Actor · Acting

Tetsuro Tamba

Born 1922-07-17

Died 2006-09-24

📍 Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan

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.

Filmography 329

Teruo Ishii Fan Club

as Minamoto no Yorimasa (Gen-ji)

The Thousand Year Fire

Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio

as Michitane Tendou

Shura Group Part 2

The Twilight Samurai

as Tozaemon Iguchi

Deadly Outlaw: Rekka

The Cat Returns

as Cat King (voice)

Graveyard of Honor

as Tetsuji Tokura

The Happiness of the Katakuris

as Granpa Jinpei Katakuri

Toshiie and Matsu

as Tarozaemon Iguchi

Ino Tadataka: Meridian Dreams

The Making Of The Katakuris

修羅のみち

Blind Beast vs Killer Dwarf

Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons

A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen

as Tetsuo Hatake

The Stupid Teacher

as Utaemon Baba

The Veteran Trio

as Inui Sanshiro

Jubaku: Spellbound

as Tajiro Kawakami

Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle

as Tamba (voice)

as 前田米吉

Gokenin Zankuro

Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole

Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown

新幹線物語'93夏

as 黒木哲也

Emperor of Upheaval

The Supernormal II

Hanshichi Torimonochō

Taira no Kiyomori

The Tale of Genji

The Great Shogunate Battle

源氏九郎颯爽記　秘剣揚羽の蝶

Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky

as Master Zhang

The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses

Female Neo-Ninjas

as Time Patrol leader

as Denkichi Tsuzaki

Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen

1750 Days of Turbulence

Be-In Bully High School

as Ryotaro Sakurazawa

Aurora Borealis

as Tsuneiro Kamisaka

Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!

as Ohara Tetsutaro

The Ginger Tree

as Hirushi Tsushima

Tokyo: The Last War

as Kanaami Kohou

Tokyo: The Last War

as Kan'ami Kouou

Four Days of Snow and Blood

as Jinzaburi Shinzaki

The Political Game

Yakuza Ladies 3

as 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

as Hotta Masamori

Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die

as 吉野博士

Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special

A Taxing Woman's Return

as Ôyama Tunayoshi

There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl

Twilight of the Cockroaches

as Grandpa (voice)

You're My Destiny

Ronin on a Mission

as Ōishi Kuranosuke

Shinran: Path to Purity

as Isaburo Tamura

as Jinbo Kuranosuke

The White Tiger Battalion

as Panapora Chief Handa

as Takahara Masamichi

Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches

as Naruse Hayatonosho

Vendetta of Obligation

The Last True Yakuza

as Kazumasa Tashiro

The Sound of the Waves

Sanada Taiheiki

as Sanada Masayuki

Love: Starting on a Journey

Nezumi Kozō kaitō den

The Story of a Man Among Men

Life of St. Blue Eyes

as Takeyoshi Takagi

Kōgen ni ressha ga hashitta

Fireflies in the North

as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

水曜ドラマ宮本武蔵

as 平田無二斎

Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy

as Yagyu Munefuyu

L・O・V・I・N・G

A Madcap Corporation

as Yoshiteru Suma (Suma-gumi Boss)

Lady Vengeance and the 47 Ronin

The Tale of Saikaido

as Kochi Notable

The Duel in the Forbidden Territory

The Brave Man Says Little

To Trap a Kidnapper

as Kanetaka Okamura

The Imperial Japanese Empire

The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun

Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather

as Uichi Suda, The Big Boss

Matsudaira Ukon Jikencho

Call from Darkness

as Gozaburo Saito

The Imperial Navy

as Jisaburo Ozawa

The Bushido Blade

Samurai Reincarnation

Flames of Blood

The Last Days of Planet Earth

as Dr. Nishiyama

as Tozawa Hakuunsai

Drive for the Future

as Akiji Nishikawa

as Gentaro Kodama

Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga

as Tatsuo Akashi

The Way to The Gold Medals

as President Sakakibara

The Shogun Assassins

as Kato Kiyomasa

Hunter in the Dark

as Okitsugu Tanuma

The Fall of Ako Castle

as General Wada

Monument to Holy Service

August Without Emperor

as Army General Mikami

Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron

as Lawyer Kikuchi

Message from Space

as Ernest Noguchi

Shogun's Samurai

as Ogasawara Gensinsai

as Imai Sōkyū

Sugata Sanshiro

High Seas Hijack

as Captain Munekata

as Colonel Kojima

Flickering Flames

The Alaska Story

as Nīto Kouken

as Captain Saito

The Corporation

Seven Nights in Japan

as Terrorist Leader (uncredited)

The Classroom of Terror

Human Revolution II

Operation Plazma in Osaka

The International Gang of Kobe

Company Buggers

as Captain Munekata

The Bullet Train

as Prime Minister Yamato

as 黒木警視

All Men Are Brothers

A Picture of Madame Yuki

The Executioner II: Karate Inferno

as Kimitake Shugi / Moroki

The Castle of Sand

as Detective Eitaro Imanishi

Karafuto 1945 Summer

Prophecies of Nostradamus

as Dr. Nishiyama

Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs

Violent Streets

as Shimamura Kansai

Submersion of Japan

as Prime Minister Yamamoto

The Ando Gang Documentary Film

Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War

as Tatsuo Akashi

The Human Revolution

Japan's Top Gangster

as Noboru Yamaguchi

The School Deviate Waru

Quarreling with Yakuza

Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight

Battles Without Honor and Humanity

Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny

Yakuza Skirmishes

New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm

Shōwa Gokudōshi

Organized Crime: Killer's Glory

The Water Margin

as Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I

Under the Flag of the Rising Sun

as Sergeant Katsuo Togashi

as Cristóvão Ferreira

The Armed Organization

Troops of Darkness

as Genryu Asakura

The Gambler's Counterattack

as Chief Inspector

The Battle of Okinawa

as Lieutenant General Isamu Cho

King of Pornography

Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny

Postwar Secrets

Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!

The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan

as Soshun Kochiyama

Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive

Rise and Fall of Chivalry

やくざ番外地　抹殺

Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers

Thirteen Times a Loser

as Shinji Kaizuka

Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room

The Private Police

Penitentiary Brothers

as Rokugo Tatewaki

Snake Woman's Curse

The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze

Diamonds of the Andes

as 黒木鉄也

Blackmail Is My Life

The Code of Man

Army Intelligence

as Lieutenant Colonel Akiyama

Gambler's Farewell

as Tetsuji Kasai

The Return of the Filthy Seven

Game of Chance 3

King of the Gang

Hawk of the Harbour

Organized Violence II

as Police Inspector Kitagawa

Portrait of Chieko

as Kotaro Takamura

You Only Live Twice

as Tiger Tanaka

Once and For All

Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo

Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido

Dissolution Rites

Organized Violence

Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave

as J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)

Continental Drifter

as Shintani Kosaku

Greatest Boss of the Showa Era

Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn

as Lord Tsushima Yagyu

Thirst for Love

High-Ranking Yakuza

Blood of Revenge

as Yutaro Nomura

The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry

as Sakon Takatani

Ankoku gai jingi

Abashiri Prison

Tokyo Untouchable

as Goro Kawamoto

Tale of Ninja Duty

as Mumyo Tsunataro

as Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")

Gamblers and Racketeers

Samurai from Somewhere

as Masagi Shohei

The Shogun's Vault

as Hachiro Kiyokawa

as Lieutenant Aikawa

Three Outlaw Samurai

Tokyo Untouchables

Destroyer Yukikaze

The Kingdom of Jirocho 3

Jakoman and Tetsu

Samurai from Nowhere

as Gunjuro Ohba

Tokyo Gang vs. Hong Kong Gang

as Doi Ōkō Toshi

Gang Loyalty and Vengeance

Element of Surprise

Futari dake no toride

Ano hito wa ima

Tokyo Untouchable: Escape

as Goro Kawamoto

Kizu-darake no futeki-sha

Gang vs. G-Men: Safe Breakers

Eleven Gangsters

Uragirimono wa jigoku daze

Operation Diamond

as Kazuo Kasami

Umineko ga tonde

A Flame at the Pier

as Hikokuro Omodaka

as Masao Igarashi

Zankokuna tsuki

G-Men in the Pacific

Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3

South Pacific Waves Are High

Structure of Hate

Greed in Broad Daylight

Bridge to the Sun

Standing Towards the Great Forest

The Yellow Climate

Mist and Shadows

as Yusuke Komiya

Kill the Killer!

Red Flowers of Hell

機動捜査班

Pigs and Battleships

as Slasher Tetsuji

Daredevil in the Castle

as Sadamasa Ishikawa

Showdown on Pier No.3

The Gambling Samurai

as Fumizo Mitsuki

Zero sen no jorō gun

Female Slave Ship

Kingorō no kaigun taishô

The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal

Bloody History of Soldiers

as Shumei Okawa

Quick on the Trigger

Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War

as Keisuke Otori

Hibari no san'yaku: Zoku Kei tsuya yuki no jôhenge

Hibari no san'yaku: Kei tsuya yuki no jôhenge

The Ghost of Kasane

as Jinjûrô Ômura

剣聖　暁の三十六番斬り

Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War

as Rear Admiral Shimamura

Storming Osaka Castle: The Sanada Ten Braves

as Mondonoshô Hirano

Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed

as Aboshi Samajirô

Devil Princess’ Beauty Competition

The Ceiling at Utsunomiya

as Kurozumi Tenzen

Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets

The Prosecutor and His Sister

Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko

Twilight Saloon

Mysterious Dwarf

The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes

日本敗れず

Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced

as Captain Koda