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.
Acted in
The Exotic Locations of 'You Only Live Twice'
2006
as Tiger Tanaka (archive footage)
Teruo Ishii Fan Club
2006
Demon Pond
2005
Yoshitsune
2005
as Minamoto no Yorimasa (Gen-ji)
Order Made ~Shiawase Iro no Shinshi Fuku Mise~
2004
The Thousand Year Fire
2004
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
2004
Yumemiru Budo
2003
Gozu
2003
Yakuza Demon
2003
as Michitane Tendou
A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Taxi Stand
2003
T.R.Y.
2003
Shura Group Part 2
2002
Best Ever Bond
2002
as Tiger Tanaka (archive footage) (uncredited)
Bond Girls Are Forever
2002
as Tiger Tanaka (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Twilight Samurai
2002
as Tozaemon Iguchi
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
2002
as Sanada
The Cat Returns
2002
as Cat King (voice)
Graveyard of Honor
2002
as Tetsuji Tokura
The Happiness of the Katakuris
2002
as Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
Shura Group
2002
Toshiie and Matsu
2002
as Tarozaemon Iguchi
Shura Group Part 1
2002
Ino Tadataka: Meridian dreams
2001
The Making Of The Katakuris
2001
Blind Beast vs Dwarf Killer
2001
Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons
2000
as Old Master
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
2000
as Tetsuo Hatake
The Stupid Teacher
2000
as Utaemon Baba
Japanese Hell
1999
as Asu Shino
The Veteran Trio
1999
as Inui Sanshiro
Jubaku: Spellbound
1999
as Tajiro Kawakami
Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle
1999
as Tamba (voice)
Screwed
1998
as Landlord
The Peking Man
1997
as Osone
Kaseifu wa mita!
1997
Hashiran ka!
1995
as 前田米吉
Gokenin Zankuro
1995
Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole
1994
Coming Home
1994
as Shirota Fukuzo
Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown
1994
新幹線物語'93夏
1993
as 黒木哲也
The Supernormal II
1993
Hanshichi Torimonochō
1992
Taira no Kiyomori
1992
Minamoto Yoshitsune
1991
The Tale of Genji
1991
The Great Shogunate Battle
1991
Yakuza Warfare
1991
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
1991
as Master Zhang
The Hitman Blood Smells Like Roses
1991
Kim's War
1991
Heat Wave
1991
as Denkichi Tsuzaki
Female Neo-Ninjas
1991
as Time Patrol leader
Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen
1990
1750 Days of Turbulence
1990
School Be-In Bully
1990
as Ryotaro Sakurazawa
Aurora Borealis
1990
as Tsuneiro Kamisaka
13 Assassins
1990
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!
1990
as Ryo Okamoto
HOTEL
1990
as Ohara Tetsutaro
Tokyo: The Last War
1989
Four Days of Snow and Blood
1989
as Jinzaburi Shinzaki
The Political Game
1989
Yakuza Ladies 3
1989
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
1989
Shogun's Shadow
1989
as Hotta Masamori
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
1989
as 吉野博士
Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special
1988
Tokyo Pop
1988
as Mr. Dota
A Taxing Woman's Return
1988
as Sadohara
Tabaruzaka
1987
There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl
1987
Twilight of the Cockroaches
1987
as Grandpa (voice)
You're My Destiny
1987
Ronin on a Mission
1987
as Ōishi Kuranosuke
Shinran: Path to Purity
1987
Night Train
1987
as Isaburo Tamura
Tokyo Blackout
1987
as Nakata
Byakkotai
1986
as Jinbo Kuranosuke
The White Tiger Battalion
1986
Be Free!
1986
as Keizo Hasegawa
April Fish
1986
as Panapora Chief Handa
Cabaret
1986
as Yakuza boss
Inochi
1986
as Takahara Masamichi
Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches
1986
as Naruse Hayatonosho
Vendetta of Obligation
1985
The Last True Yakuza
1985
as Kazumasa Tashiro
The Sound of the Waves
1985
Sanada Taiheiki
1985
as Sanada Masayuki
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
as Ishikura
Zero
1984
as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Kukai
1984
水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵
1984
as 平田無二斎
Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy
1984
as Yagyu Munefuyu
L・O・V・I・N・G
1983
A Madcap Corporation
1983
The Tale of Saikaido
1983
The Geisha
1983
as Kochi Notable
The Duel in the forbidden territory
1983
Samon’s Hell Revenge: Unauthorised Jutte Records 2 - The Assassination of the Shogun
1983
Battle Anthem
1983
as Yamamoto
Marco Polo
1982
as Vasaio
To Trap a Kidnapper
1982
Suspicion
1982
as Kanetaka Okamura
The Imperial Japanese Empire
1982
as Hideki Tojo
The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun
1982
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
1982
as Uichi Suda, The Big Boss
Matsudaira Ukon Jikencho
1982
Call from Darkness
1981
as Sugibayashi
The Wild Daisy
1981
as Gozaburo Saito
The Imperial Navy
1981
as Jisaburo Ozawa
The Bushido Blade
1981
as Lord Yamato
Samurai Reincarnation
1981
as Muramasa
Flames of Blood
1981
Shogun's Ninja
1980
as Tozawa Hakuunsai
Drive for the Future
1980
as Akiji Nishikawa
Port Arthur
1980
as Gentaro Kodama
The Sand Boat
1980
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
1980
as Tatsuo Akashi
The Way to The Gold Medals
1980
as President Sakakibara
The Shogun Assassins
1979
as Kato Kiyomasa
Dead Angle
1979
Hunter in the Dark
1979
as Okitsugu Tanuma
Nichiren
1979
The Fall of Ako Castle
1978
as Yanagisawa
Never Give Up
1978
as General Wada
Monument to Holy Service
1978
August without Emperor
1978
as Army General Mikami
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
1978
as Kichibei
The Incident
1978
as Lawyer Kikuchi
Message from Space
1978
as Ernest Noguchi
Shogun's Samurai
1978
as Ogasawara Gensinsai
Ōgon no Hibi
1978
as Imai Sōkyū
Sugata Sanshiro
1977
as Iinuma
High Seas Hijack
1977
as Captain Munekata
Mount Hakkoda
1977
as Colonel Kojima
Flickering Flames
1977
The Alaska Story
1977
as Arashuk
Murderer!
1976
as Nīto Kouken
Zero Fighter
1976
as Captain Saito
The Corporation
1976
Seven Nights in Japan
1976
as Terrorist Leader (uncredited)
The Classroom of Terror
1976
Human Revolution II
1976
Operation Plazma in Osaka
1976
The International Gang of Kobe
1975
as Rinsei
Company Buggers
1975
Conflagration
1975
as Captain Munekata
The Bullet Train
1975
as Sunaga
All Men Are Brothers
1975
as Lu Chun I
雪夫人繪圖
1975
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
1974
as Shugi
The Castle of Sand
1974
as Detective Eitaro Imanishi
Karafuto 1945 Summer
1974
Prophecies of Nostradamus
1974
as Dr. Nishiyama
Secret Prophecies of Nostradamus
1974
as Himself
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
1974
as Nagumo
Violent Streets
1974
as Shimamura Kansai
Submersion of Japan
1973
as Prime Minister Yamamoto
The Ando Gang Documentary Film
1973
Wild Cop 2
1973
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War
1973
as Tatsuo Akashi
The Human Revolution
1973
Japan's Top Gangster
1973
as Noboru Yamaguchi
The School Deviate Waru
1973
Quarreling with Yakuza
1973
Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight
1973
as Shino
Battles Without Honor and Humanity
1973
Informal Dress
1972
Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny
1972
as 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
as Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun
1972
as Sergeant Katsuo Togashi
Silence
1971
as Cristóvão Ferreira
The Armed Organization
1971
Troops of Darkness
1971
The Wolves
1971
as Genryu Asakura
The Gambler's Counterattack
1971
as Chief Inspector
The Battle of Okinawa
1971
as Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
King of Pornography
1971
Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny
1970
Postwar Secrets
1970
as Kuroki
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
1970
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
1970
as Soshun Kochiyama
Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive
1970
as Hyoe
Rise and Fall of Chivalry
1970
Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers
1969
The 5-Man Army
1969
as Samurai
Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room
1969
Lone Rebel
1969
The Private Police
1969
Penitentiary Brothers
1969
Sky Scraper!
1969
Goyokin
1969
as Rokugo Tatewaki
Black Lizard
1968
as Kuroki
Snake Woman's Curse
1968
as Commander
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
1968
The Bad Boss
1968
Blackmail Is My Life
1968
The Code of Man
1968
Army Intelligence
1968
as Lieutenant Colonel Akiyama
Gambler's Farewell
1968
as Tetsuji Kasai
The Return of the Filthy Seven
1967
Game of Chance 3
1967
King of the Gang
1967
Hawk of the Harbour
1967
Organized Violence II
1967
as Police Inspector Kitagawa
Portrait of Chieko
1967
as Kotaro Takamura
You Only Live Twice
1967
as Tiger Tanaka
Once and For All
1967
Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo
1967
Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
1967
Dissolution Rites
1967
as Sakai
Organized Violence
1967
Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave
1966
as J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)
Tokyo Drifters
1966
The Kii River
1966
as Shintani Kosaku
Greatest Boss of the Showa Era
1966
Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn
1966
as Lord Tsushima Yagyu
Thirst for Love
1966
as Kosuke Aso
Blood of Revenge
1965
as Yutaro Nomura
Blood and Law
1965
The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry
1965
Samurai Spy
1965
as Sakon Takatani
The Gambler
1965
Ankoku gai jingi
1965
Abashiri Prison
1965
as Tsumaki
Tale of Ninja Duty
1965
as Mumyo Tsunataro
Kwaidan
1965
as Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")
Gamblers and Racketeers
1964
Samurai from Somewhere
1964
Detective
1964
Revenge
1964
as Shume Okuno
The Great Duel
1964
The 7th Dawn
1964
as Ng
The Shogun's Vault
1964
Assassination
1964
as Hachiro Kiyokawa
Homicide
1964
as Lieutenant Aikawa
Samurai from Nowhere
1964
as Gunjuro Ohba
Three Outlaw Samurai
1964
as Sakon Shiba
An Outlaw
1964
Destroyer Yukikaze
1964
The Kingdom of Jirocho 3
1964
Jakoman and Tetsu
1964
as Jakoman
Tokyo Gang Vs. Hong Kong Gang
1964
13 Assassins
1963
as Doi Ōkō Toshi
Tange Sazen
1963
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
1963
as Gu Shimizu
Element of Surprise
1963
Futari dake no toride
1963
Tokyo Untouchable: Escape
1963
as Goro Kawamoto
Kizu-darake no futeki-sha
1963
Gang and G-Men Part 2
1963
as 手塚徹
Eleven Gangsters
1963
Uragirimono wa jigoku daze
1962
Operation Diamond
1962
as Kazuo Kasami
Umineko ga tonde
1962
Gang vs. G-Men
1962
as Toru Tezuka
Tokyo Untouchable
1962
as Goro Kawamoto
Hell's Kitchen
1962
A Flame at the Pier
1962
Harakiri
1962
as Hikokuro Omodaka
Gang vs. Gang
1962
Four Sisters
1962
as Masao Igarashi
Zankokuna tsuki
1962
G-Men in the Pacific
1962
as Mizuhara
The Challenge
1962
as Takayama
All Rascals
1962
Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3
1962
Kuro to aka no hanabira
1962
South Pacific Waves Are High
1962
Greed in Broad Daylight
1961
as Miyahara
Bridge to the Sun
1961
as Jiro
Dai shinrin ni mukatte tatsu
1961
The Yellow Climate
1961
Mist and Shadows
1961
as Yusuke Komiya
Red Flowers of Hell
1961
Kaachan
1961
Pigs and Battleships
1961
as Slasher Tetsuji
Daredevil in the Castle
1961
as Sadamasa Ishikawa
Get 'em All
1960
as Tanabe
The Gambling Samurai
1960
as Fumizo Mitsuki
Zero sen no jorō gun
1960
Female Slave Ship
1960
Kingorō no kaigun taishô
1959
Mukeisatsu
1959
Rajo to satsujin-meiro
1959
as Senba
The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal
1959
Kyōen Kobanzame
1958
Underwater Murder
1958
Quick on the Trigger
1958
Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War
1958
as Keisuke Otori
A Wicked Woman
1958
as Ihei Ôsawa
Queen of Asia
1957
Hibari no san'yaku: Zoku Kei tsuya yuki no jôhenge
1957
Hibari no san'yaku: Kei tsuya yuki no jôhenge
1957
The Ghost of Kasane
1957
as Jinjûrô Ômura
剣聖 暁の三十六番斬り
1957
Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War
1957
as Rear Admiral Shimamura
Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed
1957
as Aboshi Samajirô
鬼姫競艶録
1956
The Ceiling at Utsunomiya
1956
as Kurozumi Tenzen
金語楼の雷社長
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
花眞珠
1955
Twilight Saloon
1955
as Morimoto
Mysterious Pygmy
1955
The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes
1955
Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced
1954
Hanran
1954
as Captain Koda