Shogakukan
is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, literature, comics (manga), non-fiction, DVDs, and other media in Japan.
Shogakukan founded Shueisha, which also founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but are together called the Hit ...
, established on May 15, 1977. Its main target is
elementary school
A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ed ...
-aged boys, younger than the readers of shōnen manga. Several of its properties, like ''
Doraemon
''Doraemon'' ( ja, ドラえもん ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fujiko F. Fujio. The manga was first serialized in December 1969, with List of Doraemon chapters, its 1,345 individual chapters compiled into 45 ' ...
'' and the ''
Pokémon
(an abbreviation for in Japan) is a Japanese media franchise managed by The Pokémon Company, founded by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures (company), Creatures, the owners of the trademark and copyright of the franchise.
In terms of ...
'' series of games, have gone on to be cultural phenomena in Japan.
The name comes from a phenomime 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 ( 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 400million copies as of April 2017, making it one of the best-selling comic/
manga magazines
This is a list of manga magazines or published in Japan. The majority of manga magazines are categorized into one of five demographics, which correspond to the age and gender of their readership:
* ''Children's anime and manga, Kodomo'' – ai ...
. 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
''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...
'' as the longest-running cover designer for a children's magazine.
''CoroCoro Aniki'' ended publication in March 2021.
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
The Kyoto International Manga Museum (京都国際マンガミュージアム, Kyōto Kokusai Manga Myūjiamu) is located in Nakagyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan. The museum's collection includes approximately 300,000 items as of 2016, with 50,000 volumes ...
video game
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...
s 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
The is an 8-bit fourth generation handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan on April 21, 1989, in North America later the same year, and in Europe in late 1990. It was designed by the same ...
game ''Pocket Monsters Blue'' was sold exclusively through the magazine at first, which helped ''CoroCoros 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
'Radio-controlled cars'' (or RC cars for short) are miniature model cars, vans, buses, trucks or buggies that can be controlled from a distance using a specialized transmitter or remote. The term "RC" has been used to mean both "remote controll ...
Nintendo
is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It develops video games and video game consoles.
Nintendo was founded in 1889 as by craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi and originally produce ...
B-Daman
is a marble shooting toy franchise produced in Japan by Takara. It was originally based on the Bomberman series, but later expanded into other franchises and its own original designs.
The toy's design is a humanoid figure, with a round cavity in ...
Bikkuriman
is a line of wafer snacks produced by Lotte, made notable for the randomly assorted bonus stickers included inside each snack. First released in 1977, Bikkuriman (ビックリマン, “Surprise Man”) became wildly popular in Japan w ...
Barcode Battler
The is a handheld game console released by Epoch Co. in March 1991.
The console at retail was supplied with a number of cards, each of which had a barcode. Upon starting the game, the player must swipe a barcode representing a player. The game ...
(with
Epoch Co.
is a Japanese toy and computer games company founded in 1958 which is best known for manufacturing Barcode Battler and ''Doraemon'' video games, and the Sylvanian Families series of toys. Its current Representative President is Michihiro Maeda.
...
)
Manga series currently being serialized
Manga titles currently serialized in ''Monthly CoroCoro Comic''
*''
Super Mario-kun
The ''Mario'' media franchise extends out of video games into non-game media. Mario and themes related to the franchise have appeared in television shows, anime, films, comics and manga, merchandise, and musical performance.
Television
'' Sat ...
'' (Since November 1990)
*''
Pocket Monsters
A pocket is a bag- or envelope-like receptacle either fastened to or inserted in an article of clothing to hold small items. Pockets are also attached to luggage, backpacks, and similar items. In older usage, a pocket was a separate small bag o ...
Danball Senki Wars
, or simply ''LBX'', is a series of action role-playing video games created by Level-5, involving small plastic model robots known as LBXs (standing for "Little Battler eXperience") that fight on dioramas made out of cardboard, ...
Hero Bank
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Sega for the Nintendo 3DS. It was released in Japan on March 20, 2014. A sequel, ''Hero Bank 2'', was released in Japan on November 27, 2014. An anime television series adaptation by T ...
100% Pascal-sensei
is a Japanese gag comedy manga series written and illustrated by Yūji Nagai. it was serialized in Shogakukan's ''CoroCoro Comic'' magazine from January 15, 2015, to October 15, 2018, and has been compiled into seven ''tankōbon'' volumes on ...
'' (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)
*' (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)
* Super Conversion War Mojibakeru G Beat! ' (Since June 2013)
*'' Story of Duel Masters: Outrage'' (Since June 2013)
*''Cosmos Stamp'' (Since August 2013)
*' (Since October 2013)
Manga titles currently serialized in ''CoroCoro Ichiban''
Kaibutsu-kun
is a shōnen manga and anime series by Fujiko A. Fujio named after its protagonist. The first series was broadcast on TBS from April 21, 1968 to March 23, 1969. The second series was broadcast on TV Asahi from September 2, 1980 to Sept ...
''
*''
Doraemon
''Doraemon'' ( ja, ドラえもん ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fujiko F. Fujio. The manga was first serialized in December 1969, with List of Doraemon chapters, its 1,345 individual chapters compiled into 45 ' ...
''
1970s
*''
Game Center Arashi
is a Japanese manga by Mitsuru Sugaya, which ran in ''CoroCoro Comic'' from 1978 to 1984. It focus on Arashi Ishino, a young gamer whose life revolves around video games. The manga, which is one of the earliest Japanese video game-themed co ...
''
1980s
*''
Bikkuriman
is a line of wafer snacks produced by Lotte, made notable for the randomly assorted bonus stickers included inside each snack. First released in 1977, Bikkuriman (ビックリマン, “Surprise Man”) became wildly popular in Japan w ...
''
*''Oyaji-chan''
*''
Dash! Yonkuro
is a Japanese manga series created by Zaurus Tokuda, originally serialized in Shogakukan's ''CoroCoro Comic'' magazine from December 1987 to March 1992. The story focuses on Yonkuro Hinomaru, a delinquent Mini 4WD enthusiast and member of ...
''
*''
Ganbare, Kickers!
is a romantic soccer kid anime drawn by Noriaki Nagai. It was published by Shogakukan in ''CoroCoro Comic'' magazine from 1985 to 1989. The story is usually classified as Comedy, Drama, Shōnen and Sports.
The manga was turned into an anim ...
Perman
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by the manga artist duo Fujiko Fujio about a clumsy boy, Mitsuo Suwa, who is chosen to apprentice to a powerful superhero to save the world along with other superheroes. The manga series ...
Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!!
is a manga series created by Tetsuhiro Koshita, first serialized in Shogakukan's CoroCoro Comic magazine from July 1994 to October 1999. The manga centers on Retsu and Go Seiba, twin brothers who focus on the world of miniature car raci ...
''
*''Ore wa Otoko da! Kunio-kun'' (manga based on the ''
Kunio-kun
The series (typically localized as ''River City'') is a video game series started by Technōs Japan. The series is now handled by Arc System Works who purchased all of the intellectual property rights from Technōs' successor, Million Corp. The ...
Spyro The Dragon
''Spyro the Dragon'' is a platform game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation on September 9, 1998. The first game in the ''Spyro'' series, it stars the title character, a young purple dr ...
Super Mario-kun
The ''Mario'' media franchise extends out of video games into non-game media. Mario and themes related to the franchise have appeared in television shows, anime, films, comics and manga, merchandise, and musical performance.
Television
'' Sat ...
Wataru
Wataru is a masculine Japanese given name.
Possible writings
Wataru can be written using several kanji characters. Here are some examples:
*渉, "ford"
*渡, "ferry over"
*亘, "extend across"
*航, "navigate"
*和, "harmony"
*亙, "extend acro ...
Bomberman Jetters
is a 2002 Japanese anime television series produced by NAS and TV Tokyo and animated by Studio Deen. It has also spawned two manga series and three video games, one of which was also localized and given an English dub. It is based on ...
''
*''
Crash B-Daman
is the third comic adaptation of the B-Daman
is a marble shooting toy franchise produced in Japan by Takara. It was originally based on the Bomberman series, but later expanded into other franchises and its own original designs.
The toy ...
''
*''
Croket!
, also spelled ''Korokke!'', is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Manavu Kashimoto. It was published by Shogakukan in ''CoroCoro Comic'' from April 2000 to November 2006 and collected in 15 bound volumes. It received the 2003 Shoga ...
''
*''
Dorabase
''Doraemon'' ( ja, ドラえもん ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fujiko F. Fujio. The manga was first serialized in December 1969, with its 1,345 individual chapters compiled into 45 ''tankōbon'' volumes and ...
Forza! Hidemaru
is a Japanese anime television series. It was produced by NAS (company), NAS and aired on TV Tokyo for twenty-six episodes. Enoki Films licensed the series as ''Forza! Mario'',Inazuma Eleven is an association football-themed media franchise created by Level-5 (company), Level-5. The franchise began with the release of ''Inazuma Eleven (video game), Inazuma Eleven'' in 2008, with the game series selling over 8 million copies worldwide b ...
Keshikasu-kun
is a Japanese children's manga written and illustrated by (村瀬範行 ''Murase Noriyuki''). It has been serialized in Monthly ''CoroCoro Comic'' from June 2004.FF7AC''
*'' Rockman EXE''
*''
Solar Boy Django
''Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django'', also known as ''Zoktai'', is a video game that was developed and published by Konami for the Game Boy Advance. Released in North America and Japan in 2004 and in Europe in 2005, it is the sequel to '' Boktai: The Su ...
''
*''
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
and are 2006 role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. They are the first installments in the fourth generation of the ''Pokémon'' video game series. They were f ...
Shooting Star Rockman
, , and are 2006 action role-playing video games developed and published by Capcom for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console; combined, they are the first game in the ''Mega Man Star Force'' series, a sub series of the greater ''Mega Man' ...
Kirby of the Stars
''Kirby: Right Back at Ya!'', known in Japan as , is a Japanese anime series based on Nintendo's ''Kirby'' franchise. Produced by Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting, Dentsu, A-UN Entertainment and Studio Sign, it was directed by Sōji Yoshikawa and M ...
''
*''
Pokémon Platinum
is a 2008 role-playing video game developed by Game Freak, published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It is an enhanced version of ''Pokémon Diamond'' and ''Pearl'' and is part of the fourth gene ...
Pokémon Colosseum
''Pokémon Colosseum'' is a role-playing video game in the ''Pokémon'' series developed by Genius Sonority, published by The Pokémon Company, and distributed by Nintendo. It was released for the GameCube on November 21, 2003, in Japan; March 22 ...
Baku Tech! Bakugan
is a manga series written and illustrated by Shingo. In Japan, the comics have been published in Shogakukan's ''Monthly CoroCoro'' comics since September 2010. The manga follows the adventures of Harubaru Hinode and his ...
Danball Senki
, or simply ''LBX'', is a series of action role-playing video games created by Level-5, involving small plastic model robots known as LBXs (standing for "Little Battler eXperience") that fight on dioramas made out of cardboard, ...
Hero Bank
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Sega for the Nintendo 3DS. It was released in Japan on March 20, 2014. A sequel, ''Hero Bank 2'', was released in Japan on November 27, 2014. An anime television series adaptation by T ...
Pokémon X and Y
and are 2013 role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. They are the first installments in the sixth generation of the main ''Pokémon'' video game series. First a ...
''
*''
Kamiwaza Wanda
is a Japanese media franchise created by Takara Tomy and TBS. It consists of two manga series, both published by Shogakukan from 2016 to 2017, and a 47-episode anime television series by TMS Entertainment, aired from April 2016 to March 201 ...
Doraemon
''Doraemon'' ( ja, ドラえもん ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fujiko F. Fujio. The manga was first serialized in December 1969, with List of Doraemon chapters, its 1,345 individual chapters compiled into 45 ' ...
''
*''Schau Lof''
*''
Hagemaru
, or simply ''Hagemaru'', is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Shinbo Nomura. The series was published in the Shogakukan magazine ''CoroCoro Comic'' from 1985 to 1995. It tells the story of a young boy named Hagemaru and his ...
Pokémon
(an abbreviation for in Japan) is a Japanese media franchise managed by The Pokémon Company, founded by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures (company), Creatures, the owners of the trademark and copyright of the franchise.
In terms of ...
''
*''Black Channel''
Circulation
Rivals
Corocoro has had many rival kodomo magazines in the past, with one of them, ''
Comic Bom Bom
was a monthly Japanese children's manga magazine published by Kodansha. It was first published on October 15, 1981, and ceased publication in 2007. A web version of the magazine has been published on Pixiv Comic since the end of July 2017.
Sim ...
'', closing down due to declining sales. The current competition includes '' V Jump'' and ''
Saikyo Jump
Saikyo may refer to:
*Saikyō Line, a Japanese railway line in the Tokyo metropolitan area
*''Saikyō Maru'', a Japanese ship involved in the Battle of the Yalu River (1894)
*Western Capital (disambiguation) ( ja, links=no, 西京, Saikyō), seve ...
Comic Bom Bom
was a monthly Japanese children's manga magazine published by Kodansha. It was first published on October 15, 1981, and ceased publication in 2007. A web version of the magazine has been published on Pixiv Comic since the end of July 2017.
Sim ...
Monthly Shōnen Ace
is a monthly shōnen manga magazine in Japan published by Kadokawa Shoten, started in 1994. Unlike the big shōnen weeklies with circulation figures in the millions, ''Ace'' is aimed at a less mainstream audience, and has a particular emphasis on ...
'' (since December 1994)
*''
Saikyō Jump
is a Japanese monthly Shōnen manga, ''shōnen'' manga magazine published by Shueisha. The magazine was started on December 3, 2010 with three completely original titles and seven spin-off (media), spin-off manga from series in ''Weekly Shōnen Ju ...
Weekly Shōnen Sunday
is a weekly ''shōnen'' manga magazine published in Japan by Shogakukan since March 1959. Contrary to its title, ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday'' issues are released on Wednesdays. ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday'' has sold over 1.8billion copies since 1986, ...