Novel simple properties of the monopole component of effective nucleon-nucleon interactions are presented, leading to the so-called monopole-based universal interaction. Shell structures are shown to change as functions of N and Z, consistent with experiments. Some key cases of this shell evolution are discussed, clarifying the effects of central and tensor forces. The validity of the present tensor force is examined in terms of the low-momentum interaction V(lowk) and the Q(box) formalism.