Akiko Shikata is an eclectic singer-songwriter, musician and composer. Inspired by classical, ethnic and folk music, she launched her career in 2001 at the age of 12, with the vocal EP "Midori no mori de nemuru tori" (Asleep Bird in the Green Forest), which she made on her own using a synth and a laptop. In 2002, she released an instrumental album, Kurenawi, showing various influences such as Caribbean music, traditional Japanese folk and classical piano music. In 2003, at the age of 14, she released her first full-length vocal album, Haikyo to Rakuen (Ruins and Heaven), showing influences from Old Europe, classical and ethnic music, in which she sang Italian poetry, but also Japanese lyrics and what is seemingly an invented language ("Iuripuka"). This album gained critical success in Japan through the indie music platform Muzie, where it stayed on top of the sales for two years. Selective discography: Singles: Asleep Bird In The Green Forest (2001) One-Winged Bird (2009) Beyond the Prayer (2010) Empty Cicada (2011) Dawn (2015) Discography: Ruins and Heaven (2003) Navigatoria (2005) Raka (2006) Harmonia (2009) Turaida (2013) Other: Various EPs Instrumental albums Piano album Music box albums Soundtracks Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.