Bio
Misa Tanaka is an American car buyer from San Diego, California who was a contestant on the reality television competition The Amazing Race 20, in 2012.
Her team partner was her sister Maiya Tanaka. She was 27 during filming of the Race.
Amazing Race Q&A
Describe what you do
I conduct vehicle appraisals, coordinate on-site auctions and attend regional auto auctions to source inventory. I utilize leadership, decision making and time-management skills in a high pressure competitive environment.
How will these skills help you win The Race?
I perform extremely well under pressure and these skills are going to be invaluable when performing detours and Roadblocks. Making the right decisions and utilizing time wisely separates us from the competition and will help us win.
Three words to describe you
Hilarious, passionate and engaging.
Favorite hobbies
Snow boarding, surfing and snorkeling.
What famous person reminds you of yourself?
Cameron Diaz – she's fun, athletic and likes to laugh.
What famous person reminds you of your teammate?
Michelle Branch.
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?
Finishing college and paying my way independently without having to take out any student loans.
What scares you most about traveling?
Illnesses and natural disasters.
What excites you most about traveling?
New experiences, learning about other cultures, exploring and trying new things.
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on The Race together
Communication issues - sometimes we don't see eye to eye. And since we're sisters we definitely argue.
Pet peeve about your teammate
She gets bossy and very angry when she's hungry.
What country and place would you most like to visit and why?
I'd like to visit Japan. It's where my grandparents grew up, and I'd like to be more familiar with my family history.
What do you hope to accomplish by running The Race (other than winning one million bucks)?
I hope to gain a much closer relationship with my sister and experience traveling around the world together. We never travel together.