As an assistant to Osomatsu-kun and Akko-chan manga creator Fujio Akatsuka, Takai helped him to create many iconic characters for Osomatsu-kun, such as Chibita and Iyami.
Manga creator Kenichirō Takai passed away from pneumonia in a hospital in Tokyo on Monday.
Takai debuted as a manga creator in 1956 with the manga Riko-chan in the magazine Shōjo.
Takai also drew the art for the six-volume Pro Golfer Oribe Kinjirō manga series with writer Tetsuya Takeda.