It was announced on June 22, 2009 - that Shonen Knife have signed with Good Charamel Records, a Buffalo, New York Indie Record Label - for release of their recordings in the United States. The label will release their latest album "Super Group" here in the U.S. in August 2009, and an extensive North American Tour will follow in the Fall. "Good Charamel" was started in 2003 by Robby Takac (Goo Goo Dolls) and has a variety of artists on it's label. This is great news for Shonen Knife Fans, who have hoped for distribution of their Japanese recordings here in the United States. The label will feature news & information on the album release and upcoming tour on it's website. You can also access the Good Charamel My Space site for more information on their artists and recordings. Congratulations to Shonen Knife on this important announcement... and to "Good Charamel" for signing this legendary Japanese Super Group!!
Shonen Knife have announced they will be touring later this year in Europe, Australia and the U.S.A.! Good news for their fans in Europe who've not had the chance to see them since they toured there in the early 1990s, and in New Zealand/Australia when they played the "Big Day Out" festival and other shows in the late 1990s. We'll surely have the information on the tours here for you... as soon as it is firmed up and we can present some details.
We invite you to leave a message on our message board! Shonen Knife can read the comments on the message board, as you do... so click on the link below, and leave a message for the band, and the fans! Peace, Love and Shonen Knife.
Shonen Knife performed at the special "Osaka Rock Day 2009" shows in Osaka, Japan this year. Their performance was on Sunday, April 19, 2009 - Day 3 of the festival, at the Osaka Fandango venue. Osaka is their hometown and they are known and respected in the city for their global achievements in music! There is a special "My Space" site for the event. You can visit it by clicking *HERE* - The site includes a video of Shonen Knife (Naoko, Etsuko, Ritsuko) speaking about their show (in Japanese). Check it out!
Noriko Manabe is a doctoral student in ethnomusicology at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She is authoring a dissertation (and planned book) on Japanese popular music. One topic she will discuss is the reception of Japanese musicians overseas, and on this topic, she is comparing the opinions of Japanese fans against overseas fans. Ms. Manabe was happy for the participation in the Survey by fans of Shonen Knife, who gave their views in late 2008 on their music, appreciation for them and how their influence tempered their understanding of Japanese culture and music. We hope her project is a success!
The new album from Shonen Knife is now available in Japan and on the Internet! The band began recording sessions for the songs in the studio in August 2008. The album was released in Japan on November 7, 2008. The title of the album is, "Super Group"! For a complete track and album listing, please visit the Knifecuts section here!
Information release from Andrew Smith at J-Pop World announcing a great new interview with Shonen Knife, as their new album, "Super Group" is released in Japan. This is a detailed interview, featuring photos and comments with all the band members, so Pop right over there and check it out! Click here for the Shonen Knife - Super Group Interview! There are many other great artist interviews there... it's a very special site!!
Shonen Knife have announced that former Support Bassist Ritsuko has now been promoted to "full member status" today. Ritsuko originally debuted as a Support Bassist for the group in Japan in 2006. (See Mamiko's 2006 Year-In-Review Report for information on Ritsuko & some great early SK photos of her!) Long time founding member, Atsuko... originally the Shonen Knife Drummer since the beginning days, and later the Bassist for the band since 1999 - is living in the U.S. and has "graduated" from the band now, according to group founder, Naoko. All Shonen Knife Fans should welcome Ritsuko to the band now - as a full time member with Naoko and Etsuko... and get ready to rock as this band moves into a new phase of the continuing Rock Legend they have become. Ritsuko is a fine guitarist as well, and catch this: Shonen Knife Fans may get to see a very special "Shonen Knife Live"... as a Quartette, someday! Imagine that!! Congratulations to Ritsuko and to Shonen Knife!! This is "big news" and a defining moment for the band, as they prepare to release their latest album in Japan on November 7th, 2008.
Please check the link to the Shonen Knife Message Board here on the NeXuS, to leave a message of congratulations and support for Ritsuko, as a new fulltime member of Shonen Knife! She very much enjoys english and will be happy to see your comments. Arigato!!
Our "Shonen Knife NeXuS News Reporter" (since 1996), Mamiko Nakagawa... has provided this information announcement for you. It's the schedule for the "Shonen Knife Space Christmas 2008 - Live In Japan" Shows, in December 2008! Check it out!
In other recent developments: Naoko has recorded english language versions of the songs on "Fun! Fun! Fun!" which debuted in Japanese on the album during it's initial Japan release. The Band is looking for a label deal in the U.S., & with that process completed, fans may be treated to a U.S. release of their latest album! News on that, as received.
For record labels interested in contacting Shonen Knife... please note the new business address for the band.
Shonen Knife appeared at 2 summer rock festivals in Japan! On August 16, 2008 - they performed at the Rising Sun Rock Festival in Hokkaido, Japan. Shonen Knife USA Bassist, Atsuko - flew to Japan to perform with them there. Tickets were priced at 7,000Y. On September 21, 2008, Shonen Knife appeared at the Aomori Rock Festival at Aomori, Japan. Tickets were priced at 6,500Y. Many Fans were there to see the Legendary Shonen Knife perform live, at these Japanese Summer Rock Festivals!
Note: To bypass the "Introduction" updates following, and proceed directly to the Main Section Menu, please click Here! ~ Otherwise, for other recent news - Read On!! (Main Section Menu follows below....)
Management Office in Japan - Information Update
The Business Office for Shonen Knife changed last November. The old office, Zero Communications, hosted by Mr. Shin Hirakawa - has moved to Nagoya, and is no longer an official contact for Shonen Knife. Here is the official address of their new business office/management in Japan:
Mr. Atsushi Shibata/Tomato Head Management
1-4-5-202, Nanba-naka
Naniwa-ku, Osaka 556-0011
Japan
EMail: 712@rock.email.ne.jp
Please Note: The recent articles and other information that was previously on this Main Page... have been moved to the Worldwide Knife News Section, (where they appropriately belong!) You can find all these features there. arigato!
The Shonen Knife Page on Myspace.com ~ Great new 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! 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.)
Quick Guide to new Section Updates.
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 2008 album, "Supergroup"! Their great 2007 album, "Fun! Fun! Fun!"! Information on previous releases, including: "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 - February 10, 2008. All the recent information that was on this, the Main Page - has now been assigned to the "Worldwide Knife News" section (where it appropriately belongs!) So, for the latest and most recent Shonen Knife News - go here. You will also find much more information, from years past!
Shonen Knife Tour Dates! Previous tour information and dates continue to be archived here.
~ 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!! 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.
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 - 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 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 celebrated it's 12th Anniversary online - February 5, 2008! For a peek at what the first webpage looked like.. back in February 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 gave Shonen Knife 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! Issue #22 of Giant Robot Magazine featured a cool interview with Japanese Pop Duo, Puffy - and there is a mini-interview with Shonen Knife Naoko Yamano, which includes her views on Puffy, the 2001 "712" show in Osaka, Strawberry Sound & more. We'd like to thank Publisher Eric Nakamura for featuring a review of Strawberry Sound up-front in Issue #18, Page 20. 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. with new drummer Etsuko. A North American Tour was completed in November/December 2007. Looking forward to new Shonen Knife music in 2008, 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, Worldwide Love - 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.
