Career
She competed at the 1960 and 1964 Olympics in the 100 m backstroke and 4×100 m medley relay. Between 1959 and 1964 she set 10 world records in the 200 m backstroke, but did not have a chance to compete in this discipline. She set five more world records in the 110 yd and 220 yd backstroke.
Tanaka held the national records in the 100 m and 200 m backstroke for 12 years.
In retirement for many decades she worked as a swimming coach, and also competed in the masters category. In 1991 she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
