After graduating from Meiji University, he joined Nippon Kokan (later NKK) in 1978.
On July 15, 1982, Tanaka debuted for Japan national team against Romania.
[1] After retirement, Tanaka started coaching career at NKK in 1989.
At 1995 World Youth Championship, he led U-20 Japan to advanced to the quarter-finals.
This biographical article related to a Japanese association football midfielder born in the 1950s is a stub.