Tetsuro Tamba
Tetsuro Tamba (July 17, 1922 – September 24, 2006) was a distinguished Japanese actor known for his versatile talent across five decades. Recognized globally for his portrayal of Tiger Tanaka in the iconic 1967 James Bond film "You Only Live Twice," Tamba's cinematic journey was a remarkable blend of cultural bridges.
Before embarking on his acting career, Tamba worked as an interpreter for the Allied Powers' Supreme Commander. Graduating from Chuo University in 1948, he later joined Shintoho company, making his debut in the film Satsujin Yougishain in 1951.
Tamba's impact on Western audiences extended beyond Bond, with standout performances in films like Bridge to the Sun and The 7th Dawn. He earned acclaim in Japan as well, most notably as the lead in police dramas like Key Hunter and G-Men '75.
His talents weren't confined to the screen alone. Tamba lent his voice to characters like the Cat King in Studio Ghibli's The Cat Returns and graced historical roles in television dramas, leaving an indelible mark on period pieces.
In 2005, Tamba faced health challenges but continued to contribute until the end. Sadly, he passed away in Tokyo at 84 due to pneumonia on September 24, 2006. His legacy lives on through his son, actor Yoshitaka Tamba, while his last appearances in the 2005 Taiga drama Yoshitsune and the 2006 film Sinking of Japan remain a testament to his enduring impact on Japanese cinema and beyond.
Movies
Teruo Ishii Fan Club
Demon Pond
The Thousand Year Fire
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
Gozu
Yakuza Demon
Michitane Tendou
A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Taxi Stand
T.R.Y.
Shura Group Part 2
The Twilight Samurai
Tozaemon Iguchi
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
Sanada
The Cat Returns
Cat King (voice)
Graveyard of Honor
Tetsuji Tokura
The Happiness of the Katakuris
Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
Shura Group
Shura Group Part 1
Ino Tadataka: Meridian Dreams
The Making Of The Katakuris
修羅のみち
Blind Beast vs Killer Dwarf
Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons
Old Master
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
Tetsuo Hatake
The Stupid Teacher
Utaemon Baba
Japanese Hell
Asu Shino
Jubaku: Spellbound
Tajiro Kawakami
Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle
Tamba (voice)
Screwed
Landlord
The Peking Man
Osone
Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole
Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown
Emperor of Upheaval
The Supernormal II
Taira no Kiyomori
Minamoto Yoshitsune
The Great Shogunate Battle
Yakuza Warfare
源氏九郎颯爽記 秘剣揚羽の蝶
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
Master Zhang
The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses
Kim's War
Female Neo-Ninjas
Time Patrol leader
Heat Wave
Denkichi Tsuzaki
1750 Days of Turbulence
School Be-In Bully
Ryotaro Sakurazawa
Aurora Borealis
Tsuneiro Kamisaka
13 Assassins
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!
Ryo Okamoto
Tokyo: The Last War
Kanaami Kohou
Four Days of Snow and Blood
Jinzaburi Shinzaki
The Political Game
Yakuza Ladies 3
Takeo Sakanishi
長七郎江戸日記スペシャル 長七郎 大奥まかり通る
Shogun's Shadow
Hotta Masamori
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
吉野博士
Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special
Tokyo Pop
Mr. Dota
A Taxing Woman's Return
Sadohara
There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl
Twilight of the Cockroaches
Grandpa (voice)
You're My Destiny
Ronin on a Mission
Ōishi Kuranosuke
Shinran: Path to Purity
Night Train
Isaburo Tamura
Tokyo Blackout
Nakata
The White Tiger Battalion
Be Free!
Keizo Hasegawa
April Fish
Panapora Chief Handa
Cabaret
Yakuza boss
Vendetta of Obligation
The Last True Yakuza
Kazumasa Tashiro
The Sound of the Waves
Love: Starting on a Journey
Nezumi Kozō kaitō den
The Story of a Man Among Men
Kōgen ni ressha ga hashitta
Fireflies in the North
Ishikura
Zero
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Station to Heaven
Kukai
Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy
Yagyu Munefuyu
L・O・V・I・N・G
A Madcap Corporation
Lady Vengeance and the 47 Ronin
The Tale of Saikaido
The Geisha
Kochi Notable
The Duel in the Forbidden Territory
Battle Anthem
Yamamoto
Samon’s Hell Revenge: Unauthorised Jutte Records 2 - The Assassination of the Shogun
To Trap a Kidnapper
Suspicion
Kanetaka Okamura
The Imperial Japanese Empire
Hideki Tojo
The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
Uichi Suda, The Big Boss
Call from Darkness
Sugibayashi
The Wild Daisy
Gozaburo Saito
The Imperial Navy
Jisaburo Ozawa
The Bushido Blade
Lord Yamato
Samurai Reincarnation
Muramasa
Flames of Blood
The Last Days of Planet Earth
Dr. Nishiyama
Shogun's Ninja
Tozawa Hakuunsai
Drive for the Future
Akiji Nishikawa
Port Arthur
Gentaro Kodama
The Sand Boat
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
Tatsuo Akashi
The Way to The Gold Medals
President Sakakibara
The Shogun Assassins
Kato Kiyomasa
Dead Angle
Hunter in the Dark
Okitsugu Tanuma
Nichiren
The Fall of Ako Castle
Yanagisawa
Never Give Up
General Wada
Monument to Holy Service
August without Emperor
Army General Mikami
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
Kichibei
The Incident
Lawyer Kikuchi
Message from Space
Ernest Noguchi
Shogun's Samurai
Ogasawara Gensinsai
Sugata Sanshiro
Iinuma
High Seas Hijack
Captain Munekata
Mount Hakkoda
Colonel Kojima
Flickering Flames
The Alaska Story
Arashuk
Murderer!
Nīto Kouken
Zero Fighter
Captain Saito
The Corporation
Seven Nights in Japan
Terrorist Leader (uncredited)
The Classroom of Terror
Human Revolution II
Operation Plazma in Osaka
The International Gang of Kobe
Rinsei
Company Buggers
Conflagration
Captain Munekata
The Bullet Train
Sunaga
Tidal Wave
Prime Minister Yamato
All Men Are Brothers
Lu Chun I
雪夫人繪圖
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
Kimitake Shugi
The Castle of Sand
Detective Eitaro Imanishi
Karafuto 1945 Summer
Prophecies of Nostradamus
Dr. Nishiyama
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
Nagumo
Violent Streets
Shimamura Kansai
Submersion of Japan
Prime Minister Yamamoto
The Ando Gang Documentary Film
Wild Cop 2
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War
Tatsuo Akashi
The Human Revolution
Japan's Top Gangster
Noboru Yamaguchi
The School Deviate Waru
Quarreling with Yakuza
Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight
Shino
Battles Without Honor and Humanity
Informal Dress
Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny
Kagemetsuke
Yakuza Skirmishes
New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm
Shōwa Gokudōshi
Shadow Hunters
Organized Crime: Killer's Glory
The Water Margin
Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun
Sergeant Katsuo Togashi
Silence
Cristóvão Ferreira
The Armed Organization
Troops of Darkness
The Wolves
Genryu Asakura
The Gambler's Counterattack
Chief Inspector
The Battle of Okinawa
Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
King of Pornography
Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny
Postwar Secrets
Kuroki
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
Soshun Kochiyama
Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive
Hyoe
Rise and Fall of Chivalry
やくざ番外地 抹殺
Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers
The 5-Man Army
Samurai
Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room
Lone Rebel
The Private Police
Penitentiary Brothers
Sky Scraper!
Goyokin
Rokugo Tatewaki
Black Lizard
Kuroki
Snake Woman's Curse
Commander
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
The Bad Boss
Diamonds of the Andes
Blackmail Is My Life
The Code of Man
Army Intelligence
Lieutenant Colonel Akiyama
Gambler's Farewell
Tetsuji Kasai
The Return of the Filthy Seven
Game of Chance 3
Escape Man
King of the Gang
Hawk of the Harbour
Organized Violence II
Police Inspector Kitagawa
Portrait of Chieko
Kotaro Takamura
You Only Live Twice
Tiger Tanaka
Once and For All
Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo
Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
Dissolution Rites
Sakai
Organized Violence
Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave
J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)
Continental Drifter
The Kii River
Shintani Kosaku
Greatest Boss of the Showa Era
Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn
Lord Tsushima Yagyu
Thirst for Love
Kosuke Aso
High-Ranking Yakuza
Blood of Revenge
Yutaro Nomura
Blood and Law
The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry
Samurai Spy
Sakon Takatani
The Gambler
Ankoku gai jingi
Abashiri Prison
Tsumaki
Tokyo Untouchable
Goro Kawamoto
Tale of Ninja Duty
Mumyo Tsunataro
Kwaidan
Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")
Gamblers and Racketeers
Samurai from Somewhere
Masagi Shohei
Detective
Revenge
Shume Okuno
Giant Rumble
The 7th Dawn
Ng
The Shogun's Vault
Assassination
Hachiro Kiyokawa
Homicide
Lieutenant Aikawa
Three Outlaw Samurai
Sakon Shiba
売春地下組織
An Outlaw
Destroyer Yukikaze
The Kingdom of Jirocho 3
Jakoman and Tetsu
Jakoman
Samurai from Nowhere
Gunjuro Ohba
Tokyo Gang vs. Hong Kong Gang
13 Assassins
Doi Ōkō Toshi
Tange Sazen
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
Gu Shimizu
Element of Surprise
Futari dake no toride
Ano hito wa ima
Tokyo Untouchable: Escape
Goro Kawamoto
Kizu-darake no futeki-sha
Gang and G-Men Part 2
手塚徹
Eleven Gangsters
Uragirimono wa jigoku daze
Operation Diamond
Kazuo Kasami
Umineko ga tonde
Gang vs. G-Men
Toru Tezuka
Hell's Kitchen
A Flame at the Pier
Harakiri
Hikokuro Omodaka
Gang vs. Gang
Four Sisters
Masao Igarashi
Zankokuna tsuki
G-Men in the Pacific
Mizuhara
The Challenge
Takayama
All Rascals
Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3
Kuro to aka no hanabira
South Pacific Waves Are High
Structure of Hate
Greed in Broad Daylight
Miyahara
Bridge to the Sun
Jiro
Standing Towards the Great Forest
The Yellow Climate
Mist and Shadows
Yusuke Komiya
Kill the Killer!
Narumi
Red Flowers of Hell
機動捜査班
Kaachan
Pigs and Battleships
Slasher Tetsuji
Daredevil in the Castle
Sadamasa Ishikawa
Get 'em All
Tanabe
Showdown on Pier No.3
Kirishima
The Gambling Samurai
Fumizo Mitsuki
Zero sen no jorō gun
Female Slave Ship
Kingorō no kaigun taishô
No Police
Rajo to satsujin-meiro
Senba
The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal
Kyōen Kobanzame
Underwater Murder
Quick on the Trigger
Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War
Keisuke Otori
A Wicked Woman
Ihei Ôsawa
Queen of Asia
Hibari no san'yaku: Zoku Kei tsuya yuki no jôhenge
Hibari no san'yaku: Kei tsuya yuki no jôhenge
The Ghost of Kasane
Jinjûrô Ômura
剣聖 暁の三十六番斬り
Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War
Rear Admiral Shimamura
Storming Osaka Castle: The Sanada Ten Braves
Mondonoshô Hirano
Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed
Aboshi Samajirô
Devil Princess’ Beauty Competition
The Ceiling at Utsunomiya
Kurozumi Tenzen
President Rai of Kingoro
Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets
The Prosecutor and His Sister
Kingoro's Soldier
Speed King
The Fencing Collegian
Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko
花眞珠
Twilight Saloon
Morimoto
Mysterious Dwarf
The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes
日本敗れず
Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced
Hanran
Captain Koda
TV Series
Yoshitsune
Minamoto no Yorimasa (Gen-ji)
49 Episodes
Order Made ~Shiawase Iro no Shinshi Fuku Mise~
5 Episodes
Yumemiru Budo
11 Episodes
Toshiie and Matsu
Tarozaemon Iguchi
51 Episodes
The Veteran Trio
Inui Sanshiro
9 Episodes
Kaseifu wa mita!
1 Episode
Hashiran ka!
前田米吉
151 Episodes
Gokenin Zankuro
8 Episodes
Coming Home
Shirota Fukuzo
12 Episodes
新幹線物語'93夏
黒木哲也
12 Episodes
Hanshichi Torimonochō
2 Episodes
The Tale of Genji
2 Episodes
Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen
5 Episodes
HOTEL
Ohara Tetsutaro
85 Episodes
Tabaruzaka
Ôyama Tunayoshi
2 Episodes
Byakkotai
Jinbo Kuranosuke
2 Episodes
Inochi
Takahara Masamichi
50 Episodes
Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches
Naruse Hayatonosho
13 Episodes
Sanada Taiheiki
Sanada Masayuki
45 Episodes
Life of St. Blue Eyes
Takeyoshi Takagi
1 Episode
水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵
平田無二斎
45 Episodes
Masked Blade
118 Episodes
Marco Polo
Vasaio
2 Episodes
Matsudaira Ukon Jikencho
73 Episodes
Ōgon no Hibi
Imai Sōkyū
51 Episodes
Key Hunter
黒木鉄也
262 Episodes