Merzbow is the name used by Japanese musician Masami Akita for most of his experimental noise records, and is considered by many to be the earliest project among others in what has become known as the 'Japanese noise scene'. He has released many CDs, LPs and cassettes since the early 1980s.

Born in Tokyo in 1956. He listened to psychedelic music, progressive rock and later free jazz in his youth, and all have influenced his music. His album Aqua Necromancer, for instance, samples progressive rock drum lines, while Doors Open At 8am samples free jazz. Later he went to Tamagawa University to study art. It was there that he learned of Kurt Schwitters' Merz, or art made from rubbish, including Schwitters' Merzbau, or "Merz building". This is the source of the name Merzbow.