Tanaka showed that natural rubber is a kind of long-chain telechelic polymer with peptide and phospholipid terminal groups. This was confirmed by the synthesis of model cis- 1,4-polyisoprenes.
Tanaka established a practical method for producing deproteinized natural rubber. Deproteinized natural rubber is free from allergens. His process was applied to the production of allergy-free condoms and gloves.
In 1998 the French Academy of Science awarded Tanaka the "Lavoisier Medal" for his work on the biosynthesis mechanism of natural rubber. In 1999, Tanaka received the Best Research Award from the Society of Rubber Industry, Japan, for his work on the preparation and application of deproteinized natural rubber.
The Tanaka Rubber Science and Technology Award was created after his death to support exceptional researchers in rubber science and technology including the disciplines of chemistry, biology, physics, or engineering.[7]
^Burfield, D. R.; Tanaka, Y. (1987). "Cold crystallization of natural rubber and its synthetic analogues: The influence of chain microstructure". Polymer. 28 (6): 907–910. doi:10.1016/0032-3861(87)90161-3.