Ichirou Agata

Ichirou Agata
Ichirou Agata live (2005) in a surgical mask
Background information
Origin	Japan
Genres	Noise Rock Experimental rock Avant-Garde
Occupation(s)	guitarist
Instruments	Gibson SG Guitar
Years active	1992–present
Labels	A-Zap, Tzadik Records
Associated acts	Melt-Banana

Ichirou Agata, often known simply as Agata, is the guitarist for the Japanese noise rock band Melt-Banana. Agata is known particularly for his furious stage antics, jumping and constantly moving around, and exceedingly unique approach to playing the guitar which involves extended technique heavy use of effects pedals and guitar slides resulting in sounds not easily attributed to the guitar. He is also known for consistently wearing a surgical mask on stage during performances.

He has also released a solo guitar album, entitled Spike, on John Zorn's Tzadik Records.

Agata claims that he gets the inspiration for his guitar riffs from the moment of euphoria when achieving something on a video game (Tony Hawk's is a favourite of his) and at that moment sings out the melody pattern and converts it to guitar.

In a brief fan interview it was revealed that the reason he wears a surgical mask on stage is that he is prone to nosebleeds. Beneath the mask he has cotton balls plugging his nose and usually removes them along with the mask quickly and privately off stage after the show.