A shield incorporates: a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, a
first coupling portion, and a second coupling portion. The first layer
has: a first surface located in a region of a medium facing surface
forward of an end face of a pole layer along the direction of travel of a
recording medium; a second surface opposed to the pole layer; and a third
surface opposite to the second surface. The second layer touches the
third surface. The third layer is disposed in a region sandwiching the
pole layer with the first layer. The first coupling portion couples the
first layer to the third layer without touching the pole layer. The
second coupling portion is located farther from the medium facing surface
than the first coupling portion and couples the pole layer to the third
layer.