By Jason Yu
Four decades after their Osaka debut, Shonen Knife turned a breezy Sacramento night into a pop-rock evening of pure fun.
When the Japanese pop-rock trio came to town, fans from every corner of the city showed up. From J-pop listeners and anime enthusiasts to long-time punk and rock fans, the crowd packed into Harlow’s in midtown Sacramento to welcome the legendary group.
Dubbed the “Everyone Happy U.S. Tour 2025,” this run marked Shonen Knife’s first U.S. performances in six years, their first since 2019. Harlow’s intimate, cozy layout made the show feel personal, almost like watching the band in a small Osaka live house.
Seeing Shonen Knife in Japan is an experience of its own, but catching them stateside feels entirely different. The three members —sisters Naoko and Atsuko Yamano, alongside drummer Risa Kawano —spent the night joking with the audience, sharing stories, and taking their time between songs with long, charming segments of banter.
One of the most memorable moments came when Naoko scanned the crowd and said calmly:
“Our group started back in 1981 in Osaka. I think we were performing before most of you even existed.”
The audience burst into laughter, realizing the weight of the band’s 44-year legacy.
Ironically, many attendees actually were around during Shonen Knife’s early years—the average age in the room skewed around 35 to 50. But that only added to the night’s warmth: a room full of longtime fans who had grown up with the group, now celebrating them in 2025.
Moments like that made me appreciate the group’s remarkable longevity. Over four decades, Shonen Knife endured multiple member changes. Atsuko performed with the band for 25 years before leaving in 2006 to get married and relocate to Los Angeles, only to return a decade later in 2016 to resume her role on bass. Throughout their 41-year career, six members have rotated in and out of the lineup.
The only constant through it all has been Naoko, who has stayed with Shonen Knife from day one to today.
Flashing bright smiles, the group radiated a youthful energy that belied their 40+ years on the road, kicking off the show with “Buttercup.”
Across their hour-and-a-half set, the trio performed fan favorites like “Twist Barbie,” “Ghost Train,” “Green Tea,” and “Banana Chips.” The best way to describe a Shonen Knife concert is simple: pure happiness. Their songs are upbeat, whimsical, and often about the everyday joys we overlook—drinking afternoon tea, eating cookies, pretending to be a cat, or snacking on banana chips.
Throughout the concert, fans sang along, bopped their heads, and clapped to the beat. At one point, when Naoko asked the audience about a particular Japanese word to introduce the next song, several audience members actually knew the answer. The Sacramento crowd was fully in tune with the performance—whether vibing to the music or answering bits of simple Japanese trivia.
Musically, their sound channels the spirit of groups like The Ramones and The Beach Boys, a throwback to ‘60s and ‘70s pop-rock, mixed with their signature blend of Japanese and English lyrics. On paper, the topics may sound silly, but on stage, everything clicks. Their music is infectious, fun, and impossible not to smile at.
After the main set, the lights dimmed as the crowd began chanting, “Encore! Encore!” Moments later, the trio returned to perform “Burning Farm” and “Top of the World,” before thanking Sacramento for welcoming them back to the U.S.
Hopefully, Shonen Knife returns again soon, so American fans won’t have to wait another six years.
A special thanks to Good Charamel Records and Reybee INC for inviting us to cover Shonen Knife’s Sacramento show. It was truly an honor.