Formerly lead guitarist of YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN, he has embarked on a solo career that infuses elements of his Japanese-Canadian heritage with lyrical, conceptual folk, and indie rock. 

His debut solo album, Kaigo Kioku Kyoku, was built from Tanaka’s experience as a caregiver for his grandmother with Alzheimer’s, and uncle with terminal cancer. Kaigo Kioku Kyoku makes music out of meaningful objects, voice recordings of his relatives, and are structured off of hymns and Japanese folk songs.

During the pandemic, he collaborated with Prof. Megan Davies (York University) on Covid In The House of Old, a traveling exhibit meant to shed light on those “who either died or were severely impacted by COVID-19 while living in long-term care”.

His work with YT//ST was nominated for the 2018 Polaris prize, and toured extensively in Canada/US and Western Europe.

Now, Tanaka is gearing up to unleash his sophomore solo album, with Hiroki & The DenSan Band. This high-energy quartet takes inspiration from obscure Japanese hymns and the spirit of John Zorn’s Electric Masada, delivering a sonic assault that’s both reverent and irreverent. From pop melodies to jazz freakouts, this is ear-melting art rock at its finest.