Richard Tsugio Tanabe Jr. (born December 14, 1934), is a former American competition swimmer, teacher, and swim coach, who represented the United States at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.

He swam with the Hilo High Viking's swim team as early as February, 1951 where he was directed by the exceptional Coach Charles "Sparky" Kawamoto.

[4] Sonny received additional mentoring from Coach Kawamoto at the Hilo Aquatic Club, where he also competed and trained during his High School years and occasionally after.

[10] In March 1956, Sonny and fellow Hawaiian swimmer Bill Woolsey, whom he had known since High School, were named Co-captains of the Indiana swim team for the 1957 season.

[10] After completing a Masters Degree at Indiana in Physical Education, he stayed in the United States mainland, and worked directing aquatics and coaching swimming at Hinsdale High School outside Chicago from 1961-2.

[10] By the mid-1960's, Tanabe returned to his native Hawaii to teach physical education and other subjects and coach swimming and Water Polo at Kamehameha Schools, at the main Kapalama Campus, Northeast of Honolulu, Oahu.

Although originally located exclusively near Honolulu, Kamehameha Schools currently has campuses that support kindergarten through 12th grade in Pukalani, Maui, and Keaʻau, Hawaiʻi, and has pre-schools state wide.

[10] In February, 2024, Tanabe was presented with the Hoʻokahiko Award, for individuals who spent their careers preserving, and honoring the culture and traditions of Hawaii.