Atomu Tanaka

, nicknamed Atom, is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ykkösliiga club KTP.

He was a participant at 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada and scored 1 goal in 3 appearances.

Club career Albirex Niigata Tanaka was educated at and played for Maebashi Ikuei High School in Maebashi, Gunma. While he was a high school student, he was registered as a J.League specially-designated player by Albirex Niigata. It meant that he was eligible to play and train with Albirex Niigata, while he was still eligible to play for his high school football club. He played two league games for Albirex in the 2005 season. He made his debut on 27 November 2005 in a J1 League away match against Nagoya Grampus Eight.

After graduating from his high school in 2006, he officially signed with Albirex Niigata. His first appearance as a professional player came on 5 March 2006 in a league match against Kawasaki Frontale. His first professional goal came on 8 April 2006 in a league match against Ventforet Kofu.

HJK Helsinki After scoring once in five matches for his new team HJK Helsinki in the 2015 Finnish League Cup, he scored on his Veikkausliiga debut against RoPS in a 3–1 away win on 12 April.

In October 2015 of the same year, HJK exercised their option of keeping Tanaka under contract for the 2016 season. Tanaka was voted as a best eleven member in 2015 and 2016 in the Finnish League.

On 25 October 2017, it was announced that Tanaka would leave HJK at the end of the 2017 season.

Cerezo Osaka He is playing for Cerezo Osaka for the 2018 season.

Return to HJK On 3 March 2020, Tanaka returned to Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi, after signing a contract until the end of July.

In the 2023 season Atom surpassed the 200th match mark in HJK. On 28 November 2023, Atom extended his contract with HJK, signing a new deal for the 2024 season, which will be his eight season with the club in total. In December 2024, it was announced that Tanaka would leave HJK after the 2024 season.

KTP In January 2025, Tanaka signed with newly promoted Veikkausliiga club Kotkan Työväen Palloilijat (KTP).

International career Tanaka was a U-20 international and took part in the 2006 AFC Youth Championship and 2007 U-20 World Cup. He scored 1 goal in 8 appearances for this tournament.

Personal life Atom is a Finnish sauna enthusiast and he writes a sauna blog in Japanese. He has described Helsinki his second hometown.

Career statistics

Honours Club HJK Helsinki Veikkausliiga: 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Finnish Cup: 2017, 2020 Finnish League Cup: 2023

Individual Veikkausliiga Team of the Year: 2016