[2] A native of Fukuoka, he began playing as a catcher for the Mikuni Honeys in grade school, then went on to join the Futsukaichi Lions in junior high where he got to participate in national tournaments.

[6] On August 23, he debuted in his 1st official game as the starting right fielder in the match against the Chunichi Dragons at the Kurashiki Muscat Stadium.

2014 Nakatani also didn't appear in any main squad matches in this year, and batted his worst at .190 in 93 minor league games.

2015 Nakatani's improved performance in the minors early in the season finally earned him a spot in the main squad in a match against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp on May 8.

His appearances gradually increased until October, mostly as a center fielder or as a pinch hitter, and he finished the season with 14 RBIs, 4 home runs and a batting average of .266 in 64 games.

[14] 2017 Nakatani had a shaky start early in the 2017 season as he competed with young guns Shun Takayama and Fumihito Haraguchi for regular playing time in the outfield or at first base.

[15] He was rewarded by being assigned the clean up spot for the first time in a May 28 match against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, and continued to be a regular starting player in the next couple of months.

He went 5-for-5 against the Saitama Seibu Lions on June 15, and recorded two hits and two RBIs including a two-run home run against Yomiuri on July 9.

[17] In a September 18 match against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp at Koshien Stadium, he recorded his 20th home run of the season in the fourth inning against Yusuke Nomura.

[19] His slump continued in the farm, (39 games, .197 average, 3 home runs), but when the main squad needed batting reinforcement, he got called to play on May 22.

[20] In the 9th inning of a May 26 game against the Yomiuri Giants, with 2 outs and a runner on 2nd, Nakatani notched his 1st career walk off hit at Koshien.

Nakatani spent the majority of the year with Hanshin's main team, logging a .215/.267/.304 batting line with 2 home runs and 16 RBI in 70 games.