Akemi Tanaka is a professional poker player from Japan who is a prominent figure in the Asian regional circuit. As of late 2025, she has established herself as a consistent competitor in major festivals such as the Asian Poker Tour (APT) and the Japan Open Poker Tour (JOPT), where she is recognized as a top-tier female professional in the East Asian region.

Career Earnings & Ranking

As of December 2025, Akemi Tanaka has recorded significant growth in her live tournament career:

• Total Live Earnings: $23,855 (The Hendon Mob / GPI)

• Best Live Cash: $11,197

• APT Women’s All-Time Money List: 270th

• Global Poker Index (GPI) Ranking: 334,978th

• Japan National Rank: Top 50 among active female players.

2024–2025 Season: Regional Dominance

The 2025 season has been a year of consistent performance for Tanaka, primarily focusing on the growing poker ecosystem in Taipei and Tokyo.

• Japan Open Poker Tour (JOPT) Tokyo: A regular finalist in Japan’s largest domestic series, she recorded multiple cashes in the 2024 and 2025 seasons, demonstrating high technical proficiency in fields featuring thousands of local players.

• Asian Poker Tour (APT) Circuit: Tanaka has secured a significant portion of her career earnings through deep runs in APT events. Her placement on the APT Women’s All-Time Money List highlights her consistency in one of Asia’s most prestigious tournament series.

• Women’s Championship Specialist: She is a frequent participant and “In The Money” (ITM) finisher in specialized Women’s events across Asia, often leveraging these platforms to transition into successful runs in open Main Event structures.

Playing Style & Background

Residing in Japan, Tanaka is part of the “new wave” of Japanese professionals who have helped bring poker into the mainstream in Japan despite the country’s unique regulatory environment.

Her play style is characterized by:

• Technical Discipline: Known for a mathematically sound approach to No-Limit Hold’em, particularly in mid-stakes structures where preserving tournament life is critical.

• Adaptive Aggression: In the aggressive East Asian meta, Tanaka is recognized for her ability to adjust her ranges effectively, making her a difficult opponent in “bubble” situations where ICM (Independent Chip Model) pressure is high.

• Ambassadorial Role: Like many top Japanese female pros (such as Shiina Okamoto or Emika Senda), Tanaka often serves as an informal ambassador for the game, encouraging the growth of the female player pool in the region.