Tetsuro Tamba
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.
Movies (304)
Teruo Ishii Fan Club
2006
Demon Pond
2005
The Thousand Year Fire
2004
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
2004
Gozu
2003
Yakuza Demon
2003
T.R.Y.
2003
Shura Group Part 2
2002
The Twilight Samurai
2002
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
2002
The Cat Returns
2002
Graveyard of Honor
2002
The Happiness of the Katakuris
2002
Shura Group
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
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
2000
The Stupid Teacher
2000
Japanese Hell
1999
Jubaku: Spellbound
1999
Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle
1999
Screwed
1998
The Peking Man
1997
Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole
1994
Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown
1994
Emperor of Upheaval
1993
The Supernormal II
1993
Taira no Kiyomori
1992
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
The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses
1991
Kim's War
1991
Female Neo-Ninjas
1991
Heat Wave
1991
1750 Days of Turbulence
1990
Be-In Bully High School
1990
Aurora Borealis
1990
13 Assassins
1990
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!
1990
Tokyo: The Last War
1989
Tokyo: The Last War
1989
Four Days of Snow and Blood
1989
The Political Game
1989
Yakuza Ladies 3
1989
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
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
1989
Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special
1988
Tokyo Pop
1988
A Taxing Woman's Return
1988
There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl
1987
Twilight of the Cockroaches
1987
You're My Destiny
1987
Ronin on a Mission
1987
Shinran: Path to Purity
1987
Night Train
1987
Tokyo Blackout
1987
The White Tiger Battalion
1986
April Fish
1986
Cabaret
1986
Vendetta of Obligation
1985
The Last True Yakuza
1985
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
Zero
1984
Heaven Station
1984
Kukai
1984
Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy
1984
L・O・V・I・N・G
1983
A Madcap Corporation
1983
Lady Vengeance and the 47 Ronin
1983
The Tale of Saikaido
1983
The Geisha
1983
The Duel in the Forbidden Territory
1983
Battle Anthem
1983
To Trap a Kidnapper
1982
Suspicion
1982
The Imperial Japanese Empire
1982
The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun
1982
Call from Darkness
1981
The Wild Daisy
1981
The Imperial Navy
1981
The Bushido Blade
1981
Samurai Reincarnation
1981
Flames of Blood
1981
The Last Days of Planet Earth
1981
Shogun's Ninja
1980
Drive for the Future
1980
Port Arthur
1980
The Sand Boat
1980
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
1980
The Way to The Gold Medals
1980
The Shogun Assassins
1979
Dead Angle
1979
Hunter in the Dark
1979
Nichiren
1979
The Fall of Ako Castle
1978
Never Give Up
1978
Monument to Holy Service
1978
August Without Emperor
1978
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
1978
The Incident
1978
Message from Space
1978
Shogun's Samurai
1978
Sugata Sanshiro
1977
High Seas Hijack
1977
Mount Hakkoda
1977
Flickering Flames
1977
The Alaska Story
1977
Murderer!
1976
Zero Fighter
1976
The Corporation
1976
Seven Nights in Japan
1976
The Classroom of Terror
1976
Human Revolution II
1976
Operation Plazma in Osaka
1976
The International Gang of Kobe
1975
Company Buggers
1975
Conflagration
1975
The Bullet Train
1975
Tidal Wave
1975
All Men Are Brothers
1975
A Picture of Madame Yuki
1975
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
1974
The Castle of Sand
1974
Karafuto 1945 Summer
1974
Prophecies of Nostradamus
1974
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
1974
Violent Streets
1974
Submersion of Japan
1973
The Ando Gang Documentary Film
1973
Wild Cop 2
1973
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War
1973
The Human Revolution
1973
Japan's Top Gangster
1973
The School Deviate Waru
1973
Quarreling with Yakuza
1973
Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight
1973
Battles Without Honor and Humanity
1973
Informal Dress
1972
Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny
1972
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
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun
1972
Silence
1971
The Armed Organization
1971
Troops of Darkness
1971
The Wolves
1971
The Gambler's Counterattack
1971
The Battle of Okinawa
1971
King of Pornography
1971
Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny
1970
Postwar Secrets
1970
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
1970
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
1970
Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive
1970
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
Thirteen Times a Loser
1969
Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room
1969
Lone Rebel
1969
The Private Police
1969
Penitentiary Brothers
1969
Sky Scraper!
1969
Goyokin
1969
Black Lizard
1968
Snake Woman's Curse
1968
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
Gambler's Farewell
1968
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
Portrait of Chieko
1967
You Only Live Twice
1967
Once and For All
1967
Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo
1967
Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
1967
Dissolution Rites
1967
Organized Violence
1967
Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave
1966
Continental Drifter
1966
The Kii River
1966
Greatest Boss of the Showa Era
1966
Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn
1966
Thirst for Love
1966
High-Ranking Yakuza
1965
Blood of Revenge
1965
Blood and Law
1965
The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry
1965
Samurai Spy
1965
The Gambler
1965
Ankoku gai jingi
1965
Abashiri Prison
1965
Tokyo Untouchable
1965
Tale of Ninja Duty
1965
Kwaidan
1965
Gamblers and Racketeers
1964
Samurai from Somewhere
1964
Detective
1964
Revenge
1964
Giant Rumble
1964
The 7th Dawn
1964
The Shogun's Vault
1964
Assassination
1964
Homicide
1964
Three Outlaw Samurai
1964
Tokyo Untouchables
1964
An Outlaw
1964
Destroyer Yukikaze
1964
The Kingdom of Jirocho 3
1964
Jakoman and Tetsu
1964
Samurai from Nowhere
1964
Tokyo Gang vs. Hong Kong Gang
1964
13 Assassins
1963
Tange Sazen
1963
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
1963
Element of Surprise
1963
Futari dake no toride
1963
Ano hito wa ima
1963
Tokyo Untouchable: Escape
1963
Kizu-darake no futeki-sha
1963
Gang vs. G-Men: Safe Breakers
1963
Eleven Gangsters
1963
Uragirimono wa jigoku daze
1962
Operation Diamond
1962
Umineko ga tonde
1962
Gang vs. G-Men
1962
Hell's Kitchen
1962
A Flame at the Pier
1962
Harakiri
1962
Gang vs. Gang
1962
Four Sisters
1962
Zankokuna tsuki
1962
G-Men in the Pacific
1962
The Challenge
1962
All Rascals
1962
Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3
1962
South Pacific Waves Are High
1962
Structure of Hate
1961
Greed in Broad Daylight
1961
Bridge to the Sun
1961
Standing Towards the Great Forest
1961
The Yellow Climate
1961
Mist and Shadows
1961
Kill the Killer!
1961
Red Flowers of Hell
1961
機動捜査班
1961
Pigs and Battleships
1961
Daredevil in the Castle
1961
Get 'em All
1960
Showdown on Pier No.3
1960
The Gambling Samurai
1960
Zero sen no jorō gun
1960
Female Slave Ship
1960
Kingorō no kaigun taishô
1959
The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal
1959
Bloody History of Soldiers
1958
Quick on the Trigger
1958
Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War
1958
A Wicked Woman
1958
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
剣聖 暁の三十六番斬り
1957
Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War
1957
Storming Osaka Castle: The Sanada Ten Braves
1957
Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed
1957
Devil Princess’ Beauty Competition
1956
The Ceiling at Utsunomiya
1956
Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets
1956
The Prosecutor and His Sister
1956
Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko
1956
花眞珠
1955
Twilight Saloon
1955
Mysterious Dwarf
1955
The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes
1955
日本敗れず
1954
Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced
1954
Hanran
1954
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
TV Shows (25)
Yoshitsune
2005
Toshiie and Matsu
2002
The Veteran Trio
1999
Hashiran ka!
1995
Gokenin Zankuro
1995
新幹線物語'93夏
1993
Hanshichi Torimonochō
1992
The Tale of Genji
1991
Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen
1990
HOTEL
1990
The Ginger Tree
1989
Tabaruzaka
1987
Byakkotai
1986
Inochi
1986
Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches
1986
Sanada Taiheiki
1985
Life of St. Blue Eyes
1984
水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵
1984
Masked Blade
1983
The Brave Man Says Little
1983
Marco Polo
1982
Matsudaira Ukon Jikencho
1982
Ōgon no Hibi
1978
G-Men '75
1975
Key Hunter
1968