Magnetic recording medium and method for manufacturing magnetic recording medium

A magnetic recording medium for perpendicular magnetic recording, comprising:

• a substrate;
• a first magnetic layer which has magnetic crystal grains exhibiting perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and nonmagnetic substances for magnetically separating the magnetic crystal grains from each other at grain boundaries of the magnetic crystal grains;
• a second magnetic layer which has magnetic grains exchange-coupled to the magnetic crystal grains and exchange-coupled to each other with a strength larger than a bonding strength between the magnetic crystal grains in the first magnetic layer in a direction parallel to a main surface of the substrate;
• and
• separation regions which magnetically separate tracks from each other and which are disposed in regions between the tracks of the magnetic recording medium in at least the second magnetic layer,
• wherein the separation regions are disposed substantially only in the second magnetic layer of the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer.