Ao Tanaka is a promising defensive midfielder with fine technique and aggressive ball hawking capability.

He can play both at the bottom of midfield and centre back.

Ao grew up through the academy of Kawasaki Frontale since U-12 and  promoted to the top team in 2017.

He made his J1 league debut and scored his first goal against Consadole Sapporo in Sep. 2018.

Since 2019, Ao has been playing as an important central midfielder for Frontale, J league champion team two years in a row.

He played as a member of U-22 Japan national team for the 47th Toulon International Tournament 2019.

Japan got runner-up and Ao was awarded Best eleven in the Tournament.