Tanabe (田辺市 Tanabe-shi) is the second biggest city located in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on May 20, 1942. As of 2008 (after consolidating the old Tanabe City with several smaller villages including Hongū, Ryūjin, Nakahechi and Ōtō), the city has an estimated population of 80,398 and a population density of 78.3 persons per km2. The total area is 1,026.77 km2. Fishing is a major industry, particularly small minnow-like fish called shirasu. Citrus fruits and umeboshi (pickled ume fruit) are also important to the local economy.