Tetsuro Tamba
Acting • Born 1922-07-17 – Died 2006-09-24
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.
Filmography
346 credits
You Only Live Twice
Movie • 1967
Tiger Tanaka
Minamoto Yoshitsune
Movie • 1991
Kwaidan
Movie • 1965
Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")
Operation Diamond
Movie • 1962
Kazuo Kasami
Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave
Movie • 1966
J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)
Pigs and Battleships
Movie • 1961
Slasher Tetsuji
Tokyo Gang vs. Hong Kong Gang
Movie • 1964
Demon Pond
Movie • 2005
South Pacific Waves Are High
Movie • 1962
Gozu
Movie • 2003
The Wolves
Movie • 1971
Genryu Asakura
King of Pornography
Movie • 1971
The Castle of Sand
Movie • 1974
Detective Eitaro Imanishi
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
Movie • 2002
Sanada
Hawk of the Harbour
Movie • 1967
Tokyo Untouchable
Movie • 1965
Goro Kawamoto
The Cat Returns
Movie • 2002
Cat King (voice)
長七郎江戸日記スペシャル 長七郎 大奥まかり通る
Movie • 1989
The Water Margin
Movie • 1972
Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
13 Assassins
Movie • 1990
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun
Movie • 1972
Sergeant Katsuo Togashi
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
Movie • 1974
Nagumo
Futari dake no toride
Movie • 1963
The Happiness of the Katakuris
Movie • 2002
Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
Hunter in the Dark
Movie • 1979
Okitsugu Tanuma
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
Movie • 1970
The 5-Man Army
Movie • 1969
Samurai
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
Movie • 1991
Master Zhang
Violent Streets
Movie • 1974
Shimamura Kansai
Samurai Spy
Movie • 1965
Sakon Takatani
Goyokin
Movie • 1969
Rokugo Tatewaki
The Peking Man
Movie • 1997
Osone
Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo
Movie • 1967
Hibari no san'yaku: Zoku Kei tsuya yuki no jôhenge
Movie • 1957
Hibari no san'yaku: Kei tsuya yuki no jôhenge
Movie • 1957
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!
Movie • 1990
Ryo Okamoto
Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole
Movie • 1994
The Political Game
Movie • 1989
Silence
Movie • 1971
Cristóvão Ferreira
Revenge
Movie • 1964
Shume Okuno
The Sound of the Waves
Movie • 1985
The School Deviate Waru
Movie • 1973
The 7th Dawn
Movie • 1964
Ng
Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny
Movie • 1972
Kagemetsuke
Shadow Hunters
Movie • 1972
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
Movie • 1978
Kichibei
Three Outlaw Samurai
Movie • 1964
Sakon Shiba
Japanese Hell
Movie • 1999
Asu Shino
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
Movie • 1974
Kimitake Shugi
Assassination
Movie • 1964
Hachiro Kiyokawa
Devil Princess’ Beauty Competition
Movie • 1956
Submersion of Japan
Movie • 1973
Prime Minister Yamamoto
Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight
Movie • 1973
Shino
Umineko ga tonde
Movie • 1962
Blackmail Is My Life
Movie • 1968
Samon’s Hell Revenge: Unauthorised Jutte Records 2 - The Assassination of the Shogun
Movie • 1983
Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special
Movie • 1988
Screwed
Movie • 1998
Landlord
The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun
Movie • 1982
Mount Hakkoda
Movie • 1977
Colonel Kojima
Heat Wave
Movie • 1991
Denkichi Tsuzaki
Twilight Saloon
Movie • 1955
Morimoto
Aurora Borealis
Movie • 1990
Tsuneiro Kamisaka
Bridge to the Sun
Movie • 1961
Jiro
The Tale of Saikaido
Movie • 1983
Prophecies of Nostradamus
Movie • 1974
Dr. Nishiyama
Zero Fighter
Movie • 1976
Captain Saito
Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive
Movie • 1970
Hyoe
Ino Tadataka: Meridian Dreams
Movie • 2001
Ankoku gai jingi
Movie • 1965
Zankokuna tsuki
Movie • 1962
The White Tiger Battalion
Movie • 1986
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
Movie • 1970
Soshun Kochiyama
Standing Towards the Great Forest
Movie • 1961
Shōwa Gokudōshi
Movie • 1972
Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko
Movie • 1956
Detective
Movie • 1964
Homicide
Movie • 1964
Lieutenant Aikawa
Hanran
Movie • 1954
Captain Koda
Kōgen ni ressha ga hashitta
Movie • 1984
Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny
Movie • 1970
A Taxing Woman's Return
Movie • 1988
Sadohara
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
Movie • 2004
Shogun's Shadow
Movie • 1989
Hotta Masamori
The Return of the Filthy Seven
Movie • 1967
The Gambler
Movie • 1965
Sky Scraper!
Movie • 1969
Kizu-darake no futeki-sha
Movie • 1963
Tokyo Untouchable: Escape
Movie • 1963
Goro Kawamoto
The Code of Man
Movie • 1968
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
Movie • 1982
Uichi Suda, The Big Boss
The Kingdom of Jirocho 3
Movie • 1964
Shura Group
Movie • 2002
Kim's War
Movie • 1991
The Duel in the Forbidden Territory
Movie • 1983
Red Flowers of Hell
Movie • 1961
Uragirimono wa jigoku daze
Movie • 1962
Continental Drifter
Movie • 1966
Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed
Movie • 1957
Aboshi Samajirô
Element of Surprise
Movie • 1963
The Imperial Japanese Empire
Movie • 1982
Hideki Tojo
Zero
Movie • 1984
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Battle Anthem
Movie • 1983
Yamamoto
Monument to Holy Service
Movie • 1978
Shura Group Part 1
Movie • 2002
Shura Group Part 2
Movie • 2002
剣聖 暁の三十六番斬り
Movie • 1957
You're My Destiny
Movie • 1987
Ronin on a Mission
Movie • 1987
Ōishi Kuranosuke
A Picture of Madame Yuki
Movie • 1975
Seven Nights in Japan
Movie • 1976
Terrorist Leader (uncredited)
The Gambling Samurai
Movie • 1960
Fumizo Mitsuki
Never Give Up
Movie • 1978
General Wada
Battles Without Honor and Humanity
Movie • 1973
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
Movie • 1980
Tatsuo Akashi
April Fish
Movie • 1986
Panapora Chief Handa
Tokyo Blackout
Movie • 1987
Nakata
The Battle of Okinawa
Movie • 1971
Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons
Movie • 2000
Old Master
Graveyard of Honor
Movie • 2002
Tetsuji Tokura
Blind Beast vs Killer Dwarf
Movie • 2001
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
Movie • 2000
Tetsuo Hatake
Jubaku: Spellbound
Movie • 1999
Tajiro Kawakami
Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown
Movie • 1994
Female Neo-Ninjas
Movie • 1991
Time Patrol leader
Tokyo Pop
Movie • 1988
Mr. Dota
Night Train
Movie • 1987
Isaburo Tamura
There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl
Movie • 1987
Be Free!
Movie • 1986
Keizo Hasegawa
Shogun's Ninja
Movie • 1980
Tozawa Hakuunsai
Dead Angle
Movie • 1979
August Without Emperor
Movie • 1978
Army General Mikami
Flickering Flames
Movie • 1977
A Madcap Corporation
Movie • 1983
Suspicion
Movie • 1982
Kanetaka Okamura
Queen of Asia
Movie • 1957
Kingoro's Soldier
Movie • 1956
President Rai of Kingoro
Movie • 1956
Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War
Movie • 1957
Rear Admiral Shimamura
The Fencing Collegian
Movie • 1956
Kyōen Kobanzame
Movie • 1958
Army Intelligence
Movie • 1968
Lieutenant Colonel Akiyama
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War
Movie • 1973
Tatsuo Akashi
The Shogun's Vault
Movie • 1964
An Outlaw
Movie • 1964
The Bad Boss
Movie • 1968
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
Movie • 1968
G-Men in the Pacific
Movie • 1962
Mizuhara
The Challenge
Movie • 1962
Takayama
All Rascals
Movie • 1962
Kuro to aka no hanabira
Movie • 1962
Tange Sazen
Movie • 1963
Daredevil in the Castle
Movie • 1961
Sadamasa Ishikawa
Nude Woman and Murder Maze
Movie • 1959
Senba
No Police
Movie • 1959
Kukai
Movie • 1984
Flames of Blood
Movie • 1981
Conflagration
Movie • 1975
Captain Munekata
High Seas Hijack
Movie • 1977
Captain Munekata
The Alaska Story
Movie • 1977
Arashuk
Human Revolution II
Movie • 1976
Greatest Boss of the Showa Era
Movie • 1966
Samurai from Somewhere
Movie • 1964
Masagi Shohei
Samurai from Nowhere
Movie • 1964
Gunjuro Ohba
Gang vs. Gang
Movie • 1962
Underwater Murder
Movie • 1958
Quick on the Trigger
Movie • 1958
The Ceiling at Utsunomiya
Movie • 1956
Kurozumi Tenzen
Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced
Movie • 1954
Speed King
Movie • 1956
Harakiri
Movie • 1962
Hikokuro Omodaka
A Flame at the Pier
Movie • 1962
Abashiri Prison
Movie • 1965
Tsumaki
The Wild Daisy
Movie • 1981
Gozaburo Saito
Call from Darkness
Movie • 1981
Sugibayashi
Shinran: Path to Purity
Movie • 1987
Nezumi Kozō kaitō den
Movie • 1984
Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy
Movie • 1984
Yagyu Munefuyu
The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal
Movie • 1959
Kaachan
Movie • 1961
Kingorō no kaigun taishô
Movie • 1959
The Incident
Movie • 1978
Lawyer Kikuchi
Gambler's Farewell
Movie • 1968
Tetsuji Kasai
The International Gang of Kobe
Movie • 1975
Rinsei
Mysterious Dwarf
Movie • 1955
All Men Are Brothers
Movie • 1975
Lu Chun I
Nichiren
Movie • 1979
Thirst for Love
Movie • 1966
Kosuke Aso
Yakuza Ladies 3
Movie • 1989
Takeo Sakanishi
Jakoman and Tetsu
Movie • 1964
Jakoman
Greed in Broad Daylight
Movie • 1961
Miyahara
The Bullet Train
Movie • 1975
Sunaga
Blood of Revenge
Movie • 1965
Yutaro Nomura
The Ghost of Kasane
Movie • 1957
Jinjûrô Ômura
A Wicked Woman
Movie • 1958
Ihei Ôsawa
Four Sisters
Movie • 1962
Masao Igarashi
Organized Violence II
Movie • 1967
Police Inspector Kitagawa
Four Days of Snow and Blood
Movie • 1989
Jinzaburi Shinzaki
King of the Gang
Movie • 1967
Penitentiary Brothers
Movie • 1969
The Private Police
Movie • 1969
Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3
Movie • 1962
The Way to The Gold Medals
Movie • 1980
President Sakakibara
Fireflies in the North
Movie • 1984
Ishikura
The Last True Yakuza
Movie • 1985
Kazumasa Tashiro
Gang vs. G-Men
Movie • 1962
Toru Tezuka
Dissolution Rites
Movie • 1967
Sakai
Yakuza Skirmishes
Movie • 1972
Quarreling with Yakuza
Movie • 1973
Black Lizard
Movie • 1968
Kuroki
The Ando Gang Documentary Film
Movie • 1973
Portrait of Chieko
Movie • 1967
Kotaro Takamura
Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle
Movie • 1999
Tamba (voice)
Shogun's Samurai
Movie • 1978
Ogasawara Gensinsai
The Fall of Ako Castle
Movie • 1978
Yanagisawa
Samurai Reincarnation
Movie • 1981
Muramasa
13 Assassins
Movie • 1963
Doi Ōkō Toshi
Wild Cop 2
Movie • 1973
Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn
Movie • 1966
Lord Tsushima Yagyu
The Geisha
Movie • 1983
Kochi Notable
The Imperial Navy
Movie • 1981
Jisaburo Ozawa
The Yellow Climate
Movie • 1961
The Classroom of Terror
Movie • 1976
The Armed Organization
Movie • 1971
Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room
Movie • 1969
To Trap a Kidnapper
Movie • 1982
Eleven Gangsters
Movie • 1963
Port Arthur
Movie • 1980
Gentaro Kodama
Twilight of the Cockroaches
Movie • 1987
Grandpa (voice)
The Shogun Assassins
Movie • 1979
Kato Kiyomasa
Get 'em All
Movie • 1960
Tanabe
L・O・V・I・N・G
Movie • 1983
The Thousand Year Fire
Movie • 2004
Once and For All
Movie • 1967
A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Taxi Stand
Movie • 2003
The Story of a Man Among Men
Movie • 1984
Destroyer Yukikaze
Movie • 1964
Blood and Law
Movie • 1965
Rise and Fall of Chivalry
Movie • 1970
The Gambler's Counterattack
Movie • 1971
Chief Inspector
Organized Violence
Movie • 1967
Informal Dress
Movie • 1972
Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers
Movie • 1969
The Kii River
Movie • 1966
Shintani Kosaku
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
Movie • 1963
Gu Shimizu
Mist and Shadows
Movie • 1961
Yusuke Komiya
The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes
Movie • 1955
Female Slave Ship
Movie • 1960
The Sand Boat
Movie • 1980
Japan's Top Gangster
Movie • 1973
Noboru Yamaguchi
Operation Plazma in Osaka
Movie • 1976
The Twilight Samurai
Movie • 2002
Tozaemon Iguchi
Organized Crime: Killer's Glory
Movie • 1972
1750 Days of Turbulence
Movie • 1990
Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
Movie • 1967
Postwar Secrets
Movie • 1970
Kuroki
The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry
Movie • 1965
Murderer!
Movie • 1976
Nīto Kouken
The Bushido Blade
Movie • 1981
Lord Yamato
Love: Starting on a Journey
Movie • 1985
Tale of Ninja Duty
Movie • 1965
Mumyo Tsunataro
Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War
Movie • 1958
Keisuke Otori
Karafuto 1945 Summer
Movie • 1974
Yakuza Warfare
Movie • 1991
Be-In Bully High School
Movie • 1990
Ryotaro Sakurazawa
Vendetta of Obligation
Movie • 1985
Giant Rumble
Movie • 1964
The Human Revolution
Movie • 1973
The Making Of The Katakuris
Movie • 2001
Game of Chance 3
Movie • 1967
Company Buggers
Movie • 1975
Gamblers and Racketeers
Movie • 1964
New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm
Movie • 1972
Cabaret
Movie • 1986
Yakuza boss
Secret Prophecies of Nostradamus
Movie • 1974
Himself
Message from Space
Movie • 1978
Ernest Noguchi
The Stupid Teacher
Movie • 2000
Utaemon Baba
The Supernormal II
Movie • 1993
Sugata Sanshiro
Movie • 1977
Iinuma
Troops of Darkness
Movie • 1971
Teruo Ishii Fan Club
Movie • 2006
Taira no Kiyomori
Movie • 1992
The Great Shogunate Battle
Movie • 1991
Gang and G-Men Part 2
Movie • 1963
手塚徹
Lone Rebel
Movie • 1969
The Corporation
Movie • 1976
T.R.Y.
Movie • 2003
Hell's Kitchen
Movie • 1962
Drive for the Future
Movie • 1980
Akiji Nishikawa
花眞珠
Movie • 1955
The Prosecutor and His Sister
Movie • 1956
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
Movie • 1989
吉野博士
Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets
Movie • 1956
The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses
Movie • 1991
Zero sen no jorō gun
Movie • 1960
Snake Woman's Curse
Movie • 1968
Commander
Tokyo: The Last War
Movie • 1989
Kanaami Kohou
Yakuza Demon
Movie • 2003
Michitane Tendou
Lady Vengeance and the 47 Ronin
Movie • 1983
High-Ranking Yakuza
Movie • 1965
Tidal Wave
Movie • 1975
Prime Minister Yamato
The Last Days of Planet Earth
Movie • 1981
Dr. Nishiyama
Diamonds of the Andes
Movie • 1968
Emperor of Upheaval
Movie • 1993
Tokyo Untouchables
Movie • 1964
やくざ番外地 抹殺
Movie • 1969
Ano hito wa ima
Movie • 1963
Storming Osaka Castle: The Sanada Ten Braves
Movie • 1957
Mondonoshô Hirano
源氏九郎颯爽記 秘剣揚羽の蝶
Movie • 1991
日本敗れず
Movie • 1954
Structure of Hate
Movie • 1961
Escape Man
Movie • 1967
機動捜査班
Movie • 1961
Heaven Station
Movie • 1984
Kill the Killer!
Movie • 1961
Narumi
Tokyo: The Last War
Movie • 1989
Kan'ami Kouou
修羅のみち
Movie • 2001
Showdown on Pier No.3
Movie • 1960
Kirishima
Bloody History of Soldiers
Movie • 1958
Shumei Okawa
Ōgon no Hibi
TV • 1978
Imai Sōkyū
Kaseifu wa mita!
TV • 1997
Order Made ~Shiawase Iro no Shinshi Fuku Mise~
TV • 2004
Yoshitsune
TV • 2005
Minamoto no Yorimasa (Gen-ji)
Yumemiru Budo
TV • 2003
Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen
TV • 1990
Matsudaira Ukon Jikencho
TV • 1982
HOTEL
TV • 1990
Ohara Tetsutaro
Toshiie and Matsu
TV • 2002
Tarozaemon Iguchi
Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches
TV • 1986
Naruse Hayatonosho
水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵
TV • 1984
平田無二斎
Gokenin Zankuro
TV • 1995
Hanshichi Torimonochō
TV • 1992
Hashiran ka!
TV • 1995
前田米吉
Coming Home
TV • 1994
Shirota Fukuzo
Sanada Taiheiki
TV • 1985
Sanada Masayuki
新幹線物語'93夏
TV • 1993
黒木哲也
Marco Polo
TV • 1982
Vasaio
Inochi
TV • 1986
Takahara Masamichi
Byakkotai
TV • 1986
Jinbo Kuranosuke
The Veteran Trio
TV • 1999
Inui Sanshiro
Life of St. Blue Eyes
TV • 1984
Takeyoshi Takagi
Masked Blade
TV • 1983
Key Hunter
TV • 1968
黒木鉄也
The Tale of Genji
TV • 1991
Tabaruzaka
TV • 1987
Ôyama Tunayoshi
G-Men '75
TV • 1975
黒木警視