Children's Bookshelf: YOSHIKAZU TAKAI

While in Japan last year I couldn't resist picking up a book by Yoshikazu Takai. He's a children's illustrator who, if the little information I've found online is correct, was a part of the 2006 Bologna International Children's Book Fair, and has released a series of books of Kuro ("Black Bear") seen below. Here are some of his other illustrations. I'd love to know some more about this artist, if anyone knows anything.