is a Japanese former video game producer and designer who has worked for Nintendo since 1986.
After he had graduated from the Visual Concept Planning Department of Osaka University of Arts, he decided to enter the video game industry, and joined Nintendo in April 1986.
At first, Tanabe was part of the Entertainment Analysis and Development division. He directed the platform games ' and Super Mario Bros. 2, and worked on the scripts for the action-adventures ' and '. In 2003, Tanabe moved to the Software Planning and Development division, where he became the manager of Production Group No. 3. Since then, he has become a producer, and has managed and overseen the development of externally developed first party Nintendo video games, such as Metroid Prime, Donkey Kong Country, Paper Mario, Chibi-Robo and other series.
In January 2026, Tanabe announced that ' was the last Nintendo game he would be working on, with a concurrent announcement confirming fellow producer Risa Tabata to be his successor.