Tetsuro Tamba
Acting
Born: July 17, 1922 · Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Died: September 24, 2006 (aged 84)
Highest Rated
Biography
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.
Known for
You Only Live Twice
1967
The Cat Returns
2002
Harakiri
1962
Kwaidan
1965
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
1991
The Twilight Samurai
2002
Gozu
2003
The Happiness of the Katakuris
2002
Battles Without Honor and Humanity
1973
Three Outlaw Samurai
1964
Goyokin
1969
The Bullet Train
1975
Photos (3)
Movies (307)
Harakiri
Hikokuro Omodaka
You Only Live Twice
Tiger Tanaka
The Cat Returns
Cat King (voice)
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
Master Zhang
Kwaidan
Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")
Never Give Up
General Wada
Fireflies in the North
Ishikura
Gozu
2003
The Twilight Samurai
Tozaemon Iguchi
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
Nagumo
Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle
Tamba (voice)
Showdown on Pier No.3
Kirishima
Graveyard of Honor
Tetsuji Tokura
Samurai Reincarnation
Muramasa
The Fall of Ako Castle
Yanagisawa
Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight
Shino
The Bullet Train
Sunaga
Giant Rumble
1964
The Return of the Filthy Seven
1967
The Bushido Blade
Lord Yamato
The Water Margin
Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
The 7th Dawn
Ng
Submersion of Japan
Prime Minister Yamamoto
The 5-Man Army
Samurai
Shogun's Ninja
Tozawa Hakuunsai
Message from Space
Ernest Noguchi
Twilight of the Cockroaches
Grandpa (voice)
Four Days of Snow and Blood
Jinzaburi Shinzaki
Night Train
Isaburo Tamura
The Imperial Japanese Empire
Hideki Tojo
The Battle of Okinawa
Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
Battles Without Honor and Humanity
1973
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War
Tatsuo Akashi
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
Uichi Suda, The Big Boss
Shogun's Shadow
Hotta Masamori
Revenge
Shume Okuno
13 Assassins
Doi Ōkō Toshi
Port Arthur
Gentaro Kodama
Silence
Cristóvão Ferreira
A Picture of Madame Yuki
1975
The Imperial Navy
Jisaburo Ozawa
Tidal Wave
Prime Minister Yamato
Prophecies of Nostradamus
Dr. Nishiyama
The Supernormal II
1993
Kim's War
1991
To Trap a Kidnapper
1982
The Castle of Sand
Detective Eitaro Imanishi
Pigs and Battleships
Slasher Tetsuji
High Seas Hijack
Captain Munekata
Tokyo Pop
Mr. Dota
Heaven Station
1984
All Men Are Brothers
Lu Chun I
The Shogun Assassins
Kato Kiyomasa
Shogun's Samurai
Ogasawara Gensinsai
The Peking Man
Osone
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun
Sergeant Katsuo Togashi
Flames of Blood
1981
Quarreling with Yakuza
1973
The Geisha
Kochi Notable
Heat Wave
Denkichi Tsuzaki
The Gambler
1965
Three Outlaw Samurai
Sakon Shiba
King of the Gang
1967
Mount Hakkoda
Colonel Kojima
Be-In Bully High School
Ryotaro Sakurazawa
Informal Dress
1972
Gang vs. G-Men
Toru Tezuka
Tokyo: The Last War
Kanaami Kohou
Tokyo: The Last War
Kan'ami Kouou
Big Bad Wolf
1973
Between Women and Wives
1976
Conflagration
Captain Munekata
Jakoman and Tetsu
Jakoman
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
Kichibei
The Happiness of the Katakuris
Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
Violent Streets
Shimamura
Goyokin
Rokugo Tatewaki
Yakuza Ladies 3
Takeo Sakanishi
Hanamazu
1955
Zero
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Love: Starting on a Journey
1985
Blind Beast vs Killer Dwarf
2001
A Taxing Woman's Return
Sadohara
The Story of a Man Among Men
1984
Suspicion
Kanetaka Okamura
Shinran: Path to Purity
1987
Gang vs. G-Men: Safe Breakers
手塚徹
Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy
Yagyu Munefuyu
Greatest Boss of the Showa Era
1966
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
Sanada
Blackmail Is My Life
1968
Black Lizard
Kuroki
Sugata Sanshiro
Iinuma
G-Men in the Pacific
Mizuhara
Japan's Top Gangster
Noboru Yamaguchi
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
Tetsuo Hatake
Samurai from Somewhere
Masagi Shohei
Rise and Fall of Chivalry
1970
The Great Shogunate Battle
1991
The Last Days of Planet Earth
Dr. Nishiyama
The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses
1991
Blood of Revenge
Yutaro Nomura
Tokyo Gang vs. Hong Kong Gang
1964
Blood and Law
1965
Samurai Spy
Sakon Takatani
Yakuza Skirmishes
1972
Japanese Hell
Asu Shino
The Classroom of Terror
1976
Quick on the Trigger
1958
Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets
1956
The Kingdom of Jirocho 3
1964
Teruo Ishii Fan Club
2006
Call from Darkness
Sugibayashi
The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry
1965
Daredevil in the Castle
Sadamasa Ishikawa
Sky Scraper!
1969
Jubaku: Spellbound
Tajiro Kawakami
All Rascals
1962
Tokyo Blackout
Nakata
Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room
1969
Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers
1969
Hunter in the Dark
Okitsugu Tanuma
Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War
Rear Admiral Shimamura
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
Gu Shimizu
Snake Woman's Curse
Commander
Battle Anthem
Yamamoto
Dissolution Rites
Sakai
Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons
Old Master
Dead Angle
1979
Bloody History of Soldiers
Shumei Okawa
The International Gang of Kobe
Rinsei
Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown
1994
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
Tatsuo Akashi
The Corporation
Kawamata
Hot Vacation
1968
Yakuza Demon
Michitane Tendou
Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive
Hyoe
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
2004
Four Sisters
Masao Igarashi
1750 Days of Turbulence
1990
Diamonds of the Andes
1968
The Shogun's Vault
1964
Yakuza Warfare
1991
T.R.Y.
2003
Zero Fighter
Captain Saito
The Sand Boat
1980
Uragirimono wa jigoku daze
1962
The Wild Daisy
Gozaburo Saito
Shōwa Gokudōshi
1972
The Kii River
Shintani Kosaku
Tokyo Untouchable
Goro Kawamoto
Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War
Keisuke Otori
Assassination
Hachiro Kiyokawa
The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes
1955
A Madcap Corporation
Yoshiteru Suma (Suma-gumi Boss)
Samurai from Nowhere
Gunjuro Ohba
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
Kimitake Shugi / Moroki
The Incident
Lawyer Kikuchi
The Stupid Teacher
Utaemon Baba
Thirteen Times a Loser
Shinji Kaizuka
Gang vs. Gang
1962
Cabaret
Yakuza boss
Hanran
Captain Koda
The Last True Yakuza
Kazumasa Tashiro
Bridge to the Sun
Jiro
Emperor of Upheaval
1993
The Making Of The Katakuris
2001
Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed
Aboshi Samajirô
There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl
1987
Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny
1970
Human Revolution II
1976
Nichiren
1979
Operation Plazma in Osaka
1976
The Duel in the Forbidden Territory
1983
Karafuto 1945 Summer
1974
The Way to The Gold Medals
President Sakakibara
Abashiri Prison
Tsumaki
Get 'em All
Tanabe
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
吉野博士
Army Intelligence
Lieutenant Colonel Akiyama
Lone Rebel
1969
Detective
1964
13 Assassins
1990
The Wolves
Genryu Asakura
Seven Nights in Japan
Terrorist Leader (uncredited)
Aurora Borealis
Tsuneiro Kamisaka
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
1968
Gamblers and Racketeers
1964
Wild Cop 2
1973
Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave
J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)
Nezumi Kozō kaitō den
1984
The Tale of Saikaido
1983
The Ando Gang Documentary Film
1973
Hell's Kitchen
1962
Kukai
1984
You're My Destiny
1987
A Flame at the Pier
1962
The Political Game
1989
The Bad Boss
1968
Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
1967
King of Pornography
1971
Female Slave Ship
1960
New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm
1972
Lady Vengeance and the 47 Ronin
1983
Kizu-darake no futeki-sha
1963
The Sound of the Waves
1985
Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko
1956
Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn
Lord Tsushima Yagyu
Destroyer Yukikaze
1964
Tale of Ninja Duty
Mumyo Tsunataro
Futari dake no toride
1963
August Without Emperor
Army General Mikami
Vendetta of Obligation
1985
Kingorō no kaigun taishô
1959
The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal
1959
Organized Violence II
Police Inspector Kitagawa
The Code of Man
1968
The Ghost of Kasane
Jinjûrô Ômura
Ano hito wa ima
1963
長七郎江戸日記スペシャル 長七郎 大奥まかり通る
1989
Underworld Code
1965
Shura Group
2002
Female Neo-Ninjas
Time Patrol leader
Devil Princess’ Beauty Competition
1956
The Yellow Climate
1961
The Private Police
1969
Shura Group Part 2
2002
High-Ranking Yakuza
1965
Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo
1967
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!
Ryo Okamoto
A Wicked Woman
Ihei Ôsawa
Screwed
Landlord
Mist and Shadows
Yusuke Komiya
Kōgen ni ressha ga hashitta
1984
Umineko ga tonde
1962
Gambler's Farewell
Tetsuji Kasai
Greed in Broad Daylight
Miyahara
The Armed Organization
1971
Eleven Gangsters
1963
April Fish
Panapora Chief Handa
日本敗れず
1954
Mysterious Dwarf
1955
South Pacific Waves Are High
1962
Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny
Kagemetsuke
Operation Diamond
Kazuo Kasami
Tange Sazen
1963
Homicide
Lieutenant Aikawa
Murderer!
Nīto Kouken
The Challenge
Takayama
Red Flowers of Hell
1961
L・O・V・I・N・G
1983
Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole
1994
Penitentiary Brothers
1969
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
1970
Tokyo Untouchable: Escape
Goro Kawamoto
修羅のみち
2001
Storming Osaka Castle: The Sanada Ten Braves
Mondonoshô Hirano
Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced
1954
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
Soshun Kochiyama
The Gambling Samurai
Fumizo Mitsuki
Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special
1988
Hibari's Triple Role: The Dazzling Transformation of Yukinojo
1957
Hawk of the Harbour
1967
The Human Revolution
1973
Ino Tadataka: Meridian Dreams
2001
Zankokuna tsuki
1962
The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun
1982
Ninja Killers
1964
Game of Chance 3
1967
Shadow Hunters
1972
Thirst for Love
Kosuke Aso
The School Deviate Waru
1973
The Thousand Year Fire
2004
The Ceiling at Utsunomiya
Kurozumi Tenzen
剣聖 暁の三十六番斬り
1957
Flickering Flames
1977
Company Buggers
1975
Drive for the Future
Akiji Nishikawa
Taira no Kiyomori
1992
Twilight Saloon
Morimoto
Queen of Asia
1957
An Outlaw
1964
The Gambler's Counterattack
Chief Inspector
Standing Towards the Great Forest
1961
Structure of Hate
1961
Troops of Darkness
1971
Monument to Holy Service
1978
源氏九郎颯爽記 秘剣揚羽の蝶
1991
Kill the Killer!
Narumi
Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3
1962
Continental Drifter
1966
機動捜査班
1961
Tokyo Untouchables
1964
Portrait of Chieko
Kotaro Takamura
やくざ番外地 抹殺
1969
Postwar Secrets
Kuroki
Escape Man
1967
Organized Violence
1967
Once and For All
1967
The Alaska Story
Arashuk
Hibari's Triple Role: The Transformation of Yukinojo — Part II
1957
Demon Pond
2005
Organized Crime: Killer's Glory
1972
Ronin on a Mission
Ōishi Kuranosuke
Zero sen no jorō gun
1960
The Prosecutor and His Sister
1956
Element of Surprise
1963
TV Shows (26)
Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen
5 eps
G-Men '75
黒木警視 · 354 eps
HOTEL
Ohara Tetsutaro · 85 eps
Key Hunter
黒木鉄也 · 262 eps
Inochi
Takahara Masamichi · 50 eps
Hashiran ka!
前田米吉 · 151 eps
Marco Polo
Vasaio · 2 eps
Yoshitsune
Minamoto no Yorimasa (Gen-ji) · 49 eps
Toshiie and Matsu
Tarozaemon Iguchi · 51 eps
Masked Blade
118 eps
The Tale of Genji
2 eps
Matsudaira Ukon Jikencho
73 eps
Ōgon no Hibi
Imai Sōkyū · 51 eps
Gokenin Zankuro
8 eps
新幹線物語'93夏
黒木哲也 · 12 eps
The Ginger Tree
Hirushi Tsushima · 1 eps
Sanada Taiheiki
Sanada Masayuki · 45 eps
Life of St. Blue Eyes
Takeyoshi Takagi · 1 eps
水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵
平田無二斎 · 45 eps
Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches
Naruse Hayatonosho · 13 eps
The Brave Man Says Little
4 eps
Byakkotai
Jinbo Kuranosuke · 2 eps
The Veteran Trio
Inui Sanshiro · 9 eps
Tabaruzaka
Ôyama Tunayoshi · 2 eps
Hanshichi Torimonochō
2 eps
The Great White Tower
Professor Ukai · 2 eps
Directing (2)
Writing (5)
The Sand Boat
Screenplay
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
Story
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
Screenplay
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!
Screenplay
Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole
Screenplay