Takami Akai (赤井 孝美, Akai Takami, born November 21, 1961) is an illustrator, game creator, character designer and animator born on November 21, 1961, in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, Japan.

This is a long-term game where you make a commitment and create your own world."

While studying there, Akai created the character designs for the Daicon III opening animation.

Akai was in the same class as Hiroyuki Yamaga and Hideaki Anno.

He is portrayed by actor Tomoya Nakamura in the 2014 TV Drama Aoi Honō based on the autobiographical manga by his fellow Osaka University of Arts alumnus Kazuhiko Shimamoto.