Takao Kobayashi (小林 隆男, Kobayashi Takao, born 1961) is a Japanese amateur astronomer and an outstanding discoverer of minor planets who currently works at the Ōizumi Observatory.
He also discovered the periodic comet P/1997 B1 (Kobayashi), which he originally reported as an asteroid.
His asteroid discoveries of January 16, 1994 and December 31, 1994, have been named 8883 Miyazakihayao and 10160 Totoro by Kobayashi.
The names reference anime filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, and one of his creations, My Neighbor Totoro.
On January 30 and January 31, 1997, Kobayashi observed an object, P/1997 B1 Kobayashi, which was initially thought to be a minor planet and was reported to the IAU as such by Syuichi Nakano.