The majority of the works of Naoko Takeuchi were originally published in Nakayoshi magazine, a monthly “phone book” magazine which has been running for over 50 years, and which features strictly girls comics targetted for the elementary school age set. Each book is between 300 and 500 pages long, and comes with a small bonus item or toy called furoku (付録); usually this prize is related to the magazine’s most popular series at the time of its printing.
Nakayoshi had two major spin-off magazines; one is “Nakayoshi Deluxe”, which is a smaller publication. Typically Nakayoshi Deluxe issues are about 300 pages long, do not contain furoku items, and usually do not contain famous series. It is a smaller book used mainly to promote up-and-coming girls comic artists. Naoko Takeuchi got her start in Nakayoshi Deluxe and most of her earlier works can only be found in its issues.
The second spin-off publication of Nakayoshi’s was a magazine called “RunRun”. This was also a smaller publication, usually between 300-400 pages in length, but it would sometimes contain furoku items. In contrast to Nakayoshi Deluxe, RunRun magazine was usually a “spotlight” publication for already well-known artists to showcase series that were either too “adult like” or too “specialized” to be run in Nakayoshi. Unfortunately, after a run of under 10 years, RunRun magazine went bankrupt. Most of the titles within it were never released in tankoubon format, and so unless you own the magazine, you probably can’t find copies of many of its unique stories anymore. Because of this, issues of RunRun magazine are incredibly difficult to find, and also very expensive.
Nakayoshi is owned by Kodansha LTD. Like other monthly comics periodicals, issues are only available for a limited amount of time, and there are only a limited number of copies made. Once they are sold out, issues do not go out for a second printing. It is tradition in Japanese book stores to throw away or burn all of the monthly phone book magazines on New Years Day, and Kodansha LTD does not keep any stock of its old issues in warehouses for back order. So as you might imagine finding old issues of Nakayoshi, Nakayoshi Deluxe, or RunRun is a very difficult task, particuarly if you live outside of Japan.
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, we were able to find and purchase the vast majority of Nakayoshi, Nakayoshi Deluxe, and RunRun magazine issues which feature the works of Naoko Takeuchi. sassypants678 has written an extensive database which tracks her progress, and shares information about which issues of each magazine contain each chapter of each series of Mrs. Takeuchi’s comics.
Below you can find digitial copies of our entire Nakayoshi magazine collection. Please enjoy!
Hi Miss Dream, thank you for scanning Nakayoshi October and November 2012 issues. Are you going to scan subsequent issues (January 2013, etc)? Do you have other issues dated 2004 to 2009, expecially those of 2007-2008, and previous 2012 releases? I am very interested in Pretty Cure mangas, which were published in those releases. Thank you.
I do not, but I think there are some auctions on eBay right now for some issues from 2008. Good luck! :)
At this point we do plan to scan the more current issues for postings. Very likely we will post a month behind the newsstand printings, with December 2012 going up in January 2013, etc. We do have a subscription to keep up with these scans. If there’s any Sailor Moon stuff announced, we will scan any related information ASAP as opposed to waiting for the full magazine posting. As for your other question, it appears sassypants678 has already answered it. Good luck, and enjoy these scans! =)
Thanks for scanning October-December 2012!
I need that one!
But do you have August-September?
If you have, can you scan it?
*sorry if my english is bad
I don’t own those issues – sorry!
No problem~
Thanks for replying by the way
You should do more Nakayoshi scans of 2014 November and December issue and more issue scans of 2015-2019?
Hello guys, I just wanted to let you know that the Sailor Moon chapters are featured as they were in the tankoubon edition. The tankoubon and the shinzouban edition have different chapters. You can see a comparison here: http://wikimoon.org/index.php?title=Sailor_Moon_%28manga%29
Some of the chapters have been splitted because of their lenght (among the featured Nakayoshi editions above, this goes for chapter 33 in 1995th’s january, february and march issues; chapter 41 in 1996th’s january and february issues and chapter 45 in 1996th’s june and july issues). Apart from that they appear pretty much like they do in the old tankoubon editions. I hope that’s a little candle in the dark.
The december 1994 edition doesn’t contain any Sailor Moon chapter at all and july 1994 is in your list twice. Maybe it’s better to sort them by year to get a better overview.
I also love your hd scans, but I don’t understand why you save them in jpg. That’s like watching a bluray on an old black and white tv. Jpg shrinks the quality and adds pixels to the pages like a layer of dust. In the end you have mediocre quality that takes a lot of space away. I’m not asking for anything here, this is just something that might be worth reconsidering for future projects.
Thank you for your beautiful work.
Hello! Thank you for your note. Yes, the chapters in here go alongside mostly with the tankoubon edition, but surprisingly not completely as you noted. I’ve actually been going through each individual issue’s worth of pages to compile an accurate list since we learned that our current list is not as accurate. I hope to have this complete for the issues we have posted as well as the ones we are currently scanning within the next month or two. As another fun note to add on to March 1995, while that does finish chapter 33, it also contains a chunk of chapter 34 as well. Pretty crazy, and it will likely make me go insane as I continue this work. XD
In regards to a reorganization of this page, it is actually actively in the works. We’ve been working on this for some weeks now, and hope to have it online soon. Later this year (hopefully), there will be a massive expansion of this section cataloging the contents of the issues and having a nice database for everyone to more easily find their favorite franchises. This particular project is in a very early state, with plans and data gathering just starting.
In regards to your comments on using JPG, this is something I’m personally not too knowledgeable about, but I’ll get it noted for the future.
Thank you for your nice comment, we’re happy to see this section get some enjoyment and hope you and everyone else will better enjoy what we have planned here! =D
Thank you so much for scanning these can you please try to find the August 2013 issue please
The recent issues of Nakayoshi magazine get posted here in the month following the publication date. The August issue will be put online in early September, and so on.
Hey can you try to find all of the 2012 issue please
Do you have any Nakayoshi issue in 2003? :< Thank you for scaning 2001-2002, those issues have the raw I need (Juunikyuu de Tsukamaete by Andou Natsumi), but missing the last chapter :< I'm really grateful if you scan it, but if you don't have it, I'm understand :< Sr for my bad E :<
I currently don’t have anything from 2003, sorry! But I may add it in the future as my collection grows, so be sure to check back :)
Thanks for doing such an awesome job, guys!
I have one question: do you have the 1993 March Nakayoshi issue?
I’ve been looking for an HQ scan of the picture with the inner senshi paired with the Dark Kingdom generals that is in the Sailor Moon Original Picture Collections Artbook (volume 1, this picture), but it’s either medium quality and the picture is intact, or it is high-res but there’s a fold in the centre from the artbook scan.
I read somewhere that it appears in Nakayoshi at the end of the first arc, hence my question above.
Any help would be muchly appreciated!
Love,
Wyse
Hey Wyse!
I recently obtained that issue, and will be sharing HQ scans of the picture in question soon. Our gallery system is back online after months of problems, so it may be a bit of a wait until I get around to adding March 1993. Hope that’s OK! :)
*dies and goes to heaven*
You’ve just totally made my day/week/month/year. Heck, I’d say decade, considering how long I’ve blindly looked for it.
I’m just so happy to hear that it’ll be up, I almost don’t care when! I can see you’ve put up a whole slew of scans recently so I’m more than happy to wait while I look around. BTW, I may have a SMILE or Mixxzine from back in the day. If you’re missing anything and I have it, I’d be happy to donate it to you guys.
Love,
Wyse
P.S. Thanks for replying so quickly!
Hey Wyse!
I’m always happy to accept scan donations! Email me if you have files to share – [email protected]
I can set you up an FTP account. Thank you!!
Thanks for posting the past issues of Nakayoshi and other magazines. As the years go by; and authors are growing old and gray. Many of the author/artist have passed on and publishing companies are folding it’s doors. Also, some artist are involved in scandals of their past deeds.
I want to thank you so much for your hard work in keeping the songs of the past alive; for future generations.
I’m working on becoming a cartoonist; in the times of sorrow and tragedy; cartoons teach us that in the plight of tragedy; there is hope.
Thank you.
Know where I’d be able to find the results of the Sailor Moon Nakayoshi Character Polls? Thank you
Sorry, the results might be posted in some issue but I don’t know which exactly. You’ll have to do a lot of digging.
Ok. Thank you very much.
Just wondering, will you ever post scans of the 1992 magazines that are/were on your garage sale? :) would love to see Usagi with that pink hair.
Yes, everything in our garage sale will be posted online within the next few months if not already. =)
Hey, I’m just wondering if this website uploads Nakayoshi every month, or do you wait till there’s more than 1 volume to upload? When will Febuary 2014 be up? I’m just dying to read it XD
I understand that all the staff have personal things to do too, sorry if I seem rude I just wanted to know how often the scans update :3
-Shiro
Hello! Since we usually acquire the Nakayoshi issues in batches, we spend some days processing everything, and then have what I call Nakayoshi Rush to spread out postings of about 5 per week until the queue runs out. We like to get them up as soon as possible after they are ready, but with the sheer size of these we spread them out and sometimes even get another batch while postings are still happening! It’s pretty crazy at times though we should have a calm soon it appears.
In regards to the current issues, right now our policy is to post an issue in the first Monday of the following month. So for example, February 2014 is set to go up in the first Monday of March 2014.
These were nice questions, not rude at all so please don’t feel like you’re being that way. I hope all that answers them! =)
LOL “Nakayoshi Rush” that sounds hectic! Especially since theres like 500 pages per book :o
Just another quick question, I’m curious.. How do you guys scan the books so nicely? Cuz theres some books I’d like to scan but i don’t want to break the spine or anything if i flatten them out on my printer… Do you have any tips for scanning?
Keep up the amazing work!
Heh, it is quite hectic. Considering before I started doing the rushes, we might have posted one or two at a time. It was eventually decided to stay around 5 while we have a queue or else this page would probably a 1/3 of its current size. XD
You are probably not going to like this answer, but to get such nice scans, we do take apart all of these books. We’ve eventually mastered a method where we pop a Nakayoshi magazine in the microwave for about two minutes to soften the glue just enough to separate the pages from the cover. We use a paper cutter to cut the edges off as we tear off small groups of pages. Thanks to sassypants678’s current job, we have access to an auto-feed scanner for the actual scanning. After scanning is complete, she has actions run in Photoshop to touch up the images. You can see the difference between the raw scan and the processed version with an example in our hire us page in the middle segment.
The individual chapters in them were scanned by me separately in my flatbed scanner as minor differences were improved by this and we wanted these particular scans to be the best possible as this is why we started the Nakayoshi project. Manual scans have also been done for the recent kanzenban “perfect edition” manga scans.
I’m sorry I can’t offer much advice for scanning without damaging books as we take them apart. However we have done scans for people who did not wish to take apart their books, in which case not bending the spine really isn’t possible. However, if you have heavy objects, you can certainly get the book in near-perfect condition. I personally have used LaserDisc boxsets to do this. Letting them sit between similar objects for hours, maybe even a day or two, is a big help.
However, the best way to get the best quality is taking the books apart. This is a sacrifice we’re willing to make, and it’s understandable that others likely don’t want to. It’s a big reason why we do what we do. Our efforts have allowed people to enjoy the recent CD and kanzenbans they purchased while happily keeping them untouched, as well as other products.
That came out longer than I had anticipated. ^^;; Thanks for the compliments, and we hope you keep enjoying our work! =D
Hey, It’s me again haha :D
So.. ummm.. I kind of have a bold request to make… I was wondering if it’s possible for you guys to also scan the March issue of Nakayoshi this month while you’re scanning the Feb issue. My group is translating “Watashi ni xx Shinasai” but we will be busy around the beginning of next month so we we’re thinking of translating both the Feb&Mar chapters during the 1 week break :o
I know its against your policy since you release 1 month late.. Also we would greatly appreciate it if it is possible to receive copies on the month that it is released in so we can be up to date :)
If you’d like to see what we’ve been doing with your scans you can find is here http://aoc-translations.tumblr.com
Sorry if this is inconvenient!
PS Thanks for tips! practiced on a few old chapter books and worked really well :) I’d personally scan the magazine too but a minimum of $15 shipping for a $5 book just isn’t affordable for me right now ;___;
I have sent you an email. =)
Hi guys, thank you so much for these scans! It must be huge work, and I’ve been really enjoying reading the old ones from the 80s. :D So much fun!
One thing I noticed: the link to Nakayoshi Deluxe December 1990 leads to Nakayoshi December 1990. Just a heads up. :)
Thank you for the kind words! We’re happy to hear that you’re enjoying our scans and the stories they contain! =D Thanks for the heads up about the link, that actually shouldn’t exist at all since the Deluxe line was only released on odd-numbered months. I have removed the link to take away any confusion.
Hello MissDream, thanks for all your hard work scanning Nakayoshi! I was wondering if you also have Shueisha’s Ribon from the second half of 2010? Thanks.
I do not. Sorry!
And what about Nakayoshi April 1998 issue?
If it isn’t listed on this page, we do not own it. Sorry!
2014 links aren’t updated, they stop at January.
This has been fixed, thanks for the heads up!
The link for Nakayoshi July 2014 Issue doens’t work. It say’s “Page Not Found”.
This has been fixed, thanks for the heads up!
Hello! I was wondering if you have the august issue from Ribon 2015?
I am a huge hime-chan no ribon fan, but I was one month late with trying to get the issue, so I missed the new chapter of hime-chan.
No one in seed? Torrents don’t start….can you help me? Thank you!
Hello, Nakayoshi January 1998 issue contains scans from 10 years earlier, January 1988. I was wondering if you could fix that?
I recall that being an issue some years back and was since fixed back then as well. Currently, I see the gallery loading the correct 1998 images and downloads going to the 1998 files as well. Could you please email me at [email protected] with exactly where you are seeing the 1988 images within 1998? I’d like to see what you’re seeing and get the ball on resolving this if needed. Thanks!
Well, this is really sweet! I really can’t believe that there aren’t more archives of the magazine issues there. Glad to see that you all were able to digitize such a collection!
How many issues have Sailor Moon on the cover? :)
Uh, where’s the November 2014 issue?
Hi! Is there any chance you have ANY issue from March 1999 to January 2000? I just discovered there was a really obscure manga release for the fourth season on those issues! It is completely undocumented!
Thanks,
Ian
Ian, wow, thank you for letting me know! I’m a few years late but I’ll try and find some of the Nakayoshi magazines from 1999 – 2000 to confirm!
Wow, I love this website so much. I can’t express how much I appreciate every person who has contributed to this site. Thank you!
I’m confused about something though. I’m trying to nail down exact release dates for each Act. Wikis say December 28th 1991 but your website clearly is correct in having Act 1 in the Feb 1992 issue. What gives? Do magazine issues get released more than A MONTH ahead of time?
I don’t read Japanese either, so I have no idea what the heck I am looking at if I wanna find the date beyond the year on each magazine. Any help you can provide would be amazing, thank you!
The February 1992 issue went on sale in late January 1992. So, in this case the Wiki is incorrect. Hope this helps!
You should be doing more Nakayoshi scans?
Hey, is there any plans of following the scans of the nakayoshi magazine, as a shoujo manga fan this is a goldmine and i hope you guys didn’t left the whole scanning project
Wow! This is incredible. Thank you so much for the work you’ve done here. Such an invaluable resource!!