Ceramic electronic component and method for manufacturing ceramic electronic component

A method for manufacturing a ceramic electronic component including a ceramic body including a ceramic layer and an internal electrode stacked in layers, and an external electrode on a surface of the ceramic body, wherein the internal electrode and the external electrode are electrically interconnected, the ceramic body includes a pair of end surfaces at which the internal electrode is led out, and four side surfaces connecting the pair of end surfaces, the external electrode includes at least a high glass content layer including glass and a low glass content layer including no glass or including glass at a ratio smaller than the high glass content layer, in at least one of a cross section obtained by cutting in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a direction of a plane in which the internal electrode extends and a cross section obtained by cutting in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the direction of the plane in which the internal electrode extends, the external electrode includes an end surface region on the end surface and a side surface region on the side surface, the side surface region includes a first end portion electrically connected to the end surface region at a ridge portion of the ceramic body connecting the end surface and the side surface together, and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion, at at least a portion where the internal electrode is led out, the end surface region includes the high glass content layer in contact with the ceramic body, and at least the second end portion of the side surface region and a vicinity thereof includes the low glass content layer in contact with the ceramic body, the method comprising:

• preparing a ceramic body including the ceramic layer and the internal electrode stacked in layers, the preparing including:
• preparing a plurality of ceramic green sheets;
• applying a first conductive paste to a major surface of at least one of the plurality of ceramic green sheets;
• stacking the plurality of ceramic green sheets in layers to prepare a green ceramic body;
• and
• firing the green ceramic body;
• and
• applying second and third conductive pastes to a surface of the fired ceramic body and firing the second and third conductive pastes on the surface of the ceramic body to form the external electrode.