In March 1963, Dr. Tanaka graduated from Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, from which he received a doctor of engineering degree.

He joined Tokyo Laboratory, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. in April 1963, then joined Fundamentals Division, Electrotechnical Laboratory, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology in July 1971, and was assigned Head of Materials Science Division, Electrotechnical Laboratory in October 1988. He also served as Managing Researcher, National Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research; Project Leader, Joint Research Center for Atom Technology (JRCAT); and Director, Angstrom Technology Partnership.

Mr. Tanaka was assigned Vice President, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in April 2001, Senior Fellow, Center for Research and Development Strategy, Japan Science and Technology Agency in April 2005, and Principal Fellow, Center for Research and Development Strategy in April 2006.