Recent developments with the band include some very good news for N. American Fans: 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 are scheduled to appear at 2 summer rock festivals in Japan! On August 16, 2008 - they will perform at the Rising Sun Rock Festival in Hokkaido, Japan. Tickets will be 7,000Y. On September 21, 2008, Shonen Knife will appear at the Aomori Rock Festival at Aomori, Japan. Tickets will be 6,500Y. If you plan to be in Japan in that time - get the details and enjoy seeing this great band perform live, at a Japanese Summer Rock Festival!
Naoko has been writing new songs for their next album. The band will go into the studion in August 2008 to begin the recording! We will update the information here on the NeXuS when details of the new recordings are released!
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
Now Online! The North American Tour - East Coast shows, in the "Shonen Knife News" report from our "Shonen Knife Japan" Correspondent, Mamiko Nakagawa! Mamiko attended their east coast performances, and you can read her personal and fun reports here, and also earlier reports from many of the great Shonen Knife shows in Japan during the year, updates on their activities and personal insights into life in Japan. Her reports are specially prepared for english-speaking fans of Shonen Knife! It's all found on Mamiko's special webpage here on the Shonen Knife NeXuS, "Heartfriends of Shonen Knife"! Stop in and enjoy her insights and commentary on shows, activities and "Fun, Fun, Fun" with the greatest Japanese rock band in the world: Shonen Knife!
Now Online: Mamiko's Live report from the Annual Shonen Knife "Space Christmas" show in Tokyo! Also, U.S. East Coast Tour comments by Broadway Super-keyboardist Frank Perri, and "Long Distance Traveler", Bill Olding! We have another great submission from a fan with photos for all to enjoy. So, more "moments with Shonen Knife" from the U.S. Tour. 8^ )
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!
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.
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....)
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 ~ Record Label for Shonen Knife in the U.S.A. - U.S. Album Release Info and Links.
The Shonen Knife Store Online! ~ Here are your Shonen Knife CD's, TShirts, Hats, Totes... get your Shonen Knife Gear now... and show your support for Shonen Knife Spirit to the world!
(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!)
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!
Knife Cuts - Information on Shonen Knife CDs/Vinyl/Cassettes, etc. Where to Order their recordings, worldwide! Featured: The NEW 2007 album, "Fun! Fun! Fun!"! 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! Link here to the Pete Kitsch Shonen Knife Discography ~ (most complete and accurate listing on the Net...)!
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.
