Professor Tanaka is Professor and Chairman of the First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine (2000–present) and Dean of the Graduate School of Medical Science, University of Occupational and Environmental Health (UOEH), Kitakyushu, Japan. Professor Tanaka completed his medical training at the University of Occupational and Environmental Health in 1984 and obtained his PhD from the Graduate School of Medical Science, UOEH in 1988.

Professor Tanaka’s scientific research interests are in the pathological mechanisms and development of novel treatments in systemic autoimmune diseases. He is President of The Japanese Society of Clinical Immunology, chair of the scientific committee of the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR), chair of the international committee of the Japan College of Rheumatology (JCR) and board member of many societies. He is also an editor-in-chief of Modern Rheumatology Case Reports, an associate editor of Rheumatology, Cytokine, Arthritis Research & Therapy, the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases, amongst others, and an editorial board member of many journals including Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, RMD Open, and Modern Rheumatology. He has received numerous awards from The Japanese Society for Bone and Mineral Research, the JCR and the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR). Professor Tanaka has peer-reviewed 773 publications (impact factor 4623, h-index 88) in English. In 2008 he received the President Award from the JCR, and in 2009 the Congress Award from EULAR.