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.
348 acting credits · 3 directing credits
Acting · 348
Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen
1990
Harakiri
1962
Yoshitsune
2005
The Cat Returns
2002
Marco Polo
1982
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
1991
You Only Live Twice
1967
Ōgon no Hibi
1978
HOTEL
1990
Toshiie and Matsu
2002
Key Hunter
1968
Masked Blade
1983
Hashiran ka!
1995
Inochi
1986
Gokenin Zankuro
1995
Matsudaira Ukon Jikencho
1982
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
1974
Kwaidan
1965
Life of St. Blue Eyes
1984
水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵
1984
Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle
1999
The Water Margin
1972
Fireflies in the North
1984
The Twilight Samurai
2002
The Bullet Train
1975
新幹線物語'93夏
1993
Byakkotai
1986
All Men Are Brothers
1975
The Ginger Tree
1989
Samurai Reincarnation
1981
The Imperial Navy
1981
Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches
1986
Shogun's Samurai
1978
The Fall of Ako Castle
1978
Battles Without Honor and Humanity
1973
Yumemiru Budo
2003
Hanshichi Torimonochō
1992
Sanada Taiheiki
1985
Message from Space
1978
The Castle of Sand
1974
Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight
1973
Assassination
1964
Mount Hakkoda
1977
Port Arthur
1980
Submersion of Japan
1973
August Without Emperor
1978
Three Outlaw Samurai
1964
Goyokin
1969
The Geisha
1983
Heat Wave
1991
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
2002
The Shogun Assassins
1979
Night Train
1987
The Battle of Okinawa
1971
13 Assassins
1963
Violent Streets
1974
Hunter in the Dark
1979
Coming Home
1994
Shogun's Shadow
1989
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun
1972
Shogun's Ninja
1980
Prophecies of Nostradamus
1974
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
1978
Daredevil in the Castle
1961
To Trap a Kidnapper
1982
Dead Angle
1979
Four Days of Snow and Blood
1989
Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn
1966
Pigs and Battleships
1961
You're My Destiny
1987
G-Men '75
1975
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War
1973
Tokyo Blackout
1987
The Bushido Blade
1981
The Happiness of the Katakuris
2002
Graveyard of Honor
2002
Gozu
2003
The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes
1955
Yakuza Ladies 3
1989
T.R.Y.
2003
The Veteran Trio
1999
Get 'em All
1960
Tokyo: The Last War
1989
Shadow Hunters
1972
A Taxing Woman's Return
1988
The 5-Man Army
1969
Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets
1956
Twilight of the Cockroaches
1987
Never Give Up
1978
Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons
2000
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
1968
Revenge
1964
Battle Anthem
1983
Call from Darkness
1981
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
1982
The Imperial Japanese Empire
1982
Cabaret
1986
Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War
1957
Samurai Spy
1965
The Incident
1978
The Gambler's Counterattack
1971
Black Lizard
1968
Love: Starting on a Journey
1985
Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny
1970
Samurai from Somewhere
1964
Four Sisters
1962
The Wild Daisy
1981
Blackmail Is My Life
1968
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
1980
Suspicion
1982
Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown
1994
13 Assassins
1990
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
1963
Gamblers and Racketeers
1964
Lone Rebel
1969
Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny
1972
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
1970
Twilight Saloon
1955
Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room
1969
Samurai from Nowhere
1964
An Outlaw
1964
Eleven Gangsters
1963
Company Buggers
1975
The Story of a Man Among Men
1984
Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War
1958
Demon Pond
2005
1750 Days of Turbulence
1990
Conflagration
1975
Silence
1971
The Stupid Teacher
2000
Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers
1969
Zero
1984
The Challenge
1962
The International Gang of Kobe
1975
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
1970
The Wolves
1971
Operation Plazma in Osaka
1976
There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl
1987
Hanran
1954
The Last True Yakuza
1985
The Yellow Climate
1961
Emperor of Upheaval
1993
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
1974
The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry
1965
The Fencing Collegian
1956
Kukai
1984
The Human Revolution
1973
The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses
1991
Wild Cop 2
1973
Organized Violence II
1967
Yakuza Warfare
1991
Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
1967
Structure of Hate
1961
Screwed
1998
Murderer!
1976
The Classroom of Terror
1976
The Private Police
1969
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
1989
Tange Sazen
1963
Dissolution Rites
1967
Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo
1967
Aurora Borealis
1990
The Corporation
1976
King of Pornography
1971
The Shogun's Vault
1964
Heaven Station
1984
Yakuza Demon
2003
Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3
1962
Kaachan
1961
Shura Group Part 2
2002
A Picture of Madame Yuki
1975
Game of Chance 3
1967
The Alaska Story
1977
The Tale of Saikaido
1983
A Flame at the Pier
1962
G-Men in the Pacific
1962
Ino Tadataka: Meridian Dreams
2001
The Political Game
1989
The Great Shogunate Battle
1991
Drive for the Future
1980
The Kii River
1966
A Madcap Corporation
1983
Organized Violence
1967
Jubaku: Spellbound
1999
Tabaruzaka
1987
Quarreling with Yakuza
1973
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
2000
The Ando Gang Documentary Film
1973
Abashiri Prison
1965
Kōgen ni ressha ga hashitta
1984
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
2004
Be-In Bully High School
1990
Sugata Sanshiro
1977
L・O・V・I・N・G
1983
The Gambling Samurai
1960
The Way to The Gold Medals
1980
Japan's Top Gangster
1973
Greed in Broad Daylight
1961
The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal
1959
Shura Group Part 1
2002
Army Intelligence
1968
Karafuto 1945 Summer
1974
Japanese Hell
1999
South Pacific Waves Are High
1962
The Tale of Genji
1991
Hawk of the Harbour
1967
Detective
1964
Zero Fighter
1976
Tale of Ninja Duty
1965
Flickering Flames
1977
Uragirimono wa jigoku daze
1962
Shōwa Gokudōshi
1972
Futari dake no toride
1963
Queen of Asia
1957
Troops of Darkness
1971
Blind Beast vs Killer Dwarf
2001
The 7th Dawn
1964
Snake Woman's Curse
1968
Monument to Holy Service
1978
Red Flowers of Hell
1961
Mysterious Dwarf
1955
April Fish
1986
Speed King
1956
Ronin on a Mission
1987
Lady Vengeance and the 47 Ronin
1983
The Ceiling at Utsunomiya
1956
Diamonds of the Andes
1968
Vendetta of Obligation
1985
Order Made ~Shiawase Iro no Shinshi Fuku Mise~
2004
The School Deviate Waru
1973
Homicide
1964
Tokyo Untouchables
1964
Samon’s Hell Revenge: Unauthorised Jutte Records 2 - The Assassination of the Shogun
1983
Tokyo Pop
1988
Organized Crime: Killer's Glory
1972
Bridge to the Sun
1961
The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun
1982
Tidal Wave
1975
Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special
1988
Blood of Revenge
1965
Giant Rumble
1964
Storming Osaka Castle: The Sanada Ten Braves
1957
花眞珠
1955
Tokyo Gang vs. Hong Kong Gang
1964
Nezumi Kozō kaitō den
1984
Portrait of Chieko
1967
New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm
1972
The Code of Man
1968
The Last Days of Planet Earth
1981
Devil Princess’ Beauty Competition
1956
Taira no Kiyomori
1992
The Peking Man
1997
A Wicked Woman
1958
Destroyer Yukikaze
1964
Continental Drifter
1966
The White Tiger Battalion
1986
Flames of Blood
1981
The Ghost of Kasane
1957
Mist and Shadows
1961
Be Free!
1986
Sky Scraper!
1969
Ankoku gai jingi
1965
Umineko ga tonde
1962
Nude Woman and Murder Maze
1959
Hibari's Triple Role: The Dazzling Transformation of Yukinojo
1957
The Making Of The Katakuris
2001
Standing Towards the Great Forest
1961
Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced
1954
Shura Group
2002
President Rai of Kingoro
1956
Penitentiary Brothers
1969
Hibari's Triple Role: The Transformation of Yukinojo — Part II
1957
Kim's War
1991
Kuro to aka no hanabira
1962
Element of Surprise
1963
The Duel in the Forbidden Territory
1983
Minamoto Yoshitsune
1991
Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive
1970
Jakoman and Tetsu
1964
Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed
1957
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!
1990
No Police
1959
King of the Gang
1967
やくざ番外地 抹殺
1969
日本敗れず
1954
Female Slave Ship
1960
Kingorō no kaigun taishô
1959
Gang vs. Gang
1962
Seven Nights in Japan
1976
Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko
1956
Operation Diamond
1962
High-Ranking Yakuza
1965
Postwar Secrets
1970
Zankokuna tsuki
1962
The Sound of the Waves
1985
Kill the Killer!
1961
Zero sen no jorō gun
1960
The Sand Boat
1980
Kyōen Kobanzame
1958
The Prosecutor and His Sister
1956
Escape Man
1967
Tokyo Untouchable: Escape
1963
Underwater Murder
1958
長七郎江戸日記スペシャル 長七郎 大奥まかり通る
1989
Ano hito wa ima
1963
Shinran: Path to Purity
1987
All Rascals
1962
Yakuza Skirmishes
1972
Female Neo-Ninjas
1991
Kizu-darake no futeki-sha
1963
Gambler's Farewell
1968
Thirst for Love
1966
The Thousand Year Fire
2004
Gang vs. G-Men: Safe Breakers
1963
Once and For All
1967
Gang vs. G-Men
1962
Kingoro's Soldier
1956
Nichiren
1979
The Armed Organization
1971
Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave
1966
Rise and Fall of Chivalry
1970
Greatest Boss of the Showa Era
1966
Tokyo Untouchable
1965
High Seas Hijack
1977
Kaseifu wa mita!
1997
Human Revolution II
1976
The Bad Boss
1968
The Kingdom of Jirocho 3
1964
Secret Prophecies of Nostradamus
1974
The Gambler
1965
The Supernormal II
1993
The Brave Man Says Little
1983
Teruo Ishii Fan Club
2006
The Return of the Filthy Seven
1967
Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy
1984
Blood and Law
1965
Thirteen Times a Loser
1969
Bloody History of Soldiers
1958
機動捜査班
1961
剣聖 暁の三十六番斬り
1957
Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole
1994
Hell's Kitchen
1962
源氏九郎颯爽記 秘剣揚羽の蝶
1991
A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Taxi Stand
2003
Informal Dress
1972
Showdown on Pier No.3
1960
Quick on the Trigger
1958
修羅のみち
2001