Tetsuro Tamba
Acting
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
Acting351
tvYoshitsune
2005
Minamoto no Yorimasa (Gen-ji)
movieYakuza Demon
2003
Michitane Tendou
movieThe Twilight Samurai
2002
Tozaemon Iguchi
movieThe Cat Returns
2002
Cat King (voice)
movieGraveyard of Honor
2002
Tetsuji Tokura
movieThe Happiness of the Katakuris
2002
Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
tvToshiie and Matsu
2002
Tarozaemon Iguchi
movieSakuya: The Slayer of Demons
2000
Old Master
movieA Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
2000
Tetsuo Hatake
movieThe Stupid Teacher
2000
Utaemon Baba
movieJapanese Hell
1999
Asu Shino
tvThe Veteran Trio
1999
Inui Sanshiro
movieJubaku: Spellbound
1999
Tajiro Kawakami
movieScrewed
1998
Landlord
Coming Home
1994
Shirota Fukuzo
tv新幹線物語'93夏
1993
黒木哲也
movieRiki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
1991
Master Zhang
movieFemale Neo-Ninjas
1991
Time Patrol leader
movieHeat Wave
1991
Denkichi Tsuzaki
movieBe-In Bully High School
1990
Ryotaro Sakurazawa
movieAurora Borealis
1990
Tsuneiro Kamisaka
tvHOTEL
1990
Ohara Tetsutaro
tvThe Ginger Tree
1989
Hirushi Tsushima
movieTokyo: The Last War
1989
Kanaami Kohou / Kan'ami Kouou
movieFour Days of Snow and Blood
1989
Jinzaburi Shinzaki
movieYakuza Ladies 3
1989
Takeo Sakanishi
movieShogun's Shadow
1989
Hotta Masamori
movieTokyo Pop
1988
Mr. Dota
movieA Taxing Woman's Return
1988
Sadohara
tvTabaruzaka
1987
Ôyama Tunayoshi
movieTwilight of the Cockroaches
1987
Grandpa (voice)
movieRonin on a Mission
1987
Ōishi Kuranosuke
movieNight Train
1987
Isaburo Tamura
movieTokyo Blackout
1987
Nakata
tvByakkotai
1986
Jinbo Kuranosuke
Be Free!
1986
Keizo Hasegawa
movieApril Fish
1986
Panapora Chief Handa
movieCabaret
1986
Yakuza boss
tvInochi
1986
Takahara Masamichi
tvTokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches
1986
Naruse Hayatonosho
movieThe Last True Yakuza
1985
Kazumasa Tashiro
tvSanada Taiheiki
1985
Sanada Masayuki
tvLife of St. Blue Eyes
1984
Takeyoshi Takagi
movieFireflies in the North
1984
Ishikura
movieZero
1984
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
tv水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵
1984
平田無二斎
movieChoshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy
1984
Yagyu Munefuyu
movieA Madcap Corporation
1983
Yoshiteru Suma (Suma-gumi Boss)
movieThe Geisha
1983
Kochi Notable
movieBattle Anthem
1983
Yamamoto
tvMarco Polo
1982
Vasaio
movieSuspicion
1982
Kanetaka Okamura
movieThe Imperial Japanese Empire
1982
Hideki Tojo
movieOnimasa: A Japanese Godfather
1982
Uichi Suda, The Big Boss
movieCall from Darkness
1981
Sugibayashi
movieThe Wild Daisy
1981
Gozaburo Saito
movieThe Imperial Navy
1981
Jisaburo Ozawa
movieThe Bushido Blade
1981
Lord Yamato
movieSamurai Reincarnation
1981
Muramasa
movieThe Last Days of Planet Earth
1981
Dr. Nishiyama
movieShogun's Ninja
1980
Tozawa Hakuunsai
movieDrive for the Future
1980
Akiji Nishikawa
moviePort Arthur
1980
Gentaro Kodama
movieThe Way to The Gold Medals
1980
President Sakakibara
movieThe Shogun Assassins
1979
Kato Kiyomasa
movieHunter in the Dark
1979
Okitsugu Tanuma
movieThe Fall of Ako Castle
1978
Yanagisawa
movieNever Give Up
1978
General Wada
movieAugust Without Emperor
1978
Army General Mikami
movieThe Incident
1978
Lawyer Kikuchi
movieMessage from Space
1978
Ernest Noguchi
movieShogun's Samurai
1978
Ogasawara Gensinsai
tvŌgon no Hibi
1978
Imai Sōkyū
movieSugata Sanshiro
1977
Iinuma
movieHigh Seas Hijack
1977
Captain Munekata
movieMount Hakkoda
1977
Colonel Kojima
movieThe Alaska Story
1977
Arashuk
movieMurderer!
1976
Nīto Kouken
movieZero Fighter
1976
Captain Saito
movieSeven Nights in Japan
1976
Terrorist Leader (uncredited)
movieConflagration
1975
Captain Munekata
movieTidal Wave
1975
Prime Minister Yamato
tvG-Men '75
1975
黒木警視
movieAll Men Are Brothers
1975
Lu Chun I
movieThe Executioner II: Karate Inferno
1974
Kimitake Shugi / Moroki
movieThe Castle of Sand
1974
Detective Eitaro Imanishi
movieProphecies of Nostradamus
1974
Dr. Nishiyama
movieViolent Streets
1974
Shimamura Kansai
movieSubmersion of Japan
1973
Prime Minister Yamamoto
movieJapan's Top Gangster
1973
Noboru Yamaguchi
movieShadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny
1972
Kagemetsuke
movieThe Water Margin
1972
Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
movieUnder the Flag of the Rising Sun
1972
Sergeant Katsuo Togashi
movieSilence
1971
Cristóvão Ferreira
movieThe Wolves
1971
Genryu Asakura
movieThe Gambler's Counterattack
1971
Chief Inspector
movieThe Battle of Okinawa
1971
Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
moviePostwar Secrets
1970
Kuroki
movieThe Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
1970
Soshun Kochiyama
movieThe 5-Man Army
1969
Samurai
movieThirteen Times a Loser
1969
Shinji Kaizuka
movieGoyokin
1969
Rokugo Tatewaki
movieBlack Lizard
1968
Kuroki
movieSnake Woman's Curse
1968
Commander
tvKey Hunter
1968
黒木鉄也
movieArmy Intelligence
1968
Lieutenant Colonel Akiyama
movieGambler's Farewell
1968
Tetsuji Kasai
movieOrganized Violence II
1967
Police Inspector Kitagawa
moviePortrait of Chieko
1967
Kotaro Takamura
movieYou Only Live Twice
1967
Tiger Tanaka
movieSpycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave
1966
J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)
movieThe Kii River
1966
Shintani Kosaku
movieSazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn
1966
Lord Tsushima Yagyu
movieThirst for Love
1966
Kosuke Aso
movieBlood of Revenge
1965
Yutaro Nomura
movieSamurai Spy
1965
Sakon Takatani
movieAbashiri Prison
1965
Tsumaki
movieTokyo Untouchable
1965
Goro Kawamoto
movieTale of Ninja Duty
1965
Mumyo Tsunataro
movieKwaidan
1965
Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")
movieSamurai from Somewhere
1964
Masagi Shohei
movieRevenge
1964
Shume Okuno
movieAssassination
1964
Hachiro Kiyokawa
movieHomicide
1964
Lieutenant Aikawa
movieThree Outlaw Samurai
1964
Sakon Shiba
movieJakoman and Tetsu
1964
Jakoman
movieSamurai from Nowhere
1964
Gunjuro Ohba
movie13 Assassins
1963
Doi Ōkō Toshi
movieGang Loyalty and Vengeance
1963
Gu Shimizu
movieTokyo Untouchable: Escape
1963
Goro Kawamoto
movieOperation Diamond
1962
Kazuo Kasami
movieGang vs. G-Men
1962
Toru Tezuka
movieHarakiri
1962
Hikokuro Omodaka
movieFour Sisters
1962
Masao Igarashi
movieG-Men in the Pacific
1962
Mizuhara
movieThe Challenge
1962
Takayama
movieGreed in Broad Daylight
1961
Miyahara
movieMist and Shadows
1961
Yusuke Komiya
moviePigs and Battleships
1961
Slasher Tetsuji
movieDaredevil in the Castle
1961
Sadamasa Ishikawa
movieGet 'em All
1960
Tanabe
movieShowdown on Pier No.3
1960
Kirishima
movieThe Gambling Samurai
1960
Fumizo Mitsuki
movieBloody History of Soldiers
1958
Shumei Okawa
movieA Wicked Woman
1958
Ihei Ôsawa
movieThe Ghost of Kasane
1957
Jinjûrô Ômura
movieEmperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War
1957
Rear Admiral Shimamura
movieStorming Osaka Castle: The Sanada Ten Braves
1957
Mondonoshô Hirano
movieMysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed
1957
Aboshi Samajirô
movieThe Ceiling at Utsunomiya
1956
Kurozumi Tenzen
movieTwilight Saloon
1955
Morimoto
movieHanran
1954
Captain Koda
Production4
movieThe Sand Boat
1980
Executive Producer
movieThree Outlaw Samurai
1964
Producer
Writing4
movieThe Sand Boat
1980
Screenplay