All About Beach Volleyball Player Shinako Tanaka of Saitama Japan

Author:: Ara Vahanian

Ara is a Journalism graduate from California State University Northridge who is always looking to explore his writing opportunities.

Who is Shinako Tanaka?

Shinako Tanaka is one of the veterans of the beach volleyball scene just like fellow volleyball athletes Mika Teru Saiki who has retired as of 2009 and Chiaki Kusuhara who is now 45 years old. Not to be confused with former Morning Musume member Reina Tanaka, this Tanaka was born in Saitama, Japan.

Shinako Tanaka at the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar (2006) With Her Partner Eiko Koizumi

Shinako Tanaka of Japan celebrates winning a point against China in the final match.
Ross Land/Getty Images Sport

Shinako Tanaka and her partner Eiko Koizumi are excited.

Eiko Koizumi passes the ball to Shinako Tanaka during the match.

A brief look at the career of Shinako Tanaka

Shinako Tanaka won the silver medal during the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar. That is a small island country in the Middle East for those of you that are not aware. She was paired with Eiko Koizumi. They lost to Xue Chen and Zhang Xi in the final of volleyball. Tanaka already had experience playing indoor volleyball with the Japanese Women’s National Team. Tanaka began to play volleyball during the third grade. Upon graduation from high school in 1994, she began her pro career. In 2001 and 2002 she participated in the World Championships and World Grand Champions Cup in Moscow. Tanaka was a member of the NEC Red Rockets from 2001 to 2003. She was on the team Dynamo Moscow from 2003 to 2004. In 2005, Tanaka reached the high rank of #9 in the world during the World Tour Open in Indonesia. She became ranked #9 also during the South African Open World Tour. She won the 2006 Mermaid Cup as a member of the Japanese National Team. She also participated in a volleyball event in Stavanger, Norway with partner Eiko Koizumi.

Shinako Tanaka in Prague, Czech Republic 2015

Shinako Tanaka about to serve the ball during a match in Prague, Czech Republic.

Japan's Shinako Tanaka in the middle of her serve during a match.

beach-volleyball-player-shinako-tanaka-of-saitama-japan

Tanaka started her career with partner Eiko Koizumi before switching to Sayaka Mizoe

From 2006 until November 2009 her partner was Eiko Koizumi. Tanaka has been paired with Sayaka Mizoe since November 2009. Tanaka resides in Kawasaki, Japan. To date, her earnings total over $69,000 in prize money.