A concave portion is formed on the end surface of a main magnet pole layer on the trailing side. A convex portion is formed on the end surface of a return yoke layer on the leading side, which opposes the concave portion formed on the end surface of the main magnet pole layer on the trailing side, and the distance (gap length) between the main magnet pole layer and the return yoke layer in the direction of the film thickness is constant. Consequently, the magnetic field generating from the main magnet pole layer toward the recording medium is appropriately prevented from isotropically spreading in the trailing direction, and the width of magnetization reversal between the recording patterns, which are magnetized reversely from each other, can be reduced over the entire area.