Good Charamel Records have announced that Shonen Knife will return to North America for a new tour in the months of June & July 2012! This tour follows their very successful "Osaka Ramones" Tour in Oct/Nov of 2011! There will also be a new Shonen Knife album release at that time as well, so get ready for Summer Fun with Shonen Knife!! The tour information will be available here at the Shonen Knife NeXuS and we hope you'll be able to see the band perform at a city near you!!
Japan Times Feature Editor, Daniel Robson, has a really good interview with Naoko - which celebrates December 29, 1981 as the "Day That Shonen Knife Began". Naoko gives some wonderful details on the early days of the band, the members and the evolution of the music through the years. "Happy Birthday, Shonen Knife"... and it has truly been a great "30 Years Under The Knife"! Thanks to Mr. Robson for the information on the publication of this interview!
Historical Timeline of the progress of Shonen Knife over the years! The albums, changes and photos of the band since their beginnings. Concise, good information. Enjoy this YouTube video: The Shonen Knife Timeline now!
A Very Happy Birthday to Naoko as she celebrates her special day today... following a great year for Shonen Knife! Naoko, Ritsuko and Emi toured in Asia, Europe, UK, USA and Canada this year - it was truly a wonderful year for Shonen Knife and their fans. Naoko is the lead guitarist, songwriter, lead singer and, as long time fans know - the originator of Shonen Knife and the concept that the band has followed for 30 years now, since the beginning. Many albums, great songs and memorable tours later - they are still rocking the planet. Naoko has a special talent in her songwriting... great ideas and melodies that one does not forget after hearing them. We send very best birthday wishes to you, Naoko... and hope that 2012 brings much happiness for you, your family and the greatest female band on the Planet: Shonen Knife!
Here's a great link to the video for Shonen Knife's new 2011 Christmas song, "Sweet Christmas"!. Watch the girls cook up a jolly good Christmas cake to get their Christmas party rolling! And, here's a LIVE Video of "Sweet Christmas!" at the Pangaea, Osaka!
New Christmas Maxi-CD from Shonen Knife! Good Charamel Records have released a special new Christmas Maxi-single from Shonen Knife. Released on 11/29/11, the CD is available as a download and as a special CD release just in time for your Christmas Parties! If you order the CD directly from Good Charamel - you'll receive the CD with a special 4th BONUS track. For all the details and to order - please go to the Good Charamel Records Store. Imagine waking up on Christmas morning, to find new Shonen Knife Christmas Music in your stocking!! A sure sign, that you've been very good, indeed! Santa Claus is coming on the Bison Sleigh... so make sure he stops for milk, cookies and Shonen Knife Christmas Cheer at your house!! "Merii Kurisumasu!"
Shonen Knife completed their trek across North America on their 30th Anniversary Tour, which began October 20th in Toronto, Canada at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern! They performed songs from their amazing new "Osaka Ramones: Tribute To The Ramones" CD and fans are also heard some music from their great catalog of recordings... compiled to celebrate this, the 30th Anniversary Year of Shonen Knife!
The North American tour information is available here on the *Tour News* Section! The band recently completed 24 tour dates in the U.K. and Europe.... with sold out shows and great reviews! We hope you didn't miss out on the North American tour, (and your opportunity to have what is known as "The Experience"... by long time fans) as Shonen Knife celebrated their 30th Anniversary of rocking the planet!
Good Charamel Records ~ The Record Label for Shonen Knife in North America. All the latest information, recordings, and tour information can be found here! And, the label is bringing the best of JPop and Asian Grooves to North America - get the details on the GCBlogspot!. Go There Now! You need to know this!!
The Shonen Knife Page on Myspace.com ~ Great Shonen Knife site featuring links, message board, blogs, comments, album release info, music video from Fun! Fun! Fun!... and much more!
P-Vine Records, Japan ~ "Fun! Fun! Fun! and other Japanese Shonen Knife release information.
Shonen Knife on Amazon.com, Japan ~ Album release information & ordering from Amazon.com in Japan. Special Shonen Knife section!
Oglio Records ~ Previous Record Label for Shonen Knife in the U.S.A. - U.S. Albums Released on their label, Info and Links.
(Please note: This section in now undergoing serious "updating"! Each primary section will be updated and some older sections, removed. Thanks for your patience.)
The Shonen Knife NeXuS - Main Page-(you are there!)
Knife Cuts - Information on Shonen Knife CDs/Vinyl/Cassettes, etc. Where to Order their recordings, worldwide! Featured: The NEW 2010 album, "Free Time!". Also, details of their 2009 album, "Super Group" and previous releases, including the 2007 album, "Fun! Fun! Fun!"! Information on previous releases is here, too: "Genki Shock!" (2006). The reissue of the first 4 Shonen Knife albums by Oglio Records, U.S.A. The 2003 "Candy Rock" album - released May 22, 2003! Their acclaimed album for 2002: "Heavy Songs", released May 23, 2002! Much, Much More!!!
Worldwide Knife News . All the recent information that first appeared on this, the Main Page - is later assigned to the "Worldwide Knife News" section (where it appropriately belongs!) You will also find much more Shonen Knife History and information, from years past, in this section.
Shonen Knife Tour Dates! Previous tour information and dates continue to be archived here. The primary listings for their U.S. Tours, as of 2010, can now be found on the Good Charamel Shonen Knife Blog, their U.S. Label Homepage.
~ Historical reports by Fans from the 2005 N. American Tour! Reviews, photos and personal insights from Shonen Knife Fans across North America... about their amazing encounter with Shonen Knife along the tour route! This is a really fun section and definitely a must-see!
Reports from Fans of the 2003 N. American Tour. Check here to enjoy the reviews, photos and personal insights from Shonen Knife Fans who were at the shows on their 2003 N. American Tour. Great photos, reports and memories of this historic tour by the band!
Shonen Knife Photopage. - Historical photo-moments with Shonen Knife. Still featured: Naoko's Guitars!! We'll update this soon, to include other new guitars! Let's take a picture together!
Official Mailing Address for Shonen Knife in Japan! You can send Fan mail (english O.K.), parcels, gifts, etc., to them at their Official Postal Mail Address in Osaka. Also included: The mailing address for this website: "The Shonen Knife NeXuS - North America" ~ should you wish to inquire regarding Shonen Knife, by letter-mail. (NOTE: See bottom of this page for direct fan email address for Shonen Knife in Japan!) Thank you!
The Shonen Knife World Wide Web ~ International tribute sites to Shonen Knife! The best of Shonen Knife Fan Pages and Home Pages on the Net. Some of the links are inactive today, but represent the long history of fans online for Shonen Knife!
Nessa-chan's Shonen Knife Forum ~ Here's an online forum to discuss Shonen Knife & their music, hosted by "Nessa-chan". The environment there seems friendly and conversational... so stop by and visit! New messages welcomed!
Shonen Knife 2002 In-studio Recording Diary! 
- Interesting updates from Shonen Knife during the recording their Year 2002 album - reported by Mayuko from Japan! Nice cameo photos from the sessions and lots of fun! A detailed studio report from Mamiko gives additional insight into the "Making of Heavy Songs!"
The Knife Space Galactic Mall Cool stuff across the Web! Shonen Knife "Friend Bands"/ Links/Inspired People/Tools for Surfing Knifespace. Mysterious drug stores, and delicious fruits and vegetables from across Shonen Knife Planet.
The Strawberry Sound Information Station! Interesting details & information on the release of Shonen Knife's album release of 2/19/00!
Knife Fans Reviews for "Strawberry Sound"! ~ Catch the enthusiasm of Shonen Knife Fans worldwide - as it was at the time this album was released... in their reviews of "Strawberry Sound" & other upbeat subjects, pics, etc.!
1998 "Happy Hour" Tour - Their U.S. "Happy Hour" Tour Schedule. This section is the final record of that tour.
Asian Tour '98 - "Happy Hour" Tour Dates in Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Also, previous listings for the Shonen Knife "Wonder Tour '98" - Japan!
Shonen Knife 1997 "Brand New Knife" Tours - History/Information, as it was!
Australia/New Zealand Tour '97 ~ Details on the Shonen Knife "Big Day Out" Tour Dates, and other shows performed by the band during their first tour in the "Land Down Under" the January 1997 Australia and New Zealand Tour!
Magazines/Articles/Interviews. December 2004: Fine interview/perspective on Shonen Knife from Japan Today! Smashing Mag.com - Major review of the Shonen Knife 2/22/04 show in Japan - click the link and check the mainpage at Smashing Mag's website for the Shonen Knife feature, and enjoy great LIVE photos, reviews and links! (Thanks, Naoko!)
The Shonen Knife NeXuS celebrates it's yearly Anniversary online every February 5. For a peek at what the first webpage looked like on February 5, 1996, please click *HERE*! - (My, how we've grown!)
J. Page Porrazzo - We honor Mr. Page, who produced the great Shonen Knife albums during their years on Virgin records. He passed from the scene, April 13, 2002, at the young age of only 49 years. He brought Shonen Knife to a place on the world stage.
George Harrison - A great soul, who is missed dearly, and remembered always. His influence in the "Strawberry Sound" album, and in the Year 2002 "Heavy Songs" album - is keenly felt.
Joey Ramone - With the Ramones - Joey inspired Shonen Knife's own signature style and sound. He was also, only 49 - when he left us.
~ Giant Robot Magazine, has previously offered the Official Shonen Knife Biography in their bookstore, and feature reviews on Shonen Knife and their music. Pick up a copy of this ultra-informed asian beat magazine, at finer booksellers everywhere. Visit their website online: Giant Robot. Always the best of insider East/West Asian Pop and Culture!
Shonen Knife~ a forever young, musical force of distinct individuals, continue to win the hearts of people in countries around the world with their epic Wonder Tour of music, which began in 1982. In Japan, Mamiko Nakagawa named her early Shonen Knife website, "Heartfriends of Shonen Knife" because that is the focal point where the music of Shonen Knife reached people. Remembering always, that it is the wellspring of music they tap that is at the Heart of Shonen Knife ~ into the 3rd millennium with their new musical alchemy... and enthusiasm for the future, we go.
For The Shonen Knife NeXuS
George Ojisan, March 2000.
Since their beginning in 1982, Shonen Knife have compiled a legacy of unique songs and recordings, which they coupled with an equally amazing track record of personal appearances and performances around the world, appreciated by and often appearing with famed bands, such as The Ramones, Redd Kross, Sonic Youth and Nirvana, among others.
There are many great bands in Japan, but none has yet achieved the mystique, charisma, international appeal, and completely original interpretation of rock music, as have Shonen Knife! A Shonen Knife Live performance is an experience that many people come to "treasure".
It's clear to everyone that this Planet needs more *Wow*, and this band always delivers. Naoko and Atsuko also happen to be some of the nicest people on the planet, and have worked constantly, growing as musicians in dedication to their music and creative processes. In recent years, the band took an independent approach to their music, by leaving a major label to follow their own vision, and their creative edge was honed sharper than ever with the release of the 1996 MCA-Victor, Japan album, "Brand New Knife". 1997 was a great year for Shonen Knife, with Tour dates in Singapore, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Canada. 1998 carried that momentum forward - with a Live Microsoft Netcast, new "Happy Hour" album, Japanese "Wonder Tour '98", and a major appearance at the 1998 Fuji Rock Festival on August 1st. Shonen Knife toured the U.S./Canada in August/Sept 1998 and made many new fans on this "Happy Hour" Tour - check the "US Tour '98" Section for all the listings. The band explored new musical space with the February 2000 release of "Strawberry Sound" - and their highly praised Japanese Year 2002 album, "Heavy Songs", was released in the U.S.A. in 2003, and they returned to tour the U.S. and Canada that year. They completed a new album for 2005 summer release in Japan, and returned to Live Performance mode with Tour Dates in February/March and again in September of 2005 in the U.S.A. North American Tours were very well attended by fans in 2007, 2009 and 2010. Shonen Knife continue to "move on" into the future, honing their music and stage performances, and we are happily along for the ride.
WWW.SHONENKNIFE.COM debuted on March 25, 2000! It was the upgrade to the Shonen Knife NeXuS, Los Angeles website - which made it's original debut on February 5, 1996. At the time we "threw the switch" - from the original SK NeXuS website to "www.shonenknife.com" - there had been 36,770 Musical Travelers to the original Shonen Knife NeXuS from 2/5/1996 through 3/24/2000! This number has vastly increased since.
Historical Photo Credit: Special thanks to Hollywood Club Photographer (and Shonen Knife Fan) Michael Tullberg - for use of the (2) great black and white photos of Atsuko and Naoko (Live at the Roxy, 12/8/95) found here on The NeXuS!! He also provided us his personal review of that show, and you can share the experience we had that evening, by clicking HERE!! - Thanks, Michael!!
Other Photos/Credits - many thanks! (c)Tomato Head Management, Rockville Records, Universal/MCA-Victor, Japan., Warner Indies Network Japan, August/Creation Records UK, Littlemore Books, (Mighty Mouse 3D.jpg 1953 - Terrytoons, Inc.), The Shonen Knife NeXuS, Mamiko Nakagawa, Hiroshi Suzuki, Iwao Sakakibara, Michihiro Ueno, Ken Furuto, John MacLeod, J.Page Porrazzo/Virgin EMI Japan, Pete Kitsch, Takahashi Masahiro, Mayuko Matsumoto, Good Charamel Records in Buffalo, NY - and for making it all possible: Shonen Knife!
The Shonen Knife NeXuS - North America ~ Return to top page.
- Shonen Knife Homepage ~ Official Shonen Knife Homepage in Japan
gwiz@earthlink.net EMail address for the Shonen Knife NeXuS.
712@rock.email.ne.jp ~ Shonen Knife Fan email, Japan.
- Google! - Search for more info.
