Namesakes
Nobel Prize Winners:
1 chemistry
(chemistry) Koichi Tanaka 2002 
Notable Athletes:
1 soccer
(soccer) Junya Tanaka 1987-
Olympic Medalists:
4 bronze, 3 silver
(bronze) Satoko Tanaka 1960 swimming - 100 m backstroke
(bronze) Miyako Tanaka 1988 synchronized swimming - duet
(bronze) Junko Tanaka 1996 synchronized swimming - team
(bronze) Masami Tanaka 2000 swimming - 4x100 m medley relay
(silver) Kazuhito Tanaka 2012 artistic gymnastics
(silver) Asuna Tanaka 2012 football
(silver) Yusuke Tanaka 2012 artistic gymnastics
Saints:
2 blessed, 1 saint
Saint Leo Tanaka ?-1617
Blessed Paul Tanaka ?-1622
Blessed John Tanaka ?-1626