A non-magnetic orientation controller layer (37) extends on the surface of a magnetic orientation controller layer (36) and includes crystalline grains adjacent each other. A magnetic recording layer (38) extends on the surface of the non-magnetic orientation controller layer (37) and includes crystalline grains growing form the individual crystalline grains in the non-magnetic orientation controller layer (37). A uniform orientation can be established in the crystalline grains in the magnetic recording layer (38) based on the influences from the magnetic and non-magnetic orientation controller layers (36, 37). The crystalline orientation can reliably be controlled in the magnetic recording layer (38) as compared with the case where the non-magnetic orientation controller layer (37) is solely employed to control the crystalline orientation in the magnetic recording layer (38). A reliable establishment of a uniform crystalline orientation can be achieved without an increase in the thickness of the non-magnetic orientation controller layer (37). The perpendicular magnetic recording medium enjoys a higher performance in the property of electromagnetic transduction. <IMAGE>
