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