Method of manufacturing magnetic recording medium

A method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium comprising:

• forming a diffusion preventing layer by a reactive sputtering method, an ion implantation method, or an ion etching method, wherein
• the magnetic recording medium includes a non-magnetic substrate;
• an underlayer;
• a perpendicular magnetic layer;
• the diffusion preventing layer;
• and a protective layer, wherein
• the underlayer, the perpendicular magnetic layer, the diffusion preventing layer, and the protective layer are layered on the non-magnetic substrate in this order,
• the perpendicular magnetic layer has a multi-layer structure,
• the perpendicular magnetic layer includes an uppermost layer and at least one layer other than the uppermost layer, the uppermost layer including Co or Fe in magnetic particles, and the at least one layer other than the uppermost layer including an oxide,
• the diffusion preventing layer is provided between the perpendicular magnetic layer and the protective layer,
• the diffusion preventing layer includes at least one component selected from a group consisting of Si, Ti, Cr, B, and Ru, or either a carbide, an oxide, or both, of the at least one component,
• the diffusion preventing layer includes carbon, and
• a content of carbon in the diffusion preventing layer is 20 at % or more.