Takami was born in Mikuni, Fukui (part of the present-day city of Sakai),[1] as the illegitimate son of the prefecture's governor and a young woman who had been assigned to entertain him on a visit to her town.

On entering Tokyo Imperial University he joined a leftist student arts group, and contributed to their literary journal (Sayoku Geijutsu).

[2] An auto-biographical account of his experience appeared in Kokyū wasure ubeki ("Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot", 1935), which, although considered wordy, was nominated for the first Akutagawa Prize.

He gained a popular following in the pre-war years with Ikanaru hoshi no moto ni ("Under Whatever Star", 1939–1940).,[2] a story set in the Asakusa entertainment district of Tokyo.

A portion of Takami's royalties was set aside to establish a fund used to present an annual literary award to the writer of an outstanding collection of poetry, based upon the recommendations of poets, critics, and journalists.