Tanaka (たなか) is the fourth most common Japanese surname. It is typically written with the kanji for ricefield & middle (田中).^[2] Less common variants include many & middle (多中), many & relationship (多仲), another & middle (他中), shelf & low (棚下), shelf & summer (棚夏) and many & name & congratulation (多名賀).^{[citation needed]}

• Tanaka (musician) (たなか, born 1998), Japanese musician formerly known as Boku no Lyric no Bōyomi
• Aimi Tanaka (田中 あいみ, born 1992), Japanese voice actress
• Akira Tanaka (田中 章, born 1942), Japanese hurdler
• Ao Tanaka (田中 碧, born 1998), Japanese footballer
• Asuna Tanaka (田中 明日菜, born 1988), Japanese women's footballer
• Atomu Tanaka (田中 亜土夢, born 1987), Japanese footballer
• Atsuko Tanaka (disambiguation), multiple people
• Ayumi Tanaka (born 1986), Japanese pianist and composer
• Bansen Tanaka (田中 万川, 1912–1988), Japanese aikidoka
• Chie Tanaka (田中 千絵, born 1981), Japanese model and actress
• Tanaka Chigaku (田中 智學, 1861–1939), Japanese Buddhist scholar and preacher
• Chikage Tanaka (田中 千景, born 1973), Japanese speed skater
• Tanaka Chikao (田中 千禾夫, 1905–1995), Japanese playwright and dramatist
• Tanaka Chōbei (田中 長兵衛), Japanese merchant
• Chōtoku Tanaka (田中 長徳, born 1947), Japanese photographer
• Chōzaburō Tanaka (田中 長三郎, 1885–1976), Japanese botanist and mycologist
• Daijiro Tanaka (田中 大二郎, born 1988), Japanese baseball player
• Daiki Tanaka (田中 大貴, born 1991), Japanese basketball player
• Daisuke Tanaka (田中 大輔, born 1983), Japanese footballer
• Dean Tanaka, the birth name of Dean Cain (born 1966), American actor
• Eiichi Tanaka (田中 英一, born 1941), Japanese Nordic combined skier
• Eiko Tanaka (田中 栄子), Japanese anime producer
• Eizō Tanaka (田中 栄三, 1886–1968), Japanese film director, screenwriter, and actor
• Elly Tanaka (born 1965), biochemist
• Eri Tanaka (たなか えり, born 1977), Japanese actress and voice actress
• Eugenia Tanaka (born 1987), Indonesian-born Australian badminton player
• Evelyn Tanaka, Canadian politician
• Tanaka Fujimaro (田中 不二麿, 1845–1909), Japanese statesman and educator
• Fumiaki Tanaka (田中 史朗, born 1985), Japanese rugby union player
• Fumon Tanaka (田中 普門, born 1943), Japanese martial artist
• Gary A. Tanaka (born 1943), Japanese-American businessman and philanthropist
• Ginnosuke Tanaka (田中 銀之助, 1873-1933), Japanese rugby union player
• Tanaka Giichi (田中 義一, 1864–1929), Japanese general, politician, and Prime Minister of Japan
• Haruko Tanaka, American artist and filmmaker
• Haruo Tanaka (田中 春男, 1912–1992), Japanese actor
• Hayuma Tanaka (田中 隼磨, born 1982), Japanese footballer
• Hidekazu Tanaka (田中 秀和, born 1987), Japanese composer and arranger
• Hidemichi Tanaka (田中 秀道, born 1971), Japanese golfer
• Hidemitsu Tanaka (田中 英光, 1913–1949), Japanese novelist
• Hideo Tanaka (disambiguation), multiple people
• Hideya Tanaka (田中 秀哉, born 1986), Japanese footballer
• Hideyuki Tanaka (田中 秀幸, born 1950), Japanese voice actor
• Hikaru Tanaka (田中 光, born 1972), Japanese gymnast
• Hiroaki Tanaka (田中 洋明, born 1979), Japanese footballer
• Hirokazu Tanaka (田中 宏和, born 1957), Japanese composer and musician
• Hiroki Tanaka (田中 寛己, born 1991), Japanese footballer
• Hiromasa Tanaka (田中 宏昌, born 1981), Japanese decathlete
• Hiromichi Tanaka (田中 弘道, born 1962), Japanese video game developer, producer, director and designer
• Hiroshi Tanaka (athlete) (田中 弘, born 1915, date of death unknown), Japanese high jumper
• Hiroshi Tanaka (field hockey) (田中 博司, born 1941), Japanese field hockey player
• Hiroshi Tanaka (figure skater) (田中 衆史, born 1972), Japanese figure skater
• Hiroto Tanaka (田中 裕人, born 1990), Japanese footballer
• Hiroyasu Tanaka (田中 浩康, born 1982), Japanese baseball player
• Hisakazu Tanaka (田中 久一, 1889–1947), Japanese general
• Hisao Tanaka, also known as Martin Tanaka (died 1991), American professional wrestler
• Tanaka Hisashige (田中 久重, 1799–1891), Japanese rangaku scholar, engineer and inventor
• Hisayoshi Tanaka (田中 久喜, born 1979), Japanese swimmer
• Ichimatsu Tanaka (田中 一松, 1895–1983), Japanese academic, art historian and curator
• Ikko Tanaka (田中 一光, 1930–2002), Japanese graphic designer
• Issei Tanaka (田仲 一成), Japanese writer
• Tanaka Isson (田中 一村), born Tanaka Jun (1908–1977), Japanese Nihonga painter
• Izuki Tanaka (田中 泉樹, born 1992), Japanese field hockey player
• Janice Tanaka, American artist
• Janis Tanaka (born 1963), American musician
• Jeffrey S. Tanaka (1958–1992), American psychologist and statistician
• Jin Tanaka (田中 仁, born 1976), Japanese screenwriter
• Jiro Tanaka (田中 次郎, 1917–2017), Japanese mechanical engineer
• Jujiro Tanaka (田中 重次郎, born 1947), Japanese rower
• Jun Tanaka (disambiguation), multiple people
• Junko Tanaka (田中 順子, born 1973), Japanese synchronized swimmer
• Junya Tanaka (田中 順也, born 1987), Japanese footballer
• Junya Tanaka (footballer, born 1983) (田中 淳也), Japanese footballer
• Kakuei Tanaka (田中 角栄, 1918–1993), Japanese politician and Prime Minister of Japan
• Kan Tanaka (田中 完), Japanese voice actor
• Kane Tanaka (田中カ子, 1903–2022), oldest verified Japanese person ever
• Karen Tanaka (田中 カレン, born 1961), Japanese composer
• Kazuhiro Tanaka (田中 一弘, born 1970), Japanese drifting driver
• Kazuhiro Tanaka (pentathlete) (田中 和宏, born 1936), Japanese modern pentathlete
• Kazuhito Tanaka (田中 和仁, born 1985), Japanese gymnast
• Kazuki Tanaka (baseball) (田中 和基, born 1994), Japanese baseball player
• Kazuki Tanaka (footballer) (田中 和樹, born 2000), Japanese footballer
• Kazunari Tanaka (田中 一成, 1967–2016), Japanese voice actor
• Kazunori Tanaka (田中 和徳, born 1949), Japanese politician
• Kazuo Tanaka, Japanese engineer
• Kei Tanaka (田中 圭, born 1984), Japanese actor
• Keiji Tanaka (田中 刑事, born 1994), Japanese figure skater
• Keishu Tanaka (田中 慶秋, 1938–2022), Japanese politician
• Keita Tanaka (田中 恵太, born 1989), Japanese footballer
• Ken Tanaka (actor) (田中 健, born 1951), Japanese actor
• Kengo Tanaka (田中 謙吾, born 1989), Japanese footballer
• Kenichi Tanaka, Japanese mixed martial artist
• Kenji Tanaka (田中 賢治, born 1983), Japanese footballer
• Kenjiro Tanaka (田中 健二朗, born 1989), Japanese baseball player
• Kenneth K. Tanaka (born 1947), Japanese-born American Buddhist writer
• Kensuke Tanaka (田中 賢介, born 1981), Japanese baseball player
• Kenta Tanaka (田中 健太, born 1988), Japanese field hockey player
• Kinuyo Tanaka (田中 絹代, 1909–1977), Japanese actress and director
• Kishio Tanaka (田中 毅司雄, born 1946), Japanese swimmer
• Kohei Tanaka (disambiguation), multiple people
• Kohsuke Tanaka (田中 広輔, born 1989), Japanese baseball player
• Koichi Tanaka (田中 耕一, born 1959), Japanese chemist
• Koichi Tanaka (fighter) (born 1971), Japanese mixed martial artist
• Koji Tanaka (田中 孝司, born 1955), Japanese footballer and manager
• Kōjō Tanaka (田中 光常, 1924–2016), Japanese photographer
• Koki Tanaka (田中 聖, born 1985), Japanese singer-songwriter, actor and idol
• Kōki Tanaka (artist) (田中 功起, born 1975), Japanese videographer
• Komimasa Tanaka (田中 小実昌, 1925–2000), Japanese writer and translator
• Kosei Tanaka (田中 恒成, born 1995), Japanese boxer
• Kōtarō Tanaka (disambiguation), multiple people
• Kotono Tanaka (田中 琴乃, born 1991), Japanese rhythmic gymnast
• Kunie Tanaka (田中 邦衛, 1932–2021), Japanese actor
• Kunihiko Tanaka (田中 久仁彦, born 1970), Japanese manga artist and character designer
• Luana Tanaka (born 1989), Brazilian actress
• Machi Tanaka (田中 真知, born 1983), Japanese long-distance runner
• Makiko Tanaka (田中 眞紀子, born 1944) Japanese politician
• Makoto Tanaka (田中 誠, born 1975), Japanese footballer
• Mamiko Tanaka (田中 真美子, born 1996), Japanese basketball player
• Manami Tanaka (田中 真奈美, born 1989), Japanese voice actress
• Marcio Tanaka (born 1980), Japanese-Brazilian baseball player
• Marcus Tulio Tanaka (born 1981) Brazilian-born Japanese footballer
• Mari Tanaka (田中 麻里, born 1987), Japanese tennis player
• Masaaki Tanaka (田中 正明, 1911–2006), Japanese writer
• Masahiko Tanaka (disambiguation), multiple people
• Masahiro Tanaka (田中 将大, born 1988), Japanese baseball player
• Masaki Tanaka (田中 優毅, born 1991), Japanese footballer
• Masako Tanaka, known as Mineko Iwasaki (born 1949), Japanese geisha
• Masami Tanaka (田中 雅美, born 1979), Japanese swimmer
• Masashi Tanaka (田中 政志, born 1962), Japanese manga artist
• Masato Tanaka (田中 正人, born 1973), Japanese professional wrestler
• Masayuki Tanaka (田中 昌之, born 1951), Japanese singer
• Mayumi Tanaka (田中 真弓, born 1955), Japanese voice actress
• Meca Tanaka (田中 メカ), Japanese manga artist
• Michiko Tanaka (田中 路子, 1909–1988), Japanese singer and actress
• Michinori Tanaka (田中 路教, born 1990), Japanese mixed martial artist
• Miho Tanaka (田中 美保, born 1976), Japanese badminton player
• Miho Tanaka (model) (田中 美保, born 1983), Japanese model, television personality and actress
• Miki Tanaka (田中 美衣, born 1987), Japanese judoka
• Mikiyasu Tanaka (田中 幹保, born 1955), Japanese volleyball player and coach
• Min Tanaka (田中 泯, born 1945), Japanese dancer and actor
• Mina Tanaka (田中 美南, born 1994), Japanese women's footballer
• Mina Tanaka (luger) (田中 三奈, born 1971), Japanese luger
• Minami Tanaka (田中 美海, born 1996), Japanese voice actress
• Minami Tanaka (announcer) (田中 みな実, born 1986), Japanese announcer
• Mineko Tanaka (田中 美音子, born 1975), Japanese handball player
• Minoru Tanaka (disambiguation), multiple people
• Misako Tanaka (田中 美佐子, born 1959), Japanese actress
• Misato Tanaka (田中 美里, born 1977), Japanese actress
• Mitsu Tanaka (田中 美津, born 1945), Japanese feminist and writer
• Mitsuteru Tanaka (田中 光輝, born 1971), Japanese cyclist
• Miyako Tanaka (田中 京, born 1967), Japanese synchronized swimmer
• Nanae Tanaka (田中 奈々絵, born 1975), Japanese fencer
• Naofumi Tanaka (田中 脩史, born 1993), Japanese footballer
• Naoki Tanaka (disambiguation), multiple people
• Noboru Tanaka (田中 登, 1937–2006), Japanese film director
• Noboru Tanaka (field hockey) (田中 昇, 1912-?), Japanese field hockey player
• Nobuo Tanaka (田中 伸男, born 1950), Japanese former executive director of the International Energy Agency
• Nobutaka Tanaka (田中 信孝, born 1971), Japanese footballer
• Nobuyuki Tanaka (田中 伸幸), Japanese economic botanist
• Norio Tanaka (田中 法生), Japanese aquatic botanist
• Nozomi Tanaka (田中 希実, born 1999), Japanese long-distance runner
• Pat Tanaka (born 1961), American professional wrestler
• Professor Tanaka (1930–2000), American professional wrestler
• Paul Tanaka American law enforcement officer and politician
• Raizō Tanaka (田中 頼三, 1892–1969), Japanese admiral
• Reina Tanaka (田中 れいな, born 1989), Japanese singer
• Rena Tanaka (田中 麗奈, born 1980), Japanese actress and television personality
• Rie Tanaka (田中 理恵, born 1979), Japanese singer and voice actress
• Rie Tanaka (gymnast) (田中 理恵, born 1987), Japanese artistic gymnast
• Riku Tanaka (田中 陸, born 1999), Japanese footballer
• Ritsuko Tanaka (田中 律子, born 1971), Japanese actress, television personality and singer
• Romeo Tanaka (田中 ロミオ, born 1973), Japanese writer and artist
• Ronald Phillip Tanaka (1944–2007), Japanese-American poet and editor
• Ryo Tanaka (田中 遼, born 1987), Japanese ice hockey player
• Ryohei Tanaka (1933–2019), Japanese artist
• Ryōichi Tanaka (田中 亮一, born 1947), Japanese voice actor
• Ryōko Tanaka (田中 涼子, born 1973), Japanese voice actress
• Ryosei Tanaka (田中 良生, born 1963), Japanese politician
• Ryūkichi Tanaka (田中 隆吉, 1896–1972), Japanese general
• Sakai Tanaka (田中 宇, born 1961), Japanese journalist
• Sakuji Tanaka, Japanese businessman
• Sara Tanaka (born 1978), American actress
• Satoko Tanaka (田中 聡子, born 1942), Japanese swimmer
• Satoshi Tanaka (田中 聡, born 2002), Japanese footballer
• Seigi Tanaka (田中 正義, born 1994), Japanese baseball player
• Seiichi Tanaka (田中 誠一, born 1943), Japanese taiko player
• Sendai Tanaka (田中 繊大, born 1972), Japanese boxing trainer
• Setsuji Tanaka (田中 節治, 1909–2001), Japanese rower
• Shelley Tanaka, Canadian editor, author, translator, and writing teacher
• Shigeho Tanaka (田中 茂穂, 1878–1974), Japanese ichthyologist and professor of zoology
• Shigeki Tanaka (田中 茂樹, 1931–2022), Japanese long-distance runner
• Shiho Tanaka (田中 志穗, born 1992), Japanese badminton player
• Shiho Tanaka (judoka) (田中 志歩, born 1998), Japanese judoka
• Shinako Tanaka (田中 姿子, born 1975), Japanese beach volleyball player
• Tanaka Shinbei (田中 新兵衛, 1832–1863), Japanese samurai and assassin
• Shingai Tanaka (1942–2007), Japanese calligrapher
• Shinichi Tanaka (田中 信一, born 1959), Japanese ski jumper
• Shin'ichi Tanaka (photographer) (田中 新一), Japanese photographer
• Shinji Tanaka (田中 真二, born 1960), Japanese footballer and manager
• Shizuichi Tanaka (田中 静壱, 1887–1945), Japanese general
• Sho Tanaka (田中 翔, born 1989), Japanese professional wrestler
• Sho Tanaka (footballer) (田中 憧, born 1994), Japanese footballer
• Shohé Tanaka (田中 正平, 1862–1945), Japanese physicist, music theorist, and inventor
• Tanaka Shōsuke (田中 勝助), 17th-century Japanese merchant and explorer
• Shōzō Tanaka (田中 正造, 1841–1913), Japanese politician and conservationist
• Shun Tanaka (田中 舜, born 1988), Japanese footballer
• Shunichi Tanaka (田中 俊一, born 1987), Japanese footballer
• Shunta Tanaka (baseball) (田中 俊太, born 1993), Japanese baseball player
• Shunta Tanaka (footballer) (田中 駿汰, born 1997), Japanese footballer
• Shusei Tanaka (田中 秀征, born 1940), Japanese politician
• Shuta Tanaka (田中 秀太, born 1977), Japanese baseball player
• Shuto Tanaka (田中 秀人, born 1985), Japanese footballer
• Soichi Tanaka (田中 奏一, born 1989), Japanese footballer
• Sōichirō Tanaka (footballer) (田中 総一郎, born 1993), Japanese footballer
• Sōichirō Tanaka (voice actor) (田中 総一郎, born 1964), Japanese voice actor
• Soshi Tanaka (田中 総司, born 1982), Japanese figure skater
• Sumie Tanaka (田中 澄江, 1908–2000), Japanese screenwriter and playwright
• Takashi Tanaka, a.k.a. Banjō Ginga (born 1948), Japanese voice actor
• Takahiro Tanaka (disambiguation), multiple people
• Takako Tanaka (田中 貴子), Japanese voice actress
• Tamami Tanaka (田中 珠美, born 1975), Japanese biathlete
• Tatsuya Tanaka (disambiguation), multiple people
• Teisuke Tanaka (田中 楨助, 1937–2015), Japanese motorcycle racer
• Terukazu Tanaka (田中 輝和,, born 1985), Japanese footballer
• Teruki Tanaka (田中 輝希, born 1992), Japanese footballer
• Terumi Tanaka (田中 煕巳, born 1932), Japanese anti-nuclear and anti-war activist
• Teruyo Tanaka (田中 照代, born 1959), Japanese Paralympic athlete
• Tetsushi Tanaka (田中 哲司, born 1966), Japanese actor
• Tetsuya Tanaka (disambiguation), multiple people
• Togo Tanaka (1916–2009), American journalist and newspaper editor
• Tokutarō Tanaka (田中 徳太郎, 1909–1989), Japanese photographer
• Tokuzō Tanaka (田中 徳三, 1920–2007), Japanese film director
• Tommy Tanaka, Guam politician
• Tomohiro Tanaka (disambiguation), multiple people
• Tomoko Tanaka (田中 智子, born 1958), Japanese ice dancer
• Tomomi Tanaka (田中 智美, born 1988), Japanese long-distance runner
• Tomoyuki Tanaka (田中 友幸), Japanese film producer
• Torahiko Tanaka (田中 寅彦, born 1957), Japanese shogi player
• Tanaka Tosa (田中 土佐, 1820–1868), Japanese samurai
• Toshiaki Tanaka (田中 利明, 1935–1998), Japanese table tennis player
• Toshibumi Tanaka (田中 敏文, 1911–1982), Japanese politician
• Toshimitsu Tanaka (田中 利光, 1930–2020), Japanese composer
• Toshiya Tanaka (disambiguation), multiple people
• Toshiyuki Tanaka (田中 利幸, born 1985), Japanese equestrian
• Tsuneo Tanaka (田中 常雄), Japanese diplomat
• Tsunetoshi Tanaka (田中 恒利, died 2014), Japanese politician
• Tsutomu Tanaka (田中 勉, born 1939), Japanese baseball player
• Wataru Tanaka (田中 渉, born 2000), Japanese footballer
• Yasuhiro Tanaka (disambiguation), multiple people
• Yasukazu Tanaka (田中 雍和, born 1933), Japanese footballer
• Yasuo Tanaka (disambiguation), multiple people
• Yasushi Tanaka (田中 保, 1886–1941), Japanese artist
• Yasushin Tanaka (田中 保伸, born 1945), Japanese ice hockey player
• Yōji Tanaka (田中 要次, born 1968), Japanese actor
• Yoko Tanaka (田中 陽, born 1993), Japanese women's footballer
• Yoshikazu Tanaka (田中 良和, born 1977), Japanese businessman
• Yoshiki Tanaka (田中 芳樹, born 1952), Japanese novelist
• Yoshiko Tanaka (田中 好子, 1956–2011), Japanese actress
• Yoshiko Tanaka (table tennis) (田中 良子), Japanese table tennis player
• Tanaka Yoshio (田中 芳男, 1838–1916), Japanese civil servant and naturalist
• Yoshio Tanaka (swimmer) (田中 純夫, born 1930), Japanese swimmer
• Yudai Tanaka (footballer, born 1988) (田中 雄大), Japanese footballer
• Yudai Tanaka (footballer, born 1995) (田中 雄大), Japanese footballer
• Yūichi Tanaka (田中 悠一, born 1985), Japanese shogi player
• Yuji Tanaka (田中 裕二, born 1965), Japanese comedian
• Yuka Tanaka (born 1974), Japanese tennis player
• Yuki Tanaka (disambiguation), multiple people
• Yukinori Tanaka (田中 穂徳, born 1966), Japanese swimmer
• Yukio Tanaka (disambiguation), multiple people
• Yūko Tanaka (田中 裕子, born 1955), Japanese actress
• Yurie Tanaka (田中 友理恵, born 1989), Japanese biathlete
• Yūsuke Tanaka (disambiguation), multiple people

• Lady Tanaka, is the main antagonist in the movie "The Punisher"(1989)
• Tanaka, a character in the manga series Black Butler
• Tanaka, the household servant in Full Moon o Sagashite
• Tanaka, the Usami household butler in Junjo Romantica
• Tanaka, from Kimi ni Todoke
• Tanaka, a character in the light novel series Mayoi Neko Overrun
• Tanaka, from Tanaka-kun is Always Listless
• Mr. Tanaka, from F-Zero GX
• Mr. Tanaka, from Sonic X
• Mr. Tanaka, from the anime Gantz
• President Tanaka, from Persona 3
• Aiko Tanaka from Oyasumi Punpun
• Asuka Tanaka, from Sound! Euphonium
• David Tanaka, a character in the soap opera Neighbours
• Drew Tanaka from The Heroes of Olympus and The Kane Chronicles
• Gundham Tanaka from Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
• Holly Tanaka, a character in the video Game Halo 5: Guardians
• Ichiro Tanaka, character from Medal of Honor: Rising Sun
• Isuro Tanaka, from the film Major League II
• Tanaka Kazuya, from School Rumble
• Ken Tanaka, a character in the television series Glee
• Leo Tanaka, a character in the soap opera Neighbours
• Opal Tanaka, a Marvel Comics character
• Ryūnosuke Tanaka from Haikyū!!
• Shinichiro Tanaka, from Battle Royale (film, Special Edition)
• Shinji Tanaka, from Yakuza (video game)
• Souichirou Tanaka, character from Genshiken
• Taro Tanaka, from Taro the Space Alien (Uchūjin Tanaka Tarō)
• Tiger Tanaka, from the James Bond novel and film You Only Live Twice
• Tom Tanaka, from Durarara!
• Lt. Yoshi Tanaka from Magnum, P.I.
• Yukio "Koyuki" Tanaka, main character of the manga series BECK
• Tricia Tanaka, featured in the episode Tricia Tanaka is Dead from the TV show Lost (2004 TV series)

• Keiko Tanaka-Ikeda (田中-池田 敬子, born 1933), Japanese gymnast
• Kumiko Tanaka-Ishii (born 1969), Japanese linguist
• Tadao Tannaka (淡中 忠郎, 1908–1986), Japanese mathematician