About

Known credits:
331
Birthday:
1922-07-17
Place of birth:
Tokyo, Japan
Website:
N/A

Tetsuro Tamba

Overview

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.

Known for

Acting
2006 The Exotic Locations of 'You Only Live Twice' Actor Tiger Tanaka (archive footage) 59
Average
2006 Teruo Ishii Fan Club Actor N/A
N/A
2005 Demon Pond Actor 59
Average
2005 Yoshitsune Actor Minamoto no Yorimasa (Gen-ji) 70
Good
2004 Order Made ~Shiawase Iro no Shinshi Fuku Mise~ Actor N/A
N/A
2004 The Thousand Year Fire Actor N/A
N/A
2004 Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio Actor N/A
N/A
2003 Yumemiru Budo Actor N/A
N/A
2003 Gozu Actor 61
Fair
2003 Yakuza Demon Actor Michitane Tendou 59
Average
2003 A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Taxi Stand Actor N/A
N/A
2003 T.R.Y. Actor 59
Average
2002 Shura Group Part 2 Actor N/A
N/A
2002 Best Ever Bond Actor Tiger Tanaka (archive footage) (uncredited) 59
Average
2002 Bond Girls Are Forever Actor Tiger Tanaka (archive footage) (uncredited) 59
Average
2002 The Twilight Samurai Actor Tozaemon Iguchi 66
Fair
2002 Deadly Outlaw: Rekka Actor Sanada 59
Average
2002 The Cat Returns Actor Cat King (voice) 68
Fair
2002 Graveyard of Honor Actor Tetsuji Tokura 59
Average
2002 The Happiness of the Katakuris Actor Granpa Jinpei Katakuri 62
Fair
2002 Shura Group Actor N/A
N/A
2002 Toshiie and Matsu Actor Tarozaemon Iguchi 69
Fair
2002 Shura Group Part 1 Actor N/A
N/A
2001 Ino Tadataka: Meridian dreams Actor N/A
N/A
2001 The Making Of The Katakuris Actor 59
Average
2001 Blind Beast vs Dwarf Killer Actor 58
Average
2000 Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons Actor Old Master 59
Average
2000 A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen Actor Tetsuo Hatake 59
Average
2000 The Stupid Teacher Actor Utaemon Baba N/A
N/A
1999 Japanese Hell Actor Asu Shino 58
Average
1999 The Veteran Trio Actor Inui Sanshiro N/A
N/A
1999 Jubaku: Spellbound Actor Tajiro Kawakami 59
Average
1999 Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle Actor Tamba (voice) 59
Average
1998 Screwed Actor Landlord 58
Average
1997 The Peking Man Actor Osone 59
Average
1995 Hashiran ka! Actor 前田米吉 N/A
N/A
1994 Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole Actor N/A
N/A
1994 Coming Home Actor Shirota Fukuzo N/A
N/A
1994 Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown Actor N/A
N/A
1993 新幹線物語'93夏 Actor 黒木哲也 N/A
N/A
1993 The Supernormal II Actor 59
Average
1992 Hanshichi Torimonochō Actor N/A
N/A
1992 Taira no Kiyomori Actor N/A
N/A
1991 Minamoto Yoshitsune Actor 59
Average
1991 The Tale of Genji Actor N/A
N/A
1991 The Great Shogunate Battle Actor 58
Average
1991 Yakuza Warfare Actor 59
Average
1991 Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky Actor Master Zhang 62
Fair
1991 The Hitman Blood Smells Like Roses Actor 59
Average
1991 Kim's War Actor N/A
N/A
1991 Heat Wave Actor Denkichi Tsuzaki 59
Average
1991 Female Neo-Ninjas Actor Time Patrol leader 58
Average
1990 1750 Days of Turbulence Actor 59
Average
1990 School Be-In Bully Actor Ryotaro Sakurazawa N/A
N/A
1990 Aurora Borealis Actor Tsuneiro Kamisaka 58
Average
1990 13 Assassins Actor 59
Average
1990 Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!! Actor Ryo Okamoto N/A
N/A
1990 HOTEL Actor Ohara Tetsutaro N/A
N/A
1989 Tokyo: The Last War Actor 59
Average
1989 Four Days of Snow and Blood Actor Jinzaburi Shinzaki 59
Average
1989 The Political Game Actor N/A
N/A
1989 Yakuza Ladies 3 Actor Takeo Sakanishi N/A
N/A
1989 長七郎江戸日記スペシャル 長七郎 大奥まかり通る Actor N/A
N/A
1989 Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die Actor 吉野博士 N/A
N/A
1989 Shogun's Shadow Actor Hotta Masamori 59
Average
1988 Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special Actor N/A
N/A
1988 Tokyo Pop Actor Mr. Dota 59
Average
1988 A Taxing Woman's Return Actor Sadohara 59
Average
1987 Tabaruzaka Actor N/A
N/A
1987 There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl Actor 59
Average
1987 Twilight of the Cockroaches Actor Grandpa (voice) 59
Average
1987 You're My Destiny Actor 59
Average
1987 Ronin on a Mission Actor Ōishi Kuranosuke N/A
N/A
1987 Shinran: Path to Purity Actor 58
Average
1987 Night Train Actor Isaburo Tamura 58
Average
1987 Tokyo Blackout Actor Nakata 58
Average
1986 Byakkotai Actor Jinbo Kuranosuke N/A
N/A
1986 The White Tiger Battalion Actor N/A
N/A
1986 Be Free! Actor Keizo Hasegawa N/A
N/A
1986 April Fish Actor Panapora Chief Handa 58
Average
1986 Cabaret Actor Yakuza boss 58
Average
1986 Inochi Actor Takahara Masamichi N/A
N/A
1986 Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches Actor Naruse Hayatonosho N/A
N/A
1985 Vendetta of Obligation Actor N/A
N/A
1985 The Last True Yakuza Actor Kazumasa Tashiro 59
Average
1985 Shiosai Actor N/A
N/A
1985 Sanada Taiheiki Actor Sanada Masayuki N/A
N/A
1985 Love: Starting on a Journey Actor 58
Average
1984 Nezumi Kozō kaitō den Actor N/A
N/A
1984 The Story of a Man Among Men Actor 59
Average
1984 Kōgen ni ressha ga hashitta Actor N/A
N/A
1984 Fireflies in the North Actor Ishikura 59
Average
1984 Zero Actor Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto 58
Average
1984 Kukai Actor N/A
N/A
1984 Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy Actor Yagyu Munefuyu N/A
N/A
1983 L・O・V・I・N・G Actor N/A
N/A
1983 A Madcap Corporation Actor N/A
N/A
1983 The Tale of Saikaido Actor N/A
N/A
1983 The Geisha Actor Kochi Notable 59
Average
1983 The Duel in the forbidden territory Actor N/A
N/A
1983 Samon’s Hell Revenge: Unauthorised Jutte Records 2 - The Assassination of the Shogun Actor N/A
N/A
1983 Battle Anthem Actor Yamamoto 59
Average
1982 To Trap a Kidnapper Actor 59
Average
1982 Suspicion Actor Kanetaka Okamura 59
Average
1982 The Imperial Japanese Empire Actor Hideki Tojo 59
Average
1982 The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun Actor N/A
N/A
1982 Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather Actor Uichi Suda, The Big Boss 59
Average
1982 Matsudaira Ukon Jikencho Actor N/A
N/A
1981 Call from Darkness Actor Sugibayashi 58
Average
1981 The Wild Daisy Actor Gozaburo Saito 59
Average
1981 The Imperial Navy Actor Jisaburo Ozawa 59
Average
1981 The Bushido Blade Actor Lord Yamato 58
Average
1981 Samurai Reincarnation Actor Muramasa 58
Average
1981 Flames of Blood Actor 59
Average
1980 Shogun's Ninja Actor Tozawa Hakuunsai 59
Average
1980 Drive for the Future Actor Akiji Nishikawa N/A
N/A
1980 Port Arthur Actor Gentaro Kodama 59
Average
1980 The Sand Boat Actor N/A
N/A
1980 The Way to The Gold Medals Actor President Sakakibara N/A
N/A
1980 Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga Actor Tatsuo Akashi 59
Average
1979 The Shogun Assassins Actor Kato Kiyomasa 58
Average
1979 Dead Angle Actor 58
Average
1979 Hunter in the Dark Actor Okitsugu Tanuma 59
Average
1979 Nichiren Actor N/A
N/A
1978 The Fall of Ako Castle Actor Yanagisawa 59
Average
1978 Never Give Up Actor General Wada 58
Average
1978 Monument to Holy Service Actor N/A
N/A
1978 August without Emperor Actor Army General Mikami 59
Average
1978 Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron Actor Kichibei 59
Average
1978 The Incident Actor Lawyer Kikuchi 59
Average
1978 Message from Space Actor Ernest Noguchi 58
Average
1978 Shogun's Samurai Actor Ogasawara Gensinsai 59
Average
1978 Ōgon no Hibi Actor Imai Sōkyū N/A
N/A
1977 Sugata Sanshiro Actor Iinuma N/A
N/A
1977 High Seas Hijack Actor Captain Munekata 59
Average
1977 Mount Hakkoda Actor Colonel Kojima 59
Average
1977 Flickering Flames Actor 59
Average
1977 The Alaska Story Actor Arashuk 59
Average
1976 Murderer! Actor Nīto Kouken 58
Average
1976 Zero Fighter Actor Captain Saito 58
Average
1976 The Corporation Actor N/A
N/A
1976 Seven Nights in Japan Actor Terrorist Leader (uncredited) 59
Average
1976 The Classroom of Terror Actor 58
Average
1976 Human Revolution II Actor N/A
N/A
1976 Operation Plazma in Osaka Actor 59
Average
1975 The International Gang of Kobe Actor Rinsei 58
Average
1975 Company Buggers Actor 59
Average
1975 Conflagration Actor Captain Munekata 58
Average
1975 The Bullet Train Actor Sunaga 59
Average
1975 All Men Are Brothers Actor Lu Chun I 59
Average
1975 雪夫人繪圖 Actor N/A
N/A
1974 The Executioner II: Karate Inferno Actor Shugi 58
Average
1974 The Castle of Sand Actor Detective Eitaro Imanishi 60
Fair
1974 Karafuto 1945 Summer Actor 59
Average
1974 Prophecies of Nostradamus Actor Dr. Nishiyama 58
Average
1974 Secret Prophecies of Nostradamus Actor Himself N/A
N/A
1974 Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs Actor Nagumo 59
Average
1974 Violent Streets Actor Shimamura Kansai 59
Average
1973 Submersion of Japan Actor Prime Minister Yamamoto 59
Average
1973 The Ando Gang Documentary Film Actor 59
Average
1973 Wild Cop 2 Actor 59
Average
1973 Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War Actor Tatsuo Akashi 60
Fair
1973 The Human Revolution Actor N/A
N/A
1973 Japan's Top Gangster Actor Noboru Yamaguchi N/A
N/A
1973 The School Deviate Waru Actor N/A
N/A
1973 Quarreling with Yakuza Actor 59
Average
1973 Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight Actor Shino 59
Average
1973 Battles Without Honor and Humanity Actor 61
Fair
1972 Informal Dress Actor N/A
N/A
1972 Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny Actor Kagemetsuke 59
Average
1972 Yakuza Skirmishes Actor N/A
N/A
1972 New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm Actor N/A
N/A
1972 Shōwa Gokudōshi Actor N/A
N/A
1972 Shadow Hunters Actor 59
Average
1972 Organized Crime: Killer's Glory Actor N/A
N/A
1972 The Water Margin Actor Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I 59
Average
1972 Under the Flag of the Rising Sun Actor Sergeant Katsuo Togashi 59
Average
1971 Silence Actor Cristóvão Ferreira 59
Average
1971 Troops of Darkness Actor 59
Average
1971 The Armed Organization Actor 59
Average
1971 The Wolves Actor Genryu Asakura 59
Average
1971 The Gambler's Counterattack Actor Chief Inspector 59
Average
1971 The Battle of Okinawa Actor Lieutenant General Isamu Cho 59
Average
1971 King of Pornography Actor 59
Average
1970 Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny Actor 59
Average
1970 Postwar Secrets Actor Kuroki 59
Average
1970 Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies! Actor N/A
N/A
1970 The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan Actor Soshun Kochiyama 59
Average
1970 Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive Actor Hyoe 59
Average
1970 Rise and Fall of Chivalry Actor 59
Average
1969 Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers Actor N/A
N/A
1969 The 5-Man Army Actor Samurai 59
Average
1969 Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room Actor 59
Average
1969 Lone Rebel Actor N/A
N/A
1969 The Private Police Actor 59
Average
1969 Penitentiary Brothers Actor N/A
N/A
1969 Sky Scraper! Actor N/A
N/A
1969 Goyokin Actor Rokugo Tatewaki 60
Fair
1968 Black Lizard Actor Kuroki 59
Average
1968 Snake Woman's Curse Actor Commander 59
Average
1968 The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze Actor 59
Average
1968 The Bad Boss Actor N/A
N/A
1968 Blackmail Is My Life Actor 59
Average
1968 The Code of Man Actor N/A
N/A
1968 Army Intelligence Actor Lieutenant Colonel Akiyama N/A
N/A
1968 Gambler's Farewell Actor Tetsuji Kasai 59
Average
1967 The Return of the Filthy Seven Actor N/A
N/A
1967 Game of Chance 3 Actor 59
Average
1967 King of the Gang Actor N/A
N/A
1967 Hawk of the Harbour Actor N/A
N/A
1967 Organized Violence II Actor Police Inspector Kitagawa 59
Average
1967 Portrait of Chieko Actor Kotaro Takamura N/A
N/A
1967 You Only Live Twice Actor Tiger Tanaka 64
Fair
1967 Once and For All Actor N/A
N/A
1967 Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo Actor N/A
N/A
1967 Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido Actor N/A
N/A
1967 Dissolution Rites Actor Sakai 59
Average
1967 Organized Violence Actor 58
Average
1966 Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave Actor J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief) 59
Average
1966 Tokyo Drifters Actor N/A
N/A
1966 The Kii River Actor Shintani Kosaku 59
Average
1966 Greatest Boss of the Showa Era Actor N/A
N/A
1966 Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn Actor Lord Tsushima Yagyu 59
Average
1966 Thirst for Love Actor Kosuke Aso 59
Average
1965 Blood of Revenge Actor Yutaro Nomura 59
Average
1965 Blood and Law Actor N/A
N/A
1965 The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry Actor 59
Average
1965 The Gambler Actor N/A
N/A
1965 Samurai Spy Actor Sakon Takatani 59
Average
1965 Ankoku gai jingi Actor N/A
N/A
1965 Abashiri Prison Actor Tsumaki 59
Average
1965 Tale of Ninja Duty Actor Mumyo Tsunataro N/A
N/A
1965 Kwaidan Actor Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless") 66
Fair
1964 Gamblers and Racketeers Actor N/A
N/A
1964 Samurai from Somewhere Actor 59
Average
1964 Detective Actor N/A
N/A
1964 Revenge Actor Shume Okuno 59
Average
1964 The Great Duel Actor 59
Average
1964 The 7th Dawn Actor Ng 59
Average
1964 The Shogun's Vault Actor 59
Average
1964 Assassination Actor Hachiro Kiyokawa 59
Average
1964 Homicide Actor Lieutenant Aikawa N/A
N/A
1964 Samurai from Nowhere Actor Gunjuro Ohba 59
Average
1964 Three Outlaw Samurai Actor Sakon Shiba 61
Fair
1964 An Outlaw Actor 58
Average
1964 Destroyer Yukikaze Actor N/A
N/A
1964 The Kingdom of Jirocho 3 Actor N/A
N/A
1964 Jakoman and Tetsu Actor Jakoman 59
Average
1964 Tokyo Gang Vs. Hong Kong Gang Actor N/A
N/A
1963 13 Assassins Actor Doi Ōkō Toshi 60
Fair
1963 Tange Sazen Actor N/A
N/A
1963 Gang Loyalty and Vengeance Actor Gu Shimizu 59
Average
1963 Element of Surprise Actor N/A
N/A
1963 Futari dake no toride Actor N/A
N/A
1963 Tokyo Untouchable: Escape Actor Goro Kawamoto N/A
N/A
1963 Kizu-darake no futeki-sha Actor N/A
N/A
1963 Gang and G-Men Part 2 Actor 手塚徹 N/A
N/A
1963 Eleven Gangsters Actor N/A
N/A
1962 Uragirimono wa jigoku daze Actor N/A
N/A
1962 Operation Diamond Actor Kazuo Kasami N/A
N/A
1962 Umineko ga tonde Actor N/A
N/A
1962 Gang vs. G-Men Actor Toru Tezuka 59
Average
1962 Tokyo Untouchable Actor Goro Kawamoto N/A
N/A
1962 Hell's Kitchen Actor N/A
N/A
1962 A Flame at the Pier Actor 59
Average
1962 Harakiri Actor Hikokuro Omodaka 75
Good
1962 Gang vs. Gang Actor 59
Average
1962 Four Sisters Actor Masao Igarashi 59
Average
1962 Zankokuna tsuki Actor N/A
N/A
1962 G-Men in the Pacific Actor Mizuhara 59
Average
1962 The Challenge Actor Takayama 59
Average
1962 All Rascals Actor N/A
N/A
1962 Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3 Actor 59
Average
1962 Kuro to aka no hanabira Actor N/A
N/A
1962 South Pacific Waves Are High Actor N/A
N/A
1961 Greed in Broad Daylight Actor Miyahara 59
Average
1961 Bridge to the Sun Actor Jiro 59
Average
1961 The Yellow Climate Actor N/A
N/A
1961 Dai shinrin ni mukatte tatsu Actor N/A
N/A
1961 Mist and Shadows Actor Yusuke Komiya N/A
N/A
1961 Red Flowers of Hell Actor N/A
N/A
1961 Kaachan Actor N/A
N/A
1961 Pigs and Battleships Actor Slasher Tetsuji 60
Fair
1961 Daredevil in the Castle Actor Sadamasa Ishikawa 59
Average
1960 Get 'em All Actor Tanabe 59
Average
1960 The Gambling Samurai Actor Fumizo Mitsuki 59
Average
1960 Zero sen no jorō gun Actor N/A
N/A
1960 Female Slave Ship Actor 59
Average
1959 Kingorō no kaigun taishô Actor N/A
N/A
1959 Mukeisatsu Actor N/A
N/A
1959 Rajo to satsujin-meiro Actor Senba N/A
N/A
1959 The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal Actor N/A
N/A
1958 Kyōen Kobanzame Actor N/A
N/A
1958 Underwater Murder Actor N/A
N/A
1958 Quick on the Trigger Actor 59
Average
1958 Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War Actor Keisuke Otori N/A
N/A
1958 A Wicked Woman Actor Ihei Ôsawa 59
Average
1957 Queen of Asia Actor 59
Average
1957 Hibari no san'yaku: Zoku Kei tsuya yuki no jôhenge Actor N/A
N/A
1957 Hibari no san'yaku: Kei tsuya yuki no jôhenge Actor N/A
N/A
1957 The Ghost of Kasane Actor Jinjûrô Ômura 59
Average
1957 剣聖　暁の三十六番斬り Actor N/A
N/A
1957 Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War Actor Rear Admiral Shimamura N/A
N/A
1957 Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed Actor Aboshi Samajirô N/A
N/A
1956 鬼姫競艶録 Actor N/A
N/A
1956 The Ceiling at Utsunomiya Actor Kurozumi Tenzen 58
Average
1956 金語楼の雷社長 Actor N/A
N/A
1956 Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets Actor N/A
N/A
1956 The Prosecutor and His Sister Actor N/A
N/A
1956 Kingoro's Soldier Actor N/A
N/A
1956 Speed King Actor N/A
N/A
1956 The Fencing Collegian Actor N/A
N/A
1956 Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko Actor N/A
N/A
1955 花眞珠 Actor N/A
N/A
1955 Twilight Saloon Actor Morimoto 59
Average
1955 Mysterious Pygmy Actor N/A
N/A
1955 The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes Actor N/A
N/A
1954 Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced Actor N/A
N/A
1954 Hanran Actor Captain Koda N/A
N/A

Directing
1994 Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole Directing Director N/A
N/A
1988 Tetsuro Tamba's Spirit World Directing Director N/A
N/A
1980 The Sand Boat Directing Director N/A
N/A

Writing
1994 Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1990 Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!! Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1989 Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die Writing Idea N/A
N/A
1989 Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1980 The Sand Boat Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A

Production
1990 Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!! Production Executive Producer N/A
N/A
1989 Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die Production General Manager N/A
N/A
1980 The Sand Boat Production Executive Producer N/A
N/A
1964 Three Outlaw Samurai Production Producer 61
Fair