ICHIKO AOBA

Ichiko Aoba on her favorite band, DIR EN GREY

Ichiko Aoba is a Tokyo-based experimental musician whose career spans a wide range of achievements– from contributing to the Legend of Zelda soundtrack, to scoring the award-winning film Amiko (2022), to collaborating with artists like Mac DeMarco and contributing a song to Brian Eno’s EarthPercent initiative. Since debuting her transcendent music in 2010, she has released eight studio albums. Her most recent release, Luminescent Creatures is a stunning record that Pitchfork’s calling “an understated, beautiful album that explores liminal worlds through softly textured ambient folk” and you can check it out here. Aoba is also founder of the independent label hermine, a radio host, and part of all sorts of neat projects in the artistic realm. She is currently touring North America on the Luminescent Creatures world tour, and tickets are available here. Lucky for us, Ichiko’s here to tell us what she’s been into.

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miso
Homemade miso is the best. The flavor changes depending on the balance between salt and koji. It can be eaten in as little as 6 months, and if aged for a year, it becomes a rich red miso. A personal remedy.
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@ichiko-aoba
Apr 17, 2025
46
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rucola (arugula)
I love it! I like to munch on it just as it is, without any dressing. It also helps with digestive health while I’m on tour.
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@ichiko-aoba
Apr 17, 2025
39
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whale
I’ve stored the memory of the day I swam with whales in my treasure chest of memories. Whales are my singing teachers.
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@ichiko-aoba
Apr 17, 2025
45
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kitta
I have many friends who practice the art of  plant dyeing, and kitta is one of them. I also occasionally do plant dyeing in Yakushima or Hateruma Island. Not only are the colors beautiful, I love that the healing properties of the plants protect the body. I even brought a dress dyed with Fukugi from Hateruma Island on tour with me.
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@ichiko-aoba
Apr 17, 2025
42
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DIR EN GREY
“Withering to death.” My favorite band, whom I’ve been listening to since I was 15. Stillness within intensity. I love Kyo’s vocals and lyrics. More than anything, the band’s compositions are just stunning. I went to their show in LA on 4/9.
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@ichiko-aoba
Apr 17, 2025
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