西園寺公望
In 1937, Takagi was promoted to captain becoming Chief of the Navy Ministry's Research Section. While head of the government organization, Takagi often over-stretched the predefined powers of his office, acting as a political contact for the Navy through government officials and statesmen such as Fumimaro Konoe, Kōichi Kido, and Saionji Kinmochi as well as developing contacts with intellectuals within the government.