Real name: 志方あきこ

Effective period / Period of releases: 2010

Japanese singer-songwriter and composer, who is known for writing music for games and anime. She is most well known for her contributions to the Ar tonelico, Shadow Hearts and Umineko no Naku Koro ni games, as well as anime adaptations of Umineko no Naku Koro ni and Tales of Symphonia.

Akiko Shikata's music is known for its ethnic feel and complex vocal chorus work. In a single Akiko Shikata song, there may be as many as 200 separate vocal tracks recorded for it.