Takenobu Naitō

Take Naito was born on July 17, 1938, in Fukuoka Prefecture. His father was Eiichiro Naito, president of a construction company, and his sister was the first wife of painter Akio Nozaki, named Yoko. He attended Fukuoka Prefectural Shuyukan High School, where he won the national judo team championship during high school. After graduating, he entered Waseda University’s Faculty of Education, where he was a member of the karate club.

After college, he joined the Mainichi Shimbun’s political division as a journalist. Through Miyazaki Yoshimasa, an alumnus of Waseda and a former member of the Yomiuri Shimbun’s political division, he met Taro Kakehashi and married his second daughter.

In 1972, he left Mainichi Shimbun and ran in the 33rd House of Representatives election but was defeated by Taku Yamasaki. Subsequently, he became the personal secretary to his father-in-law, Taro Kakehashi, assisting with his political duties. In 1985, Taro Kakehashi established the Sōseikai political group, and Naito served as the chief editor of its official newspaper, Sōsei, for more than ten years.

In 1989, he became an executive at KBS Kyoto but resigned in 1991 after being involved in the Itozan Incident. In 1996, he became the spokesperson for Sanpōkai. Later in life, he was a lecturer at Waseda University and published several books related to karate. From 2003 to 2006, he served as president of the Waseda Karate Club Supporters’ Association, known as "Inadon Karate," and currently serves as an advisor.

According to his son DAIGO, Naito has been diagnosed with cancer and his health is poor.

Regarding his marriage, in 1972 he married Maruko Naito, the second daughter of Taro Kakehashi. The couple had more than ten years’ age difference and three children. His eldest daughter, Eiki Kageki, is a manga artist; his eldest son is a company employee; and his youngest son, DAIGO, is an entertainer. His eldest daughter once mentioned that her father disliked flying and was averse to traveling abroad. Naito holds a fifth-degree black belt in karate.