Ichirō Maebara is the husband of Aiko and father of Keiichi. He works as a commercially successful professional artist, mastering niche illustrations intuitively grasping public preferences for themes like socks, glasses, and uniforms. His work draws long lines at events and consistent fan engagement, though Keiichi has never personally seen it. Inspired after observing Rika Furude and Hanyū playing during a sightseeing visit, Ichirō relocated his family to Hinamizawa in late May 1983. He commissioned the large Maebara residence, which included space for his art gallery and client visits; its size led villagers to mistakenly assume the family was wealthy. Ichirō maintains a close bond with his son Keiichi, confirmed by Keiichi himself. He actively champions Keiichi during pivotal events, expressing pride in his resolve like the campaign to stop Satoko Hojo's abuse in Minagoroshi-hen. Their relationship includes shared activities such as visiting batting centers before moving to Hinamizawa. Notably, Ichirō is one of the few besides Rika who can perceive Hanyū, a capability he possessed before relocating. His physical appearance varies: early anime obscures his face, while later seasons and manga depict him clean-shaven or with long hair and a goatee. He typically wears a yukata with a head handkerchief. In the Rei-era manga *Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei*, Ichirō appears as an adult politician working in Tokyo, with his son Keitarō later becoming involved in events related to Hinamizawa's heritage.