Kenji Takaki, also known as Kengi or Genji, was born in Ehime Ken, Japan, on the island of Shikoku.
In 1906 he arrived at Liverpool as a passenger on board the RMS Cedric a liner of the White Star Line from the United States in search of a better life.
He was transferred to Marlag und Milag Nord, a prison camp specifically for members of the Merchant Navy, located east of Bremen, and held in captivity until the end of the war.
Nat Bocking relates the story of John Brantom, a Cabin boy and internee of the same camp, who recalls that, "...gambling was widespread and by far the most popular pastime.
His major theatrical role was that of 'Tojo' in the Royal Court Theatre production of the play The Long and the Short and the Tall written by Willis Hall in 1959.