Maebara Ichirō is a character in the Higurashi no Na ku Koro ni series, Maebara Aiko's husband, and Maebara Keiichi's father and the builder of the Maebara House. He works as an artist and is seemingly very fond of young girls.

His first name is not spoken in the initial anime adaptations though it can be seen on a badge, There is the Matsuribayashi-hen Plot's teaser scene where Chibi Rika and Hanyū describe him as a "perverted lolicon artist." He was inspired to move to Hinamizawa after watching RIka and Hanyū playing in an open lot.

Tatarigoroshi-hen reveales that Keiichi has never seen his father's art. However, when he questions one of his father's business partners about it, he learns that his father is actually quite famous. Ichigō is described as an artist who, "doesn't set a limit of purchase, always replies to fan mail, understands what the public needs, knows that it's a big no-no to take off socks, glasses and uniforms," and that whenever he participates in an event, "there's always a long line" that expands as far as from the door of the convention to the furthest corners and walls.

In the Sound Novel and manga adaptations of Minagoroshi-hen, he supports Keiichi when his son is facing the village about Satoko's abuse. Keiichi also confesses to the Club that he and his father are very close.

He does not really appear in the sound novels. Keiichi accompanies his father to Angel Mort without a sprite for him. As noted, the first anime adaptions do not fully reveal his face. Aside from the recollection of his first visit to Hinamizawa where he dresses more conventionally, he usually dresses in a yukata and wears a handkerchief on his head. The initial manga adaptations play up the artist stereotype, complete with barrette, long hair, mustache and goatee, which conflicts with the anime which portrays him as clean shaven. The newest anime portrays him without these attributes and returns to the original anime appearance. This is continued in the manga adaptation of the new anime.