Ichiko Aoba

Ichiko Aoba (青葉市子) is a Japanese folk singer and songwriter.

Her main instrument is guitar, on which she composes most of her music.

She also plays the piano, clarinet, accordion, and flute.

Aoba is known for her acoustic sound and songwriting, which is inspired by her dreams.

Aoba was born in Urayasu, Chiba and raised in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.

Ichiko Aoba began to learn how to play classical guitar at the age of 17.

Her music has been inspired by Disney music and Studio Ghibli, both of which she listened to growing up.

Her mentor was Japanese singer-songwriter Anmi Yamada, who remotely taught Aoba the craft of the instrument.

Aoba's albums 0 and qp each feature two covers of Yamada's songs.

In 2010, aged 19, Aoba released her first album, Razor Girl (Japanese: 剃刀乙女).

She has since released several studio and live albums.

Around 2012, Aoba was introduced to Gezan frontman Mahi to the People by their mutual friend Koji Shimotsu (frontman of Odotte Bakari no Kuni).

In 2013, Aoba was asked to work for a theatre production of "9 Days Queen", a stage play by playwright Go Aoki.

She has also worked with Takahiro Fujita's Mum & Gypsy company in a production of "Cocoon", as well as a revival of "Lemming" by Shūji Terayama.

Aoba and Mahito formed the collaborative duo Nuuamm, which has since released two studio albums: Nuuamm (2014) and w/ave (2017).

Aoba features on the soundtrack of the 2019 Nintendo Switch remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. Her arrangement was used to promote the game in Japan.

Aoba has collaborated with Ryuichi Sakamoto, Taylor Deupree, Cornelius, Haruomi Hosono, Mac DeMarco, Sweet William, and MahiToThePeople.

She releases music on her own label, hermine.