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.
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Movies (327)
Teruo Ishii Fan Club
2006
Demon Pond
2005
The Thousand Year Fire
2004
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
2004
Gozu
2003
Yakuza Demon
2003 · Michitane Tendou
A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Taxi Stand
2003
T.R.Y.
2003
Shura Group Part 2
2002
The Twilight Samurai
2002 · Tozaemon Iguchi
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
2002 · Sanada
Free and Easy 13
2002
The Cat Returns
2002 · Cat King (voice)
Graveyard of Honor
2002 · Tetsuji Tokura
The Happiness of the Katakuris
2002 · Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
Shura Group
2002
Shura Group Part 1
2002
Ino Tadataka: Meridian Dreams
2001
The Making Of The Katakuris
2001
修羅のみち
2001
Blind Beast vs Killer Dwarf
2001
Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons
2000 · Old Master
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
2000 · Tetsuo Hatake
The Stupid Teacher
2000 · Utaemon Baba
Japanese Hell
1999 · Asu Shino
Jubaku: Spellbound
1999 · Tajiro Kawakami
Crayon Shinchan the Movie: Burst! Hot Spring Battle
1999 · Tamba (voice)
Screwed
1998 · Landlord
The Peking Man
1997 · Osone
Fujisawa Shuhei's Sparkling Sword: Puppeteer in the Shadows
1997
Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole
1994 · Screenplay, Director
Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown
1994
Emperor of Upheaval
1993
The Supernormal II
1993
Taira no Kiyomori
1992
Minamoto Yoshitsune
1991
The Great Shogunate Battle
1991
Yakuza Warfare
1991
源氏九郎颯爽記 秘剣揚羽の蝶
1991
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
1991 · Master Zhang
The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses
1991
Kim's War
1991
Female Neo-Ninjas
1991 · Time Patrol leader
Heat Wave
1991 · Denkichi Tsuzaki
1750 Days of Turbulence
1990
Be-In Bully High School
1990 · Ryotaro Sakurazawa
Under Aurora
1990 · Tsuneiro Kamisaka
13 Assassins
1990
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!
1990 · Ryo Okamoto, Executive Producer, Screenplay
Tokyo: The Last War
1989 · Kanaami Kohou, Kan'ami Kouou
Four Days of Snow and Blood
1989 · Jinzaburi Shinzaki
The Political Game
1989
Yakuza Ladies 3
1989 · Takeo Sakanishi
長七郎江戸日記スペシャル 長七郎 大奥まかり通る
1989
Shogun's Shadow
1989 · Hotta Masamori
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
1989 · 吉野博士, General Manager, Story, Screenplay
Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special
1988
Tokyo Pop
1988 · Mr. Dota
A Taxing Woman's Return
1988 · Sadohara
Tetsuro Tamba's Spirit World
1988 · Director
There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl
1987
Twilight of the Cockroaches
1987 · Grandpa (voice)
You're My Destiny
1987
Ronin on a Mission
1987 · Ōishi Kuranosuke
Shinran: Path to Purity
1987
Night Train
1987 · Isaburo Tamura
Tokyo Blackout
1987 · Nakata
Be Free!
1986 · Keizo Hasegawa
April Fish
1986 · Panapora Chief Handa
Cabaret
1986 · Yakuza boss
Vendetta of Obligation
1985
The Last True Yakuza
1985 · Kazumasa Tashiro
The Sound of the Waves
1985
Love: Starting on a Journey
1985
Nezumi Kozō kaitō den
1984
The Story of a Man Among Men
1984
Kōgen ni ressha ga hashitta
1984
Fireflies in the North
1984 · Ishikura
Zero
1984 · Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Heaven Station
1984
Kukai
1984
Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy
1984 · Yagyu Munefuyu
L・O・V・I・N・G
1983
A Madcap Corporation
1983 · Yoshiteru Suma (Suma-gumi Boss)
Lady Vengeance and the 47 Ronin
1983
The Tale of Saikaido
1983
The Geisha
1983 · Kochi Notable
The Duel in the Forbidden Territory
1983
Battle Anthem
1983 · Yamamoto
Samon’s Hell Revenge: Unauthorised Jutte Records 2 - The Assassination of the Shogun
1983
To Trap a Kidnapper
1982
Suspicion
1982 · Kanetaka Okamura
The Imperial Japanese Empire
1982 · Hideki Tojo
The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun
1982
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
1982 · Uichi Suda, The Big Boss
Call from Darkness
1981 · Sugibayashi
I Saw a Monster Fish
1981 · ryuji
The Wild Daisy
1981 · Gozaburo Saito
The Imperial Navy
1981 · Jisaburo Ozawa
The Bushido Blade
1981 · Lord Yamato
Samurai Reincarnation
1981 · Muramasa
Flames of Blood
1981
The Last Days of Planet Earth
1981 · Dr. Nishiyama
Shogun's Ninja
1980 · Tozawa Hakuunsai
Drive for the Future
1980 · Akiji Nishikawa
Port Arthur
1980 · Gentaro Kodama
The Sand Boat
1980 · Screenplay, Executive Producer, Director
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
1980 · Tatsuo Akashi
The Way to The Gold Medals
1980 · President Sakakibara
The Shogun Assassins
1979 · Kato Kiyomasa
Dead Angle
1979
Hunter in the Dark
1979 · Okitsugu Tanuma
Nichiren
1979
The Fall of Ako Castle
1978 · Yanagisawa
Never Give Up
1978 · General Wada
Monument to Holy Service
1978
August Without Emperor
1978 · Army General Mikami
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
1978 · Kichibei
The Incident
1978 · Lawyer Kikuchi
Message from Space
1978 · Ernest Noguchi
Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy
1978 · Ogasawara Gensinsai
Sugata Sanshiro
1977 · Iinuma
High Seas Hijack
1977 · Captain Munekata
Mount Hakkoda
1977 · Colonel Kojima
Flickering Flames
1977
The Alaska Story
1977 · Arashuk
Murderer!
1976 · Nīto Kouken
Zero Pilot
1976 · Captain Saito
The Corporation
1976 · Kawamata
Seven Nights in Japan
1976 · Terrorist Leader (uncredited)
The Classroom of Terror
1976
Human Revolution II
1976
Operation Plazma in Osaka
1976
Between Women and Wives
1976
The International Gang of Kobe
1975 · Rinsei
Company Buggers
1975
Conflagration
1975 · Captain Munekata
The Bullet Train
1975 · Sunaga
Tidal Wave
1975 · Prime Minister Yamato
All Men Are Brothers
1975 · Lu Chun I
A Picture of Madame Yuki
1975
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
1974 · Kimitake Shugi / Moroki
The Castle of Sand
1974 · Detective Eitaro Imanishi
Karafuto 1945 Summer
1974
Prophecies of Nostradamus
1974 · Dr. Nishiyama
Secret Prophecies of Nostradamus
1974 · Himself
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
1974 · Nagumo
Violent Streets
1974 · Shimamura
Submersion of Japan
1973 · Prime Minister Yamamoto
The Ando Gang Documentary Film
1973
Wild Cop 2
1973
Big Bad Wolf
1973
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War
1973 · Tatsuo Akashi
The Human Revolution
1973 · Josei Toda
Japan's Top Gangster
1973 · Noboru Yamaguchi
The School Deviate Waru
1973
Quarreling with Yakuza
1973
Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight
1973 · Shino
Battles Without Honor and Humanity
1973
Informal Dress
1972
Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny
1972 · Kagemetsuke
Yakuza Skirmishes
1972
New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm
1972
Shōwa Gokudōshi
1972
Shadow Hunters
1972
Organized Crime: Killer's Glory
1972
The Water Margin
1972 · Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun
1972 · Sergeant Katsuo Togashi
Silence
1971 · Cristóvão Ferreira
The Armed Organization
1971
Troops of Darkness
1971
The Wolves
1971 · Genryu Asakura
The Gambler's Counterattack
1971 · Chief Inspector
The Battle of Okinawa
1971 · Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
King of Pornography
1971
Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny
1970
Postwar Secrets
1970 · Kuroki
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
1970
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
1970 · Soshun Kochiyama
Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive
1970 · Hyoe
Rise and Fall of Chivalry
1970
やくざ番外地 抹殺
1969
Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers
1969
The 5-Man Army
1969 · Samurai
Thirteen Times a Loser
1969 · Shinji Kaizuka
Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room
1969
Lone Rebel
1969
The Private Police
1969
Penitentiary Brothers
1969
Sky Scraper!
1969
Goyokin
1969 · Rokugo Tatewaki
Hot Vacation
1968
Black Lizard
1968 · Kuroki
Snake Woman's Curse
1968 · Commander
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
1968
The Bad Boss
1968
Diamonds of the Andes
1968
Blackmail Is My Life
1968
The Code of Man
1968
Army Intelligence
1968 · Lieutenant Colonel Akiyama
Gambler's Farewell
1968 · Tetsuji Kasai
The Return of the Filthy Seven
1967
Game of Chance 3
1967
Escape Man
1967
King of the Gang
1967
Hawk of the Harbour
1967
Organized Violence II
1967 · Police Inspector Kitagawa
Portrait of Chieko
1967 · Kotaro Takamura
You Only Live Twice
1967 · Tiger Tanaka
Once and For All
1967
Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo
1967
Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
1967
Dissolution Rites
1967 · Sakai
Organized Violence
1967
Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave
1966 · J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)
Continental Drifter
1966
The Kii River
1966 · Shintani Kosaku
Greatest Boss of the Showa Era
1966
Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn
1966 · Lord Tsushima Yagyu
Thirst for Love
1966 · Kosuke Aso
High-Ranking Yakuza
1965
Blood of Revenge
1965 · Yutaro Nomura
Blood and Law
1965
The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry
1965
Samurai Spy
1965 · Sakon Takatani
The Gambler
1965
Underworld Code
1965
Abashiri Prison
1965 · Tsumaki
Tokyo Untouchable
1965 · Goro Kawamoto
Tale of Ninja Duty
1965 · Mumyo Tsunataro
Kwaidan
1965 · Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")
Ninja Killers
1964
Gamblers and Racketeers
1964
Samurai from Somewhere
1964 · Masagi Shohei
Detective
1964
Revenge
1964 · Shume Okuno
Giant Rumble
1964
The 7th Dawn
1964 · Ng
The Shogun's Vault
1964
Assassination
1964 · Hachiro Kiyokawa
Homicide
1964 · Lieutenant Aikawa
Three Outlaw Samurai
1964 · Sakon Shiba, Producer
Tokyo Untouchables
1964
An Outlaw
1964
Destroyer Yukikaze
1964
The Kingdom of Jirocho 3
1964
Jakoman and Tetsu
1964 · Jakoman
Samurai from Nowhere
1964 · Gunjuro Ohba
Tokyo Gang vs. Hong Kong Gang
1964
13 Assassins
1963 · Doi Ōkō Toshi
Tange Sazen
1963
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
1963 · Gu Shimizu
Element of Surprise
1963
Futari dake no toride
1963
Ano hito wa ima
1963
Tokyo Untouchable: Escape
1963 · Goro Kawamoto
Kizu-darake no futeki-sha
1963
Gang vs. G-Men: Safe Breakers
1963 · 手塚徹
Eleven Gangsters
1963
Uragirimono wa jigoku daze
1962
Operation Diamond
1962 · Kazuo Kasami
Umineko ga tonde
1962
Gang vs. G-Men
1962 · Toru Tezuka
Hell's Kitchen
1962
A Flame at the Pier
1962
Harakiri
1962 · Hikokuro Omodaka
Gang vs. Gang
1962
Four Sisters
1962 · Masao Igarashi
Zankokuna tsuki
1962
G-Men in the Pacific
1962 · Mizuhara
The Challenge
1962 · Takayama
All Rascals
1962
Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3
1962
Black and Red Flower Petals
1962
South Pacific Waves Are High
1962
Structure of Hate
1961
Greed in Broad Daylight
1961 · Miyahara
Bridge to the Sun
1961 · Jiro
Standing Towards the Great Forest
1961
The Yellow Climate
1961
Mist and Shadows
1961 · Yusuke Komiya
Kill the Killer!
1961 · Narumi
Red Flowers of Hell
1961
機動捜査班
1961
Kaachan
1961
Pigs and Battleships
1961 · Slasher Tetsuji
Daredevil in the Castle
1961 · Sadamasa Ishikawa
Get 'em All
1960 · Tanabe
Showdown on Pier No.3
1960 · Kirishima
The Gambling Samurai
1960 · Fumizo Mitsuki
Zero sen no jorō gun
1960
Female Slave Ship
1960
Kingorō no kaigun taishô
1959
No Police
1959
Nude Woman and Murder Maze
1959 · Senba
The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal
1959
Kyōen Kobanzame
1958
Bloody History of Soldiers
1958 · Shumei Okawa
Underwater Murder
1958
Quick on the Trigger
1958
Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War
1958 · Keisuke Otori
A Wicked Woman
1958 · Ihei Ôsawa
Queen of Asia
1957
Hibari's Triple Role: The Transformation of Yukinojo — Part II
1957
Hibari's Triple Role: The Dazzling Transformation of Yukinojo
1957
The Ghost of Kasane
1957 · Jinjûrô Ômura
剣聖 暁の三十六番斬り
1957
Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War
1957 · Rear Admiral Shimamura
Storming Osaka Castle: The Sanada Ten Braves
1957 · Mondonoshô Hirano
Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed
1957 · Aboshi Samajirô
Devil Princess’ Beauty Competition
1956
The Ceiling at Utsunomiya
1956 · Kurozumi Tenzen
President Rai of Kingoro
1956
Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets
1956
The Prosecutor and His Sister
1956
Kingoro's Soldier
1956
Speed King
1956
The Fencing Collegian
1956
Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko
1956
Hanamazu
1955
The Vassal's Neck
1955
Twilight Saloon
1955 · Morimoto
Mysterious Dwarf
1955
The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes
1955
日本敗れず
1954
Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced
1954
Hanran
1954 · Captain Koda
TV shows (31)
Yoshitsune
2005 · Minamoto no Yorimasa (Gen-ji)
Order Made ~Shiawase Iro no Shinshi Fuku Mise~
2004
Yumemiru Budo
2003
Toshiie and Matsu
2002 · Tarozaemon Iguchi
The Veteran Trio
1999 · Inui Sanshiro
Kaseifu wa mita!
1997
Hashiran ka!
1995 · 前田米吉
Gokenin Zankuro
1995
Coming Home
1994 · Shirota Fukuzo
新幹線物語'93夏
1993 · 黒木哲也
Hanshichi Torimonochō
1992
The Tale of Genji
1991
Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen
1990
The Great White Tower
1990 · Professor Ukai
HOTEL
1990 · Ohara Tetsutaro
The Ginger Tree
1989 · Hirushi Tsushima
Tabaruzaka
1987 · Ôyama Tunayoshi
Byakkotai
1986 · Jinbo Kuranosuke
Inochi
1986 · Takahara Masamichi
Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches
1986 · Naruse Hayatonosho
Sanada Taiheiki
1985 · Sanada Masayuki
Life of St. Blue Eyes
1984 · Takeyoshi Takagi
水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵
1984 · 平田無二斎
Masked Blade
1983
The Brave Man Says Little
1983
Marco Polo
1982 · Vasaio
Matsudaira Ukon Jikencho
1982
Ōgon no Hibi
1978 · Imai Sōkyū
G-Men '75
1975 · 黒木警視
Eyeful Daisakusen
1973
Key Hunter
1968 · 黒木鉄也