Hitoshi Tanaka

Hitoshi Tanaka (January 15, 1947) is a former Japanese diplomat. He is a Special Advisor (and former chairperson) of the Institute for International Strategy at the Japan Research Institute, and a Senior Fellow of the Japan Center for International Exchange.

As a diplomat in Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1969–2005) he served as Director of the North America Division, North America Bureau; Director of the Northeast Asia Division, Asia Bureau; Minister, Embassy of Japan in the United Kingdom; Director, General Affairs Division, Foreign Policy Bureau; Deputy Director General, North America Bureau; Consul General of Japan in San Francisco; Director, Economic Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Director, Asia and Pacific Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Deputy Foreign Minister.

During his tenure as Director-General of the Asia and Pacific Bureau, he conducted secret negotiations with North Korea, which led to the 2002 Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration.