Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Ruo ugbu a, Tanaka zụrụ ndị mmeri ụwa dịka Erik Morales, Lorenzo Parra, Edwin Valero, Jorge Linares, Román González, Takahiro Aō et al. Na Machị 2011, obodo nna Tanaka bụ Higashimatsushima bibiri site na
Ala ọma jijiji nke Tōhoku. Ala ọma jijiji ahụ rikpuru ụlọ elu ya dị okpukpu abụọ. Ọ bụ ezie na ndị ezinụlọ ya nọ ná nchebe, tsunami ahụ riri ndị ikwu ya nọ ya nso. Agbanyeghị, ebe ọ bụ na a na-eme atụmatụ ịgbachitere Aō na mbido Eprel, Tanaka nọgidere na Tokyo na-ekwu ihe ọ bụla banyere ya, wee gaa n'ihu na ọzụzụ. A họpụtara Tanaka maka Eddie Townsend Award nke iri abụọ na abụọ n'afọ 2011, mana ọ jụrụ ya maka ebumnuche onwe ya.