Professor of ethnic studies at the University of California Berkeley.
Had suffered with multiple sclerosis for two decades when he took his own life.
He earned his Bachelor's Degree in History at the College of Wooster in Ohio.
He earned his Master's degree in 1962 and his doctorate in history in 1967 at the University of California in Berkeley.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Rankin, of Berkeley, California, a brother Michael Young of Thousand Oaks, California, a sister Janet Wong of Chatsworth, California, and seven grandchildren.
Father of sons Troy Takaki of Los Angeles and Todd Takaki of El Cerrito, California, and daughter, Dana Takaki of Connecticut.