000[9] |
| 1997 | 1,800,000[9] | 21,600,000[9] |
| 1998 | 1,650,000[9] | 19,800,000[9] |
| 1999 | 1,260,000[9] | 15,120,000[9] |
| 2000 | 1,240,000[9] | 14,880,000[9] |
| 2001 | 1,260,000[9] | 15,120,000[9] |
| 2002 | 1,260,000[9] | 15,120,000[9] |
| 2003 | 1,350,000[9] | 16,200,000[9] |
| 2004 | 1,270,000[9] | 15,240,000[9] |
| 2005 | 1,090,000[9] | 13,080,000[9] |
| January 2006 to August 2006 | 963,334[10] | 7,706,672[10] |
| September 2006 to August 2007 | 932,500[10] | 11,190,000[10] |
| September 2007 to August 2008 | 885,000[10] | 10,620,000[10] |
| September 2008 to August 2009 | 911,667[10] | 10,940,004[10] |
| September 2009 to August 2010 | 950,834[10] | 11,410,008[10] |
| September 2010 to August 2011 | 837,500[10] | 10,050,000[10] |
| October 2011 to September 2012 | 697,917[11] | 8,375,004[11] |
| October 2012 to September 2013 | 595,000[12] | 7,140,000[12] |
| October 2013 to September 2014 | 768,334[13] | 9,220,008[13] |
| October 2014 to September 2015 | 1,014,167[14] | 12,170,004[11] |
| October 2015 to September 2016 | 840,833[15] | 10,089,996[15] |
| October 2016 to March 2017 | 803,333[16] | 4,819,998[16] |
| April 2017 to June 2017 | 776,667[16] | 2,330,001[16] |
| July 2017 to September 2017 | 763,333[17] | 2,289,999[17] |
| October 2017 to September 2018 | 757,500[18] | 9,090,003[18] |
| October 2018 to September 2019 | 621,667[19] | 7,460,004[19] |
| May 1977 to September 2018 | 418,840,006[4][17][18][19] |
Rivals
Corocoro has had many rival kodomo magazines in the past, with one of them, Comic Bom Bom, closing down due to declining sales. The current competition includes V Jump and Saikyo Jump.
Past rivals
- Shōnen Challenge (January 1979–February 1982)
- 100-Point Comic (January 1981–January 1983)
- Comic Bom Bom (November 1981–December 2007)
- One-Pack Comic (November 1985–January 1989)
- Comic Bun-Bun (January 2004–October 2009)
- Kerokero Ace (December 2007–September 2013)
Current rivals
- V Jump (since June 1993)
- Monthly Shōnen Ace (since December 1994)
- Saikyō Jump (since January 2012)
Foreign adaptations
- CO-CO! (Hong Kong)
- (Taiwan)
- (China)
See also
References
- ^ Morrissy, Kim (July 7, 2017). "CoroCoro's 40th Anniversary Celebrates New Generation of Pokémon, Doraemon, and More". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
If you've ever been a kid in Japan, you've probably heard of CoroCoro Comic, the biggest manga magazine aimed at elementary schoolboys.
Miller, Evan (March 11, 2007). "Legends of Corocoro 10 Comic Series Debuts in May". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
[CoroCoro Comic] has long been viewed as one of Japan's most popular manga magazines for younger children.
月刊コロコロコミック (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
いつの時代も、子供たちの遊びをリードする雑誌、それがコロコロコミックです。(A magazine that always leads children's play, that's CoroCoro Comic.)
Loveridge, Lynzee (August 29, 2017). "CoroCoro Comic Page Shows Infantile Trump Using 20 Fidget Spinners". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
The children's manga magazine CoroCoro Comic runs some of the tamest manga the industry has to offer.
大人が楽しめる！最新コロコロ漫画が ぶっ飛び過ぎな件. OKMusic. Japan Music Network. February 22, 2016. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
「コロコロコミック」は、モチロン子供向け漫画雑誌です。 しかし、たまには子供向け漫画を読んでみても、いいかもしれませんよ。(CoroCoro Comic is a comic magazine for children. But sometimes it might be nice to read comics for children.)
- ^ [1], CoroCoroNews
- ^ Schodt, Frederik L. (1996). Dreamland Japan: writings on modern manga. Stone Bridge Press. p. 83. ISBN 1-880656-23-X.
- ^ a b コロコロ×スカイツリーのコラボビジュアル公開、カフェメニューも明らかに. AnimeAnime.jp (in Japanese). May 4, 2017.
- ^ "Coro Coro Comics Cover Designer Sets Guinness World Record".
- ^ "Shogakukan's Coro Coro Aniki Magazine Ends Publication".
- ^ "Kyoto Museum Exhibits Genius Party, Coronary, Terra E…". Anime News Network. 2007-07-18. Retrieved 2009-09-02.
- ^ "Is the World Ready for a "Minions" Manga?".
- ^ 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 aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al . Yahoo! Japan. Archived from the original on March 6, 2007. Retrieved March 6, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 社団法人日本雑誌協会 JMPAマガジンデータによる該当期間中に発売された雑誌1号当たりの平均印刷部数。
- ^ a b c . Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
- ^ a b . Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Archived from the original on November 17, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
- ^ a b . Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Archived from the original on November 16, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
- ^ . Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
- ^ a b . Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
- ^ a b c d "印刷部数公表". Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ^ a b c "印刷部数公表". Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ^ a b c "印刷部数公表". Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
- ^ a b c "JMPAマガジンデータ : 男性 コミック". Japan Magazine Publishing Association. September 30, 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
External links
- Official site (in Japanese)
- CoroCoro Comic (coro.shogakukan.co.jp) at the Wayback Machine (archive index)
- at the Wayback Machine (archived June 27, 1997)
- Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic Minisite (in Japanese)
- CoroCoro Ichiban Minisite (in Japanese)
- CoroCoro Archive (in Japanese)