The 30-year-old is in a buoyant mood after returning with a couple of solid results from the Asian Tour during the off season, finishing tied eighth at the Saudi International and tied fifth at the International Series Thailand.
A rejuvenated veteran, Tanihara will also be looking forward to picking up the momentum left off after capping off last season in style by triumphing in two of the last three tournaments on the schedule, including the season-ending Golf Nippon Series JT Cup.
Tanihara would surely love to add the Token Homemate Cup - a tournament he has yet to win - into his growing title collection, which currently stands at 16.
The 11 former winners hoping to roll back the years to reclaim the victory are Australian Brendan Jones (2012, 2019), Atomu Shgenaga (2018), Liang Wen-Chong of China (2017), Michael Hendry of New Zealand (2015), Yusaku Miyazato (2014), Tadahiro Takayama (2005, 2011), Koumei Oda (2009, 2010), Katsumasa Miyamoto (2008), Hiroyuki Fujita (2004), Toru Taniguchi (2002) and Shingo Katayama (2001).