Erika Ikuta (生田 絵梨花; born January 22, 1997 in Düsseldorf) is a Japanese singer, actress, and pianist. Raised in Tokyo from the age of five, she began studying piano at four and made her stage debut in 2007. She joined Nogizaka46 as a first-generation member in 2011 and made her CD debut with the group’s first single, 『ぐるぐるカーテン』, on February 22, 2012. During her years with Nogizaka46, she appeared on the group’s singles, concerts, and media programs. In 2014 she temporarily suspended activities to prepare for university entrance and returned for the 10th single 『何度目の青空か?』, her first title-track center.
Alongside her idol career, Ikuta worked in television and musical theatre. She had a regular role in the drama 『残念な夫。』 and played Cosette, Éponine, and Fantine in Japanese productions of Les Misérables, Juliet in 『ロミオ&ジュリエット』, and Sapphire in the musical 『リボンの騎士』; she also voiced Asha in the Japanese dubbing of Wish. In 2017 she received the Encouragement Award at the 8th Iwatani Tokiko Award and held her first solo concert, 『MTV Unplugged：Erika Ikuta from Nogizaka46』. After leaving Nogizaka46, she continued as a solo artist and actress under Sony Music Entertainment Japan, including performing "Ima mo, Arigatou," the ending theme of "Honzuki no Gekokujou".
