The inaugural story titled "Chibi Maruko-chan" appeared in the August 1986 issue of the shoujo manga magazine Ribon. Earlier semi-autobiographical works by the author had been featured in Ribon and Ribon Original during 1984 and 1985, and these were incorporated into the first "Chibi Maruko-chan" tankōbon released in 1987. The author initially started writing and submitting strips during her final year of senior high school, though Shueisha (the publisher of Ribon and Ribon Original) did not choose to publish them until more than a year later. Her goal was to create "essays in manga form." Numerous stories draw inspiration from events in the author's personal life, with certain characters modeled after her family and friends. The strip's nostalgic, sincere, and reflective tone contributed to its popularity among a broader readership.