Tetsuro Tamba
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1922-07-17
Day of Death
2006-09-24 (84 years old)
Place of Birth
Tokyo, Japan
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.
Acting
(2006)
(2005)
(2004)
(2004)
(2003)
(2003)
Yakuza Demon
as Michitane Tendou
(2003)
(2003)
(2002)
The Cat Returns
as Cat King (voice)
(2002)
Graveyard of Honor
as Tetsuji Tokura
(2002)
The Twilight Samurai
as Tozaemon Iguchi
(2002)
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
as Sanada
(2002)
The Happiness of the Katakuris
as Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
(2002)
Bond Girls Are Forever
as Tiger Tanaka (archive footage) (uncredited)
(2002)
Best Ever Bond
as Tiger Tanaka (archive footage) (uncredited)
(2002)
(2002)
(2002)
(2001)
(2001)
(2001)
(2000)
Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons
as Old Master
(2000)
The Stupid Teacher
as Utaemon Baba
(2000)
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
as Tetsuo Hatake
(1999)
(1999)
Japanese Hell
as Asu Shino
(1999)
Jubaku: Spellbound
as Tajiro Kawakami
(1998)
Screwed
as Landlord
(1997)
The Peking Man
as Osone
(1994)
(1994)
(1993)
(1993)
(1992)
(1991)
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
as Master Zhang
(1991)
Heat Wave
as Denkichi Tsuzaki
(1991)
(1991)
(1991)
(1991)
(1991)
(1991)
(1991)
Female Neo-Ninjas
as Time Patrol leader
(1991)
(1990)
(1990)
School Be-In Bully
as Ryotaro Sakurazawa
(1990)
Aurora Borealis
as Tsuneiro Kamisaka
(1990)
(1990)
(1989)
Shogun's Shadow
as Hotta Masamori
(1989)
Yakuza Ladies 3
as Takeo Sakanishi
(1989)
Tokyo: The Last War
as Kanaami Kohou
(1989)
(1989)
(1989)
(1989)
Four Days of Snow and Blood
as Jinzaburi Shinzaki
(1988)
A Taxing Woman's Return
as Sadohara
(1988)
Tokyo Pop
as Mr. Dota
(1988)
(1987)
Twilight of the Cockroaches
as Grandpa (voice)
(1987)
Night Train
as Isaburo Tamura
(1987)
Tokyo Blackout
as Nakata
(1987)
(1987)
(1987)
(1987)
Ronin on a Mission
as Ōishi Kuranosuke
(1987)
(1986)
Be Free!
as Keizo Hasegawa
(1986)
April Fish
as Panapora Chief Handa
(1986)
Cabaret
as Yakuza boss
(1986)
(1985)
The Last True Yakuza
as Kazumasa Tashiro
(1985)
(1985)
(1985)
(1984)
Fireflies in the North
as Ishikura
(1984)
Zero
as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
(1984)
(1984)
(1984)
(1984)
(1984)
Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy
as Yagyu Munefuyu
(1983)
The Geisha
as Kochi Notable
(1983)
Battle Anthem
as Yamamoto
(1983)
(1983)
(1983)
(1983)
(1983)
(1983)
(1982)
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
as Uichi Suda, The Big Boss
(1982)
Suspicion
as Kanetaka Okamura
(1982)
The Imperial Japanese Empire
as Hideki Tojo
(1982)
(1982)
(1981)
Samurai Reincarnation
as Muramasa
(1981)
The Imperial Navy
as Jisaburo Ozawa
(1981)
The Wild Daisy
as Gozaburo Saito
(1981)
Call from Darkness
as Sugibayashi
(1981)
The Bushido Blade
as Lord Yamato
(1981)
The Last Days of Planet Earth
as Dr. Nishiyama
(1981)
(1980)
Shogun's Ninja
as Tozawa Hakuunsai
(1980)
Port Arthur
as Gentaro Kodama
(1980)
The Way to The Gold Medals
as President Sakakibara
(1980)
Drive for the Future
as Akiji Nishikawa
(1980)
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
as Tatsuo Akashi
(1980)
(1979)
Hunter in the Dark
as Okitsugu Tanuma
(1979)
The Shogun Assassins
as Kato Kiyomasa
(1979)
(1979)
(1978)
Shogun's Samurai
as Ogasawara Gensinsai
(1978)
Message from Space
as Ernest Noguchi
(1978)
The Fall of Ako Castle
as Yanagisawa
(1978)
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
as Kichibei
(1978)
Never Give Up
as General Wada
(1978)
The Incident
as Lawyer Kikuchi
(1978)
August without Emperor
as Army General Mikami
(1978)
(1977)
Mount Hakkoda
as Colonel Kojima
(1977)
The Alaska Story
as Arashuk
(1977)
Sugata Sanshiro
as Iinuma
(1977)
(1977)
High Seas Hijack
as Captain Munekata
(1976)
(1976)
Zero Fighter
as Captain Saito
(1976)
(1976)
(1976)
Murderer!
as Nīto Kouken
(1976)
(1976)
Seven Nights in Japan
as Terrorist Leader (uncredited)
(1975)
The Bullet Train
as Sunaga
(1975)
All Men Are Brothers
as Lu Chun I
(1975)
Conflagration
as Captain Munekata
(1975)
The International Gang of Kobe
as Rinsei
(1975)
(1975)
(1975)
Tidal Wave
as Prime Minister Yamato
(1974)
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
as Nagumo
(1974)
The Castle of Sand
as Detective Eitaro Imanishi
(1974)
Violent Streets
as Shimamura Kansai
(1974)
Prophecies of Nostradamus
as Dr. Nishiyama
(1974)
(1974)
(1974)
Secret Prophecies of Nostradamus
as Himself
(1973)
(1973)
(1973)
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War
as Tatsuo Akashi
(1973)
Submersion of Japan
as Prime Minister Yamamoto
(1973)
Japan's Top Gangster
as Noboru Yamaguchi
(1973)
(1973)
(1973)
(1973)
(1973)
(1972)
(1972)
The Water Margin
as Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
(1972)
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun
as Sergeant Katsuo Togashi
(1972)
Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny
as Kagemetsuke
(1972)
(1972)
(1972)
(1972)
(1972)
(1971)
The Battle of Okinawa
as Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
(1971)
The Wolves
as Genryu Asakura
(1971)
The Gambler's Counterattack
as Chief Inspector
(1971)
(1971)
(1971)
Silence
as Cristóvão Ferreira
(1971)
(1970)
(1970)
(1970)
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
as Soshun Kochiyama
(1970)
(1970)
(1970)
Postwar Secrets
as Kuroki
(1969)
Goyokin
as Rokugo Tatewaki
(1969)
(1969)
The 5-Man Army
as Samurai
(1969)
(1969)
(1969)
(1969)
(1969)
(1969)
(1968)
Black Lizard
as Kuroki
(1968)
Snake Woman's Curse
as Commander
(1968)
Army Intelligence
as Lieutenant Colonel Akiyama
(1968)
(1968)
(1968)
(1968)
(1968)
Gambler's Farewell
as Tetsuji Kasai
(1968)
(1967)
You Only Live Twice
as Tiger Tanaka
(1967)
(1967)
Organized Violence II
as Police Inspector Kitagawa
(1967)
(1967)
(1967)
Dissolution Rites
as Sakai
(1967)
Portrait of Chieko
as Kotaro Takamura
(1967)
(1967)
(1967)
(1967)
(1967)
(1966)
Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn
as Lord Tsushima Yagyu
(1966)
The Kii River
as Shintani Kosaku
(1966)
(1966)
Thirst for Love
as Kosuke Aso
(1966)
Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave
as J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)
(1966)
(1965)
Kwaidan
as Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")
(1965)
Samurai Spy
as Sakon Takatani
(1965)
Tale of Ninja Duty
as Mumyo Tsunataro
(1965)
(1965)
Abashiri Prison
as Tsumaki
(1965)
(1965)
(1965)
(1965)
(1965)
Blood of Revenge
as Yutaro Nomura
(1964)
Three Outlaw Samurai
as Sakon Shiba
(1964)
Revenge
as Shume Okuno
(1964)
Assassination
as Hachiro Kiyokawa
(1964)
(1964)
Homicide
as Lieutenant Aikawa
(1964)
Samurai from Nowhere
as Gunjuro Ohba
(1964)
(1964)
(1964)
(1964)
(1964)
(1964)
(1964)
(1964)
The 7th Dawn
as Ng
(1964)
Jakoman and Tetsu
as Jakoman
(1964)
(1964)
(1963)
13 Assassins
as Doi Ōkō Toshi
(1963)
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
as Gu Shimizu
(1963)
(1963)
(1963)
(1963)
(1963)
(1963)
Tokyo Untouchable: Escape
as Goro Kawamoto
(1963)
(1963)
Gang and G-Men Part 2
as 手塚徹
(1962)
Harakiri
as Hikokuro Omodaka
(1962)
The Challenge
as Takayama
(1962)
(1962)
Four Sisters
as Masao Igarashi
(1962)
(1962)
G-Men in the Pacific
as Mizuhara
(1962)
(1962)
(1962)
(1962)
(1962)
(1962)
(1962)
(1962)
Gang vs. G-Men
as Toru Tezuka
(1962)
(1962)
Tokyo Untouchable
as Goro Kawamoto
(1962)
Operation Diamond
as Kazuo Kasami
(1961)
Pigs and Battleships
as Slasher Tetsuji
(1961)
Greed in Broad Daylight
as Miyahara
(1961)
Mist and Shadows
as Yusuke Komiya
(1961)
Daredevil in the Castle
as Sadamasa Ishikawa
(1961)
(1961)
(1961)
(1961)
(1961)
Bridge to the Sun
as Jiro
(1960)
Get 'em All
as Tanabe
(1960)
(1960)
The Gambling Samurai
as Fumizo Mitsuki
(1960)
(1959)
(1959)
(1959)
Rajo to satsujin-meiro
as Senba
(1959)
(1958)
(1958)
Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War
as Keisuke Otori
(1958)
A Wicked Woman
as Ihei Ôsawa
(1958)
(1958)
(1957)
Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War
as Rear Admiral Shimamura
(1957)
(1957)
(1957)
Storming Osaka Castle: The Sanada Ten Braves
as Mondonoshô Hirano
(1957)
(1957)
Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed
as Aboshi Samajirô
(1957)
(1957)
The Ghost of Kasane
as Jinjûrô Ômura
(1956)
(1956)
The Ceiling at Utsunomiya
as Kurozumi Tenzen
(1956)
(1956)
(1956)
(1956)
(1956)
(1956)
(1956)
(1955)
(1955)
(1955)
Twilight Saloon
as Morimoto
(1955)
(1954)
(1954)
Hanran
as Captain Koda
(1954)
Crew
(1994)
(1990)
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!
Executive Producer, Screenplay
(1989)
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
Idea, General Manager, Writer
(1988)
Tetsuro Tamba's Spirit World
Director
(1980)
The Sand Boat
Executive Producer, Screenplay, Director
(1964)
Three Outlaw Samurai
Producer