Takeshi was born in Yokohama, Japan. Not much is known about his childhood, just that he was a big YMO fan and joined the pre-Mad Capsule Markets band Berrie in 1985 after vocalist Kyono and guitarist Minoru Kojima had advertised for a bass guitarist. Since he has been in The Mad Capsule Markets, his style of bass guitar playing has evolved into more than the straight punk bass he used to play. From 1996, when lead guitarist Ai Ishigaki left, Takeshi's bass became the main centerpiece of the band and was more experimental in its use, as he experimented by tuning down his bass to give it more of a Rap-Metal effect. By the time of the Digidogheadlock and OSC-DIS albums, he had mastered the guitar and synthesizer (although it is stated that he probably played most of the piano parts on the early albums), started using many effects pedals, and had a similar sound to Tom Morello's style of guitar playing.
He has gone under many pseudonyms, such as Kure Takeshi (his name in Berrie), Kurejii Takeshi, (his name on Humanity), Cra￥ (the name he used from 1991–1997), and Takeshi "￥" Ueda (on the albums 4 Plugs and Digidogheadlock). With The Mad Capsule Markets currently on hiatus, Takeshi has been working on his clothing line Fuzz Rez Zweep.