Synopsis
Ichirou Maebara is a supporting character in Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai, first appearing in Onikakushi-hen. He is the husband of Aiko Maebara, the father of Keiichi Maebara, and the builder of the Maebara household. His first name is never spoken in the earliest anime episodes and can only be seen on a name badge.
By trade he is an artist with a reputation — half-joking, half-uneasy — for being fond of young girls; a teaser scene for the Matsuribayashi-hen arc has child versions of Rika Furude and Hanyuu call him a lolicon artist outright. Family recollection holds that watching the two of them play together in an open lot was what convinced him to move the household to Hinamizawa.
Keiichi has never seen his father's work, and only learns from one of Ichirou's business partners that he is genuinely famous — an artist who never limits purchases, always answers fan mail personally, and draws long lines at his public appearances. Later he backs Keiichi when his son confronts the village over Satoko Houjou's abuse, and Keiichi admits to the Club how close the two of them are.
His design shifts between media: the sound novels barely show him, the earliest anime hides his face, some manga versions exaggerate the artist look with long hair and a goatee, and the newest anime returns to a plainer appearance. He is also the only person besides Rika able to see Hanyuu, during a sightseeing visit before the family's move to Hinamizawa in May 1983. He is voiced by Yasunori Matsumoto in Japanese and Dave Mallow in English.
