Takami Akai

Akai Takami, born on November 21, 1961 in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, Japan, is an illustrator, character designer and game creator and one of the founding members of Gainax. While studying in Osaka University of Arts (he was in the same class as Anno Hideaki and Yamaga Hiroyuki), Akai created the character designs for Daicon III opening and later also for Daicon IV. He is married to mangaka Higuchi Kimiko. He stepped down from the Gainax board after an incident in which he and another employee made disparaging remarks about fan criticisms made on the Japanese internet forum 2channel following an episode of TV series Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. Twitter: @akai_takami