Takashi Yanase (やなせたかし, Yanase Takashi) (February 6, 1919 – October 13, 2013) was a prolific Japanese children's book author and illustrator. Best-known as the creator of the long running preschool series Anpanman. Besides creating Anpanman, Yanase was also best-known for creating the picture book "Yasashii Lion" ("The Kindly Lion" or "The Gentle Lion"), "Bara no Hana to Joe" ("The Rose Flower and Joe" or "The Rose and Joe") and "Chirin no Suzu" ("Chirin's Bell" known as "Ringing Bell" in the West).

During his lifetime, Yanase was close friends with Osamu Tezuka with Tezuka producing the 1969 animated adaptation of "The Kindly Lion" by Mushi Productions. Eventually, Sanrio worked on an animated short which adapted "The Rose Flower and Joe" in 1977 and a film adaptation of "Chirin's Bell" in 1978.

Yanase passed away on October 13, 2013 at the age of 94.