1. Overview
Atomu Tanaka (田中 亜土夢Tanaka AtomuJapanese), often known by his nickname Atom, is a Japanese professional footballer born on October 4, 1987, in Higashi-ku, Niigata, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. He stands at 66 in (167 cm) and weighs 150 lb (68 kg). Playing primarily as a midfielder, he is currently affiliated with KTP in the Veikkausliiga, the top-tier football league in Finland. Throughout his career, Tanaka has played for notable clubs including Albirex Niigata in Japan and HJK Helsinki in Finland, where he achieved significant success, including multiple Veikkausliiga titles and Finnish Cup victories. He also represented Japan at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Known for his versatility, high work rate, and engaging personality, Tanaka has garnered popularity and respect from fans for his consistent performance, adaptability, and active public presence, including promoting Finnish culture through his sauna blog and as an ambassador for the sport of Mölkky.
2. Youth and Early Career
Atomu Tanaka's foundational years in football began at a young age, leading to an early introduction to professional play even before graduating high school.
2.1. Youth Years and Education
Tanaka began playing football at the age of 10, from 1996 to 1999 with Shintsu Eagles, during his time at Niigata Municipal Botayama Elementary School. From 2000 to 2002, he played for Niigata Municipal Kido Junior High School. He then attended Maebashi Ikuei High School in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, from 2003 to 2005. During his time in junior high school, he underwent a selection trial for the Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C. youth academy but was ultimately not chosen. Despite attending a prominent football high school, he did not participate in the National High School Football Championship.
2.2. Preparation for Professional Debut
In 2005, while still a high school student at Maebashi Ikuei, Tanaka was registered by Albirex Niigata as a J.League specially-designated player. This unique designation allowed him to train and play with the professional club while still maintaining his eligibility to represent his high school football team. During the 2005 season, he made his professional debut, playing in two league matches for Albirex Niigata. His first appearance was on November 27, 2005, in an away J1 League match against Nagoya Grampus.
3. Club Career
Atomu Tanaka's professional football career spans over two decades, marked by significant tenures in both Japanese and Finnish leagues, showcasing his adaptability and consistent performance.
3.1. Albirex Niigata
After graduating from Maebashi Ikuei High School in 2006, Tanaka officially signed with Albirex Niigata. He made his first appearance as a professional player on March 5, 2006, in a league match against Kawasaki Frontale. His inaugural professional goal followed on April 8, 2006, in a league encounter against Ventforet Kofu. In 2007, while continuing to play for the U-20 Japan national team, he suffered a severe right fifth metatarsal base fracture in September, an injury that kept him out for three months.
Upon his recovery in 2008, Tanaka gradually increased his playing time, featuring in 25 matches and scoring one goal. After a period with limited appearances, he established himself as a regular right-sided midfielder in 2011, making 25 league appearances and achieving a then-career high of three goals. On December 3, 2011, a J1 League match against Nagoya Grampus marked his 100th league appearance.
In 2012, Tanaka transitioned to the left wing, forming an effective offensive partnership with left-back Kim Jin-su. That season, he remarkably played in every single league match, a personal first, and set a new career-high with four goals, despite Albirex Niigata's challenging season where they narrowly avoided relegation. His consistent performance led to his selection in Niigata Nippo's "Best Eleven" of the past 10 years in 2013, commemorating Niigata's decade in J1. During this period, transfer discussions arose with European clubs, including Lechia Gdańsk from the Polish top division and Energie Cottbus from the German second division, but he ultimately chose to extend his contract with Niigata. In 2014, he voluntarily changed his jersey number to 10. At the end of the 2014 season, Tanaka departed Albirex Niigata with the ambition of pursuing a career overseas.
3.2. HJK Helsinki (First Stint)
On February 10, 2015, Tanaka signed with HJK Helsinki, a prominent club in Finland's Veikkausliiga, where he continued to wear the number 10 jersey. He made an immediate impact, debuting and scoring his first goal on February 13, 2015, in a Finnish League Cup match against RoPS. His Veikkausliiga debut on April 12, 2015, also against RoPS, saw him score in a 3-1 away victory. In October 2015, HJK exercised its option to keep Tanaka for the 2016 season. In his first year, he played 31 of 33 league matches, primarily as an attacking midfielder, contributing eight goals. His strong performances earned him a spot in the Veikkausliiga Team of the Year for both the 2015 and 2016 seasons. On April 6, 2017, he delivered a stellar performance in the opening match against Vaasan Palloseura, scoring two goals and providing one assist. After three successful years with HJK Helsinki, during which the club secured two domestic titles in 2017, Tanaka announced his departure on October 25, 2017.
3.3. Cerezo Osaka
For the 2018 season, Tanaka returned to Japan, joining Cerezo Osaka in the J1 League. In the 2019 season, despite not making any starts in league matches, he appeared in 21 games and scored two goals. He notably scored a decisive goal in the Levain Cup Round 4 against Nagoya Grampus, which garnered attention for his skillful chest trap and left-footed shot. In a snowy match against Vegalta Sendai, he scored the team's second goal, remarking afterwards that the conditions reminded him of Finland, making it feel like a "home ground." His winning goal in the J1 League Round 26 away match against Urawa Red Diamonds in September 2019 was recognized as the "Monthly Best Goal," and he celebrated with his characteristic "Astro Boy pose." At the end of the 2019 season, his contract with Cerezo Osaka expired. During his time at Cerezo Osaka, he also made three appearances for Cerezo Osaka U-23 in the J3 League across the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
3.4. HJK Helsinki (Second Stint)
In March 2020, Tanaka made a return to HJK Helsinki, initially signing a contract until the end of July. His contributions proved vital, as he helped the team secure both the league and cup titles in the 2020 season. In 2022, he took on a role as a defensive midfielder. By 2023, Tanaka achieved a significant milestone, surpassing 200 matches played for HJK Helsinki. On November 28, 2023, he extended his contract for the 2024 season, marking his eighth season overall with the club. However, in December 2024, HJK announced that Tanaka would be leaving the club after the conclusion of the 2024 season.
3.5. KTP
In January 2025, Atomu Tanaka embarked on a new chapter in his career, signing with KTP, a club that had recently been promoted to the Veikkausliiga.
4. International Career
Atomu Tanaka represented Japan at various youth levels, participating in significant international tournaments.
4.1. Youth National Teams
Tanaka was a key player for the Japan U-20 national team. He participated in the 2006 AFC Youth Championship, making five appearances. Subsequently, he was part of the squad for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Canada, where he played in three matches and scored one goal.
5. Play Style
Atomu Tanaka is primarily known as an attacking midfielder characterized by his high volume of movement across the pitch. During his tenure at Albirex Niigata, he often played as a left or right sided midfielder. His coach, Masaaki Yanagishita, lauded him as a "switch player" for both offensive and defensive transitions, highlighting his crucial role in initiating quick changes in play. However, it was also noted that he occasionally experienced ball loss in critical areas.
Under manager Miguel Ángel Lotina at Cerezo Osaka, Tanaka demonstrated a high capacity for adapting to the team's tactical demands. Lotina, who favored a system where the team would collectively slide based on ball position, noted Tanaka's ability to fulfill specific needs. He explained that while a more goal-oriented player might be chosen in certain situations, Tanaka was preferred when the team required better ball retention, increased defensive pressure, or the ability to close down internal passing lanes, underscoring his versatility and tactical intelligence.
6. Personal Life and Public Activities
Beyond his football career, Atomu Tanaka is known for his diverse interests, public engagements, and strong connections to the communities he has been a part of. He is married, and his brother, Tanaka Reihisa, is a professional football referee.
Early in his career, around 2007, Tanaka listed kendama and snowboarding as his hobbies. More recently, he has developed an interest in sumi-e. During his time at Albirex Niigata, he became a highly popular local figure, frequently featured in commercials, advertisements for local businesses, and public relations campaigns for the Niigata city government and police. He also made numerous appearances on local television programs, notably winning the "Tech-1 Grand Prix," a technique competition among J.League players, on TV Asahi's "Yabecchi FC" on March 14, 2010.
Tanaka is a passionate enthusiast of the Finnish sauna and maintains a dedicated sauna blog written in Japanese. He has expressed a deep affinity for Helsinki, describing it as his "second hometown." Leveraging his cultural ties to Finland, he was appointed as an Official Molkky Ambassador for the Japan Molkky Association in August 2022. Mölkky is a Finnish outdoor game that has gained popularity in Japan.
His engaging personality also extends to online platforms; he participated in a juggling challenge with freestyle footballer Séan Garnier on Cerezo Osaka's official YouTube channel, delivering a performance that reportedly impressed the world champion.
7. Career Statistics
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental (UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Europa Conference League, AFC Champions League) | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Albirex Niigata | 2005 | J1 League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | |
| 2006 | J1 League | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | - | 27 | 2 | ||
| 2007 | J1 League | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 13 | 1 | ||
| 2008 | J1 League | 25 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | 32 | 1 | ||
| 2009 | J1 League | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 10 | 0 | ||
| 2010 | J1 League | 10 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | - | 16 | 4 | ||
| 2011 | J1 League | 25 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | 28 | 4 | ||
| 2012 | J1 League | 34 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | 39 | 4 | ||
| 2013 | J1 League | 33 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | - | 41 | 5 | ||
| 2014 | J1 League | 33 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 37 | 3 | ||
| Total | 200 | 17 | 16 | 5 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 245 | 24 | ||
| HJK Helsinki | 2015 | Veikkausliiga | 31 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 45 | 12 |
| 2016 | Veikkausliiga | 17 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 28 | 10 | |
| 2017 | Veikkausliiga | 23 | 3 | 7 | 2 | - | 0 | 0 | 30 | 5 | ||
| Total | 71 | 16 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 103 | 27 | ||
| Cerezo Osaka | 2018 | J1 League | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 2019 | J1 League | 21 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | - | 30 | 3 | ||
| Total | 27 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 40 | 3 | ||
| Cerezo Osaka U-23 | 2018 | J3 League | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2019 | J3 League | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| HJK Helsinki | 2020 | Veikkausliiga | 19 | 5 | 4 | 0 | - | - | 23 | 5 | ||
| 2021 | Veikkausliiga | 16 | 1 | 5 | 1 | - | 7 | 1 | 28 | 3 | ||
| 2022 | Veikkausliiga | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 28 | 1 | |
| 2023 | Veikkausliiga | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 32 | 3 | |
| 2024 | Veikkausliiga | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| Total | 80 | 8 | 13 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 26 | 1 | 128 | 12 | ||
| KTP | 2025 | Veikkausliiga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Career total | 381 | 43 | 43 | 11 | 56 | 8 | 39 | 4 | 509 | 66 | ||
8. Honours
Atomu Tanaka has accumulated several team and individual accolades throughout his professional career, primarily during his tenures with HJK Helsinki.
8.1. Club
HJK Helsinki
- Veikkausliiga: 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Finnish Cup: 2017, 2020
- Finnish League Cup: 2023
8.2. Individual
- Veikkausliiga Team of the Year: 2015, 2016