少女フレンド [Shōjo Furendo / Shōjo Friend]

Published by Kōdansha from 1962 to 1996, Shōjo Friend was a long-running weekly anthology that defined the shōjo manga genre for over three decades. Spanning 1,102 issues, the magazine featured serialized stories by many of the era's most influential creators, though its most consistent visual identity came from its photorealistic cover art rather than a single dominant artist. As a cornerstone of Kōdansha's publishing line, it introduced generations of young readers to romance, drama, and adventure, shaping the tastes of a nation. Its remarkable 34-year run makes it a key artifact in the history of girls' comics in Japan.