Magnetic head for perpendicular recording having pole pieces provided on surface of soft magnetic film

Embodiments of the invention provide a perpendicular recording magnetic head capable of reducing leakage magnetic fields from the soft magnetic films on the air bearing surface side and reducing the protrusion of the soft magnetic films in the direction of the air bearing surface side due to thermal deformation of the soft magnetic films. In one embodiment, the write functional section includes a coil conductor, second soft magnetic film pattern and first soft magnetic film pattern that cover the coil conductor from top and bottom and are magnetically coupled to each other, and a main magnetic pole piece determining a track width. The read functional section includes a reading element sandwiched between two magnetic shield films. A pedestal magnetic pole pattern is formed at the frontal end position of the first soft magnetic film pattern.