Tetsuro Tamba
Acting·July 17, 1922·† September 24, 2006 — 84 years old·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.
Known For
You Only Live Twice
1967·6.6
The Cat Returns
2002·7.1
Harakiri
1962·8.4
Kwaidan
1965·7.7
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
1991·6.9
The Twilight Samurai
2002·7.8
Gozu
2003·6.8
The Happiness of the Katakuris
2002·6.9
Battles Without Honor and Humanity
1973·7.4
Three Outlaw Samurai
1964·7.4
The Bullet Train
1975·6.9
Goyokin
1969·7.4
Filmography · 352
2006Teruo Ishii Fan Club2005Demon Pond2005YoshitsuneTVMinamoto no Yorimasa (Gen-ji)2004Order Made ~Shiawase Iro no Shinshi Fuku Mise~TV2004The Thousand Year Fire2004Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio2003Yumemiru BudoTV2003Gozu2003Yakuza DemonMichitane Tendou2003A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Taxi Stand2003T.R.Y.2002Shura Group Part 22002The Twilight SamuraiTozaemon Iguchi2002Deadly Outlaw: RekkaSanada2002The Cat ReturnsCat King (voice)2002Graveyard of HonorTetsuji Tokura2002The Happiness of the KatakurisGranpa Jinpei Katakuri2002Shura Group2002Toshiie and MatsuTVTarozaemon Iguchi2002Shura Group Part 12001Ino Tadataka: Meridian Dreams2001The Making Of The Katakuris2001修羅のみち2001Blind Beast vs Killer Dwarf2000Sakuya: The Slayer of DemonsOld Master2000A Class to Remember IV: FifteenTetsuo Hatake2000The Stupid TeacherUtaemon Baba1999Japanese HellAsu Shino1999The Veteran TrioTVInui Sanshiro1999Jubaku: SpellboundTajiro Kawakami1999Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final BattleTamba (voice)1998ScrewedLandlord1997The Peking ManOsone1997Kaseifu wa mita!TV1995Hashiran ka!TV前田米吉1995Gokenin ZankuroTV1994Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the WholeScreenplay · Director1994Coming HomeTVShirota Fukuzo1994Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown1993新幹線物語'93夏TV黒木哲也1993Emperor of Upheaval1993The Supernormal II1992Hanshichi TorimonochōTV1992Taira no Kiyomori1991Minamoto Yoshitsune1991The Tale of GenjiTV1991The Great Shogunate Battle1991Yakuza Warfare1991源氏九郎颯爽記 秘剣揚羽の蝶1991Riki-Oh: The Story of RickyMaster Zhang1991The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses1991Kim's War1991Female Neo-NinjasTime Patrol leader1991Heat WaveDenkichi Tsuzaki1990Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari TokubetsuhenTV19901750 Days of Turbulence1990Be-In Bully High SchoolRyotaro Sakurazawa1990Aurora BorealisTsuneiro Kamisaka199013 Assassins1990Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!Ryo Okamoto · Executive Producer · Screenplay1990HOTELTVOhara Tetsutaro1989The Ginger TreeTVHirushi Tsushima1989Tokyo: The Last WarKanaami Kohou · Kan'ami Kouou1989Four Days of Snow and BloodJinzaburi Shinzaki1989The Political Game1989Yakuza Ladies 3Takeo Sakanishi1989長七郎江戸日記スペシャル 長七郎 大奥まかり通る1989Shogun's ShadowHotta Masamori1989Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die吉野博士 · General Manager · Story · Screenplay1988Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special1988Tokyo PopMr. Dota1988A Taxing Woman's ReturnSadohara1988Tetsuro Tamba's Spirit WorldDirector1987TabaruzakaTVÔyama Tunayoshi1987There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl1987Twilight of the CockroachesGrandpa (voice)1987You're My Destiny1987Ronin on a MissionŌishi Kuranosuke1987Shinran: Path to Purity1987Night TrainIsaburo Tamura1987Tokyo BlackoutNakata1986ByakkotaiTVJinbo Kuranosuke1986Be Free!Keizo Hasegawa1986April FishPanapora Chief Handa1986CabaretYakuza boss1986InochiTVTakahara Masamichi1986Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 BranchesTVNaruse Hayatonosho1985Vendetta of Obligation1985The Last True YakuzaKazumasa Tashiro1985The Sound of the Waves1985Sanada TaiheikiTVSanada Masayuki1985Love: Starting on a Journey1984Nezumi Kozō kaitō den1984The Story of a Man Among Men1984Life of St. Blue EyesTVTakeyoshi Takagi1984Kōgen ni ressha ga hashitta1984Fireflies in the NorthIshikura1984ZeroAdmiral Isoroku Yamamoto1984Heaven Station1984Kukai1984水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵TV平田無二斎1984Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu ConspiracyYagyu Munefuyu1983L・O・V・I・N・G1983A Madcap CorporationYoshiteru Suma (Suma-gumi Boss)1983Lady Vengeance and the 47 Ronin1983Masked BladeTV1983The Tale of Saikaido1983The GeishaKochi Notable1983The Duel in the Forbidden Territory1983Battle AnthemYamamoto1983The Brave Man Says LittleTV1983Samon’s Hell Revenge: Unauthorised Jutte Records 2 - The Assassination of the Shogun1982Marco PoloTVVasaio1982To Trap a Kidnapper1982SuspicionKanetaka Okamura1982The Imperial Japanese EmpireHideki Tojo1982The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun1982Onimasa: A Japanese GodfatherUichi Suda, The Big Boss1982Matsudaira Ukon JikenchoTV1981Call from DarknessSugibayashi1981The Wild DaisyGozaburo Saito1981The Imperial NavyJisaburo Ozawa1981The Bushido BladeLord Yamato1981Samurai ReincarnationMuramasa1981Flames of Blood1981The Last Days of Planet EarthDr. Nishiyama1980Shogun's NinjaTozawa Hakuunsai1980Drive for the FutureAkiji Nishikawa1980Port ArthurGentaro Kodama1980The Sand BoatScreenplay · Executive Producer · Director1980Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete SagaTatsuo Akashi1980The Way to The Gold MedalsPresident Sakakibara1979The Shogun AssassinsKato Kiyomasa1979Dead Angle1979Hunter in the DarkOkitsugu Tanuma1979Nichiren1978The Fall of Ako CastleYanagisawa1978Never Give UpGeneral Wada1978Monument to Holy Service1978August Without EmperorArmy General Mikami1978Bandits vs. Samurai SquadronKichibei1978The IncidentLawyer Kikuchi1978Message from SpaceErnest Noguchi1978Shogun's SamuraiOgasawara Gensinsai1978Ōgon no HibiTVImai Sōkyū1977Sugata SanshiroIinuma1977High Seas HijackCaptain Munekata1977Mount HakkodaColonel Kojima1977Flickering Flames1977The Alaska StoryArashuk1976Murderer!Nīto Kouken1976Zero FighterCaptain Saito1976The Corporation1976Seven Nights in JapanTerrorist Leader (uncredited)1976The Classroom of Terror1976Human Revolution II1976Operation Plazma in Osaka1976Between Women and Wives1975The International Gang of KobeRinsei1975Company Buggers1975ConflagrationCaptain Munekata1975The Bullet TrainSunaga1975Tidal WavePrime Minister Yamato1975G-Men '75TV黒木警視1975All Men Are BrothersLu Chun I1975A Picture of Madame Yuki1974The Executioner II: Karate InfernoKimitake Shugi / Moroki1974The Castle of SandDetective Eitaro Imanishi1974Karafuto 1945 Summer1974Prophecies of NostradamusDr. Nishiyama1974Secret Prophecies of NostradamusHimself1974Zero Woman: Red HandcuffsNagumo1974Violent StreetsShimamura Kansai1973Submersion of JapanPrime Minister Yamamoto1973The Ando Gang Documentary Film1973Wild Cop 21973Big Bad Wolf1973Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy WarTatsuo Akashi1973The Human Revolution1973Japan's Top GangsterNoboru Yamaguchi1973The School Deviate Waru1973Quarreling with Yakuza1973Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten EightShino1973Battles Without Honor and Humanity1972Informal Dress1972Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of DestinyKagemetsuke1972Yakuza Skirmishes1972New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm1972Shōwa Gokudōshi1972Shadow Hunters1972Organized Crime: Killer's Glory1972The Water MarginJade Unicorn, Lu Chun I1972Under the Flag of the Rising SunSergeant Katsuo Togashi1971SilenceCristóvão Ferreira1971The Armed Organization1971Troops of Darkness1971The WolvesGenryu Asakura1971The Gambler's CounterattackChief Inspector1971The Battle of OkinawaLieutenant General Isamu Cho1971King of Pornography1970Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny1970Postwar SecretsKuroki1970Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!1970The Scandalous Adventures of BuraikanSoshun Kochiyama1970Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or AliveHyoe1970Rise and Fall of Chivalry1969やくざ番外地 抹殺1969Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers1969The 5-Man ArmySamurai1969Thirteen Times a LoserShinji Kaizuka1969Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room1969Lone Rebel1969The Private Police1969Penitentiary Brothers1969Sky Scraper!1969GoyokinRokugo Tatewaki1968Black LizardKuroki1968Snake Woman's CurseCommander1968The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze1968The Bad Boss1968Diamonds of the Andes1968Key HunterTV黒木鉄也1968Blackmail Is My Life1968The Code of Man1968Army IntelligenceLieutenant Colonel Akiyama1968Gambler's FarewellTetsuji Kasai1967The Return of the Filthy Seven1967Game of Chance 31967Escape Man1967King of the Gang1967Hawk of the Harbour1967Organized Violence IIPolice Inspector Kitagawa1967Portrait of ChiekoKotaro Takamura1967You Only Live TwiceTiger Tanaka1967Once and For All1967Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo1967Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido1967Dissolution RitesSakai1967Organized Violence1966Spycatcher J3: SOS Close ShaveJ1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)1966Continental Drifter1966The Kii RiverShintani Kosaku1966Greatest Boss of the Showa Era1966Sazen Tange and The Secret of the UrnLord Tsushima Yagyu1966Thirst for LoveKosuke Aso1965High-Ranking Yakuza1965Blood of RevengeYutaro Nomura1965Blood and Law1965The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry1965Samurai SpySakon Takatani1965The Gambler1965Underworld Code1965Abashiri PrisonTsumaki1965Tokyo UntouchableGoro Kawamoto1965Tale of Ninja DutyMumyo Tsunataro1965KwaidanWarrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")1964Ninja Killers1964Gamblers and Racketeers1964Samurai from SomewhereMasagi Shohei1964Detective1964RevengeShume Okuno1964Giant Rumble1964The 7th DawnNg1964The Shogun's Vault1964AssassinationHachiro Kiyokawa1964HomicideLieutenant Aikawa1964Three Outlaw SamuraiSakon Shiba · Producer1964Tokyo Untouchables1964An Outlaw1964Destroyer Yukikaze1964The Kingdom of Jirocho 31964Jakoman and TetsuJakoman1964Samurai from NowhereGunjuro Ohba1964Tokyo Gang vs. Hong Kong Gang196313 AssassinsDoi Ōkō Toshi1963Tange Sazen1963Gang Loyalty and VengeanceGu Shimizu1963Element of Surprise1963Futari dake no toride1963Ano hito wa ima1963Tokyo Untouchable: EscapeGoro Kawamoto1963Kizu-darake no futeki-sha1963Gang vs. G-Men: Safe Breakers手塚徹1963Eleven Gangsters1962Uragirimono wa jigoku daze1962Operation DiamondKazuo Kasami1962Umineko ga tonde1962Gang vs. G-MenToru Tezuka1962Hell's Kitchen1962A Flame at the Pier1962HarakiriHikokuro Omodaka1962Gang vs. Gang1962Four SistersMasao Igarashi1962Zankokuna tsuki1962G-Men in the PacificMizuhara1962The ChallengeTakayama1962All Rascals1962Tales of Young Genji Kuro 31962Black and Red Flower Petals1962South Pacific Waves Are High1961Structure of Hate1961Greed in Broad DaylightMiyahara1961Bridge to the SunJiro1961Standing Towards the Great Forest1961The Yellow Climate1961Mist and ShadowsYusuke Komiya1961Kill the Killer!Narumi1961Red Flowers of Hell1961機動捜査班1961Kaachan1961Pigs and BattleshipsSlasher Tetsuji1961Daredevil in the CastleSadamasa Ishikawa1960Get 'em AllTanabe1960Showdown on Pier No.3Kirishima1960The Gambling SamuraiFumizo Mitsuki1960Zero sen no jorō gun1960Female Slave Ship1959Kingorō no kaigun taishô1959No Police1959Nude Woman and Murder MazeSenba1959The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal1958Kyōen Kobanzame1958Bloody History of SoldiersShumei Okawa1958Underwater Murder1958Quick on the Trigger1958Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese WarKeisuke Otori1958A Wicked WomanIhei Ôsawa1957Queen of Asia1957Hibari's Triple Role: The Transformation of Yukinojo — Part II1957Hibari's Triple Role: The Dazzling Transformation of Yukinojo1957The Ghost of KasaneJinjûrô Ômura1957剣聖 暁の三十六番斬り1957Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese WarRear Admiral Shimamura1957Storming Osaka Castle: The Sanada Ten BravesMondonoshô Hirano1957Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic DeedAboshi Samajirô1956Devil Princess’ Beauty Competition1956The Ceiling at UtsunomiyaKurozumi Tenzen1956President Rai of Kingoro1956Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets1956The Prosecutor and His Sister1956Kingoro's Soldier1956Speed King1956The Fencing Collegian1956Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko1955Hanamazu1955The Vassal's Neck1955Twilight SaloonMorimoto1955Mysterious Dwarf1955The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes1954日本敗れず1954Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced1954HanranCaptain Koda