Free magazines are easy to come across in Japan, be it the R25s available in Tokyo metro stations, coupon books such as Hot Pepper that offer discount savings at the nation’s retailers or the local real estate listings. The medium has proven again and again to be an effective tool for reaching Japanese consumers.

One addition to add to that list is Bishojo Zukan. As CNNGo points out, it’s a free paper dedicated to girls. Where this one differs, however, is that each girl featured is not a made-up goddess from a Tokyo entertainment studio, but quite literally a ‘girl next door’.

Proving successful in Saitama but now with editions serving rural spots in all 47 prefectures of Japan, the magazines contain photos of cute, good-looking girls who are living completely normal lives and have nothing to do with the entertainment industry.

They are not heavily made up or put into the revealing outfits that you would find in other magazines. They are drawn from amongst the OLs, university students and others living in the suburbs and towns away from Tokyo and are photographed in simple and modest poses.

CNNGo goes on to say that the business model – showing local girls in natural surroundings supported with ads is one that is proving a huge hit with the nation’s guys. They go so far as to point out that it has single-handedly helped revive interest in regional Japan – providing an effective counter-measure to the all-consuming Tokyo media.

Just how long will this survive as more and more young folks in Japan flock to the big cities is unclear, but for now you can enjoy comparing an Akita bijin to a Kyo bijin at the official website.