Koji Takaki

Koji Takaki was born in Saeki City, Japan, in 1933, and is one of the last generation to see B-29s fly over Japan. During childhood he lived close to a seaplane station and an airfield of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force, which started his interest in military aviation. He graduated from Kyoto University School of Economics in 1957 and worked chiefly in the textile business for 40 years retiring in 1997. He has written The Sea and Sky over Ashizur, (1995), a combat history of the 56th Army 'Tony' Fighter Squadron. Since 1996, he has been engaged in joint-projects with Henry Sakaida, writing air combat stories of various units and pilots. The first was printed in The Hook (1997) magazine under title of Catfight Over Chiba, and is a combat story of Army Ki-79 trainers with fixed landing gear against Hellcats on 16 February 1945. The second is AEU 5: B-29 Hunters of the JAAF. They are currently working on a Navy fighter project.