Naoko Yamano

Naoko Yamano (山野直子, Yamano Naoko; born December 18, 1960) is a Japanese musician, best known as a founding member, singer/guitarist, and primary songwriter for the pop-punk band Shonen Knife. She is the only member of the band to have remained throughout its entire history. After briefly working as a receptionist in a doctor's office,^[1] she formed the band in late 1981 with her college friend Michie Nakatani and her younger sister Atsuko Yamano.^[2][3] Naoko Yamano is known for her songs about food and animals,^[4][5] with music that is primary influenced by the Ramones and the Beatles.^[6]

Naoko Yamano
山野直子
Yamano performing life with Shonen Knife in Munich at the Rote Sonne Club, May 08, 2025
Born	(1960-12-18) December 18, 1960 (age 64) Osaka Prefecture, Japan
Occupation	Musician
Years active	1981–present
Relatives	Atsuko Yamano (sister)
Musical career
Genres	Pop punk post-punk alternative rock indie rock indie pop
Instruments	Guitar vocals bass keyboards
Member of	Shonen Knife
Website	shonenknife.net