Ichika Nito

A Japan-born guitar soloist and composer recognized internationally for his innovative approach to guitar expression.

As of January 2026, his combined social media following exceeds 4.8 million.

Drawing inspiration from a wide range of genres and artists—including Bill Evans, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Joe Hisaishi, and Iron Maiden—he has developed a unique playing style and a beautifully melancholic tone that has earned him a passionate global fanbase. His work has received high praise from internationally renowned artists such as Pete Townshend (The Who), John Petrucci (Dream Theater), Zedd, Martin Garrix, and Jack Black. He has also collaborated extensively with internationally leading guitarists including Tim Henson (Polyphia) and Marcin.

In addition to his work as a performer, he is also internationally active as a composer and arranger. In 2022, he co-wrote and co-arranged “more than life” by Grammy Award–winning artist Machine Gun Kelly with Travis Barker. In the field of visual media, he has expanded his activities beyond composing music for films and television, as well as music production for the “Seiko Prospex” television commercial (2023) featuring Shohei Ohtani.

In 2021, he became the first Japanese artist to release a signature guitar model with Ibanez. The headless ICHI10 model has received strong global support and remains highly popular among guitarists around the world.

In 2023, he performed at CHANEL’s 2022/23 Métiers d’Art Collection Tokyo show, presenting a performance of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s timeless masterpiece “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence.” More recently, he collaborated with the game Genshin Impact. He has gained attention not only for his guitar skills but also as a figure who crosses diverse cultural boundaries, including fashion, film, and gaming. 

In January 2026, he will release his debut full-length album, The Moon’s Elbow, a landmark work that represents the culmination of his artistic journey to date.