Tetsuro Tamba
Photoplayd Industry Rating
Not enough rated films yet to compute a weighted score.
Roles are weighted by involvement: director 1.0, screenwriter 0.7, lead 0.8, supporting 0.4, crew 0.1.
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
You Only Live Twice (1967)
as Tiger Tanaka
Harakiri (1962)
as Hikokuro Omodaka
The Cat Returns (2002)
as Cat King (voice)
The Twilight Samurai (2002)
as Tozaemon Iguchi
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (1991)
as Master Zhang
Kwaidan (1965)
as Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")
The Castle of Sand (1974)
as Detective Eitaro Imanishi
Giant Rumble (1964)
Actor
Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle (1999)
as Tamba (voice)
Love: Starting on a Journey (1985)
Actor
Blind Beast vs Killer Dwarf (2001)
Actor
G-Men in the Pacific (1962)
as Mizuhara
Port Arthur (1980)
as Gentaro Kodama
The Bullet Train (1975)
as Sunaga
Prophecies of Nostradamus (1974)
as Dr. Nishiyama
Thirteen Times a Loser (1969)
as Shinji Kaizuka
Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight (1973)
as Shino
Four Days of Snow and Blood (1989)
as Jinzaburi Shinzaki
Samurai Reincarnation (1981)
as Muramasa
Violent Streets (1974)
as Shimamura
Japanese Hell (1999)
as Asu Shino
Battles Without Honor and Humanity (1973)
Actor
Hot Vacation (1968)
Actor
Nichiren (1979)
Actor
Submersion of Japan (1973)
as Prime Minister Yamamoto
Teruo Ishii Fan Club (2006)
Actor
Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy (1978)
as Ogasawara Gensinsai
Destroyer Yukikaze (1964)
Actor
Flames of Blood (1981)
Actor
Ninja Killers (1964)
Actor
The Kingdom of Jirocho 3 (1964)
Actor
Message from Space (1978)
as Ernest Noguchi
All Rascals (1962)
Actor
Postwar Secrets (1970)
as Kuroki
Gang vs. G-Men (1962)
as Toru Tezuka
Gozu (2003)
Actor
Goyokin (1969)
as Rokugo Tatewaki
13 Assassins (1963)
as Doi Ōkō Toshi
The Bad Boss (1968)
Actor
Big Bad Wolf (1973)
Actor
Shinran: Path to Purity (1987)
Actor
Gambler's Farewell (1968)
as Tetsuji Kasai
Shogun's Ninja (1980)
as Tozawa Hakuunsai
The Fall of Ako Castle (1978)
as Yanagisawa
Pigs and Battleships (1961)
as Slasher Tetsuji
The Happiness of the Katakuris (2002)
as Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
Silence (1971)
as Cristóvão Ferreira
The Battle of Okinawa (1971)
as Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
Human Revolution II (1976)
Actor
The Gambling Samurai (1960)
as Fumizo Mitsuki
Greatest Boss of the Showa Era (1966)
Actor
Sky Scraper! (1969)
Actor
King of the Gang (1967)
Actor
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs (1974)
as Nagumo
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather (1982)
as Uichi Suda, The Big Boss
Jakoman and Tetsu (1964)
as Jakoman
The Armed Organization (1971)
Actor
Bloody History of Soldiers (1958)
as Shumei Okawa
Conflagration (1975)
as Captain Munekata
Graveyard of Honor (2002)
as Tetsuji Tokura
The Imperial Navy (1981)
as Jisaburo Ozawa
Female Slave Ship (1960)
Actor
13 Assassins (1990)
Actor
The Supernormal II (1993)
Actor
The Return of the Filthy Seven (1967)
Actor
Gang vs. G-Men: Safe Breakers (1963)
as 手塚徹
Tokyo Pop (1988)
as Mr. Dota
Rise and Fall of Chivalry (1970)
Actor
All Men Are Brothers (1975)
as Lu Chun I
Shogun's Shadow (1989)
as Hotta Masamori
The 5-Man Army (1969)
as Samurai
Mount Hakkoda (1977)
as Colonel Kojima
Revenge (1964)
as Shume Okuno
Once and For All (1967)
Actor
Yakuza Skirmishes (1972)
Actor
T.R.Y. (2003)
Actor
The Water Margin (1972)
as Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
Fireflies in the North (1984)
as Ishikura
Underwater Murder (1958)
Actor
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron (1978)
as Kichibei
The Geisha (1983)
as Kochi Notable
Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy (1984)
as Yagyu Munefuyu
Operation Diamond (1962)
as Kazuo Kasami
The Gambler (1965)
Actor
The Peking Man (1997)
as Osone
Hell's Kitchen (1962)
Actor
Kim's War (1991)
Actor
Quick on the Trigger (1958)
Actor
I Saw a Monster Fish (1981)
as ryuji
Three Outlaw Samurai (1964)
as Sakon Shiba
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War (1973)
as Tatsuo Akashi
Tokyo Blackout (1987)
as Nakata
Black Lizard (1968)
as Kuroki
The Sand Boat (1980)
Actor
The Thousand Year Fire (2004)
Actor
The Bushido Blade (1981)
as Lord Yamato
Never Give Up (1978)
as General Wada
Informal Dress (1972)
Actor
A Madcap Corporation (1983)
as Yoshiteru Suma (Suma-gumi Boss)
Night Train (1987)
as Isaburo Tamura
Hunter in the Dark (1979)
as Okitsugu Tanuma
Twilight Saloon (1955)
as Morimoto
Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons (2000)
as Old Master
August Without Emperor (1978)
as Army General Mikami
Twilight of the Cockroaches (1987)
as Grandpa (voice)
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka (2002)
as Sanada
Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole (1994)
Actor
Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn (1966)
as Lord Tsushima Yagyu
Sugata Sanshiro (1977)
as Iinuma
The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses (1991)
Actor
Abashiri Prison (1965)
as Tsumaki
Blood and Law (1965)
Actor
Samurai Spy (1965)
as Sakon Takatani
Heat Wave (1991)
as Denkichi Tsuzaki
Suspicion (1982)
as Kanetaka Okamura
Tokyo: The Last War (1989)
as Kanaami Kohou
Cabaret (1986)
as Yakuza boss
The Stupid Teacher (2000)
as Utaemon Baba
The Story of a Man Among Men (1984)
Actor
Call from Darkness (1981)
as Sugibayashi
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun (1972)
as Sergeant Katsuo Togashi
Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room (1969)
Actor
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen (2000)
as Tetsuo Hatake
Company Buggers (1975)
Actor
Yakuza Ladies 3 (1989)
as Takeo Sakanishi
The Corporation (1976)
as Kawamata
Get 'em All (1960)
as Tanabe
Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War (1957)
as Rear Admiral Shimamura
Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets (1956)
Actor
A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Taxi Stand (2003)
Actor
Dead Angle (1979)
Actor
You're My Destiny (1987)
Actor
The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal (1959)
Actor
Fujisawa Shuhei's Sparkling Sword: Puppeteer in the Shadows (1997)
Actor
The Shogun Assassins (1979)
as Kato Kiyomasa
Japan's Top Gangster (1973)
as Noboru Yamaguchi
The Kii River (1966)
as Shintani Kosaku
Drive for the Future (1980)
as Akiji Nishikawa
Female Neo-Ninjas (1991)
as Time Patrol leader
Zero (1984)
as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Daredevil in the Castle (1961)
as Sadamasa Ishikawa
Battle Anthem (1983)
as Yamamoto
Under Aurora (1990)
as Tsuneiro Kamisaka
The Imperial Japanese Empire (1982)
as Hideki Tojo
Jubaku: Spellbound (1999)
as Tajiro Kawakami
Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive (1970)
as Hyoe
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze (1968)
Actor
Tokyo Untouchable (1965)
as Goro Kawamoto
Futari dake no toride (1963)
Actor
Samon’s Hell Revenge: Unauthorised Jutte Records 2 - The Assassination of the Shogun (1983)
Actor
Shura Group (2002)
Actor
The Ando Gang Documentary Film (1973)
Actor
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan (1970)
as Soshun Kochiyama
Samurai from Nowhere (1964)
as Gunjuro Ohba
The Wolves (1971)
as Genryu Asakura
Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny (1970)
Actor
Hanran (1954)
as Captain Koda
The Last True Yakuza (1985)
as Kazumasa Tashiro
Kukai (1984)
Actor
Assassination (1964)
as Hachiro Kiyokawa
Minamoto Yoshitsune (1991)
Actor
The Great Shogunate Battle (1991)
Actor
Yakuza Demon (2003)
as Michitane Tendou
Blackmail Is My Life (1968)
Actor
Portrait of Chieko (1967)
as Kotaro Takamura
Heaven Station (1984)
Actor
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio (2004)
Actor
Thirst for Love (1966)
as Kosuke Aso
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies! (1970)
Actor
Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War (1958)
as Keisuke Otori
The Incident (1978)
as Lawyer Kikuchi
Zero Pilot (1976)
as Captain Saito
Queen of Asia (1957)
Actor
A Taxing Woman's Return (1988)
as Sadohara
Shadow Hunters (1972)
Actor
Operation Plazma in Osaka (1976)
Actor
To Trap a Kidnapper (1982)
Actor
The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry (1965)
Actor
The Classroom of Terror (1976)
Actor
Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo (1967)
Actor
Kingorō no kaigun taishô (1959)
Actor
The Human Revolution (1973)
as Josei Toda
The Gambler's Counterattack (1971)
as Chief Inspector
Element of Surprise (1963)
Actor
A Flame at the Pier (1962)
Actor
Troops of Darkness (1971)
Actor
Organized Violence II (1967)
as Police Inspector Kitagawa
High-Ranking Yakuza (1965)
Actor
Between Women and Wives (1976)
Actor
The International Gang of Kobe (1975)
as Rinsei
Screwed (1998)
as Landlord
Gamblers and Racketeers (1964)
Actor
Snake Woman's Curse (1968)
as Commander
Continental Drifter (1966)
Actor
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga (1980)
as Tatsuo Akashi
Devil Princess’ Beauty Competition (1956)
Actor
Organized Violence (1967)
Actor
Detective (1964)
Actor
Red Flowers of Hell (1961)
Actor
Tokyo Untouchables (1964)
Actor
The Challenge (1962)
as Takayama
Demon Pond (2005)
Actor
The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes (1955)
Actor
The Wild Daisy (1981)
as Gozaburo Saito
Taira no Kiyomori (1992)
Actor
There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl (1987)
Actor
Mist and Shadows (1961)
as Yusuke Komiya
Blood of Revenge (1965)
as Yutaro Nomura
South Pacific Waves Are High (1962)
Actor
The School Deviate Waru (1973)
Actor
The Tale of Saikaido (1983)
Actor
New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm (1972)
Actor
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die (1989)
as 吉野博士
The Shogun's Vault (1964)
Actor
The Yellow Climate (1961)
Actor
Shōwa Gokudōshi (1972)
Actor
Samurai from Somewhere (1964)
as Masagi Shohei
Karafuto 1945 Summer (1974)
Actor
Lone Rebel (1969)
Actor
Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers (1969)
Actor
The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun (1982)
Actor
Murderer! (1976)
as Nīto Kouken
Tale of Ninja Duty (1965)
as Mumyo Tsunataro
The 7th Dawn (1964)
as Ng
Dissolution Rites (1967)
as Sakai
The Political Game (1989)
Actor
Monument to Holy Service (1978)
Actor
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance (1963)
as Gu Shimizu
日本敗れず (1954)
Actor
Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny (1972)
as Kagemetsuke
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno (1974)
as Kimitake Shugi / Moroki
King of Pornography (1971)
Actor
Game of Chance 3 (1967)
Actor
Yakuza Warfare (1991)
Actor
The Private Police (1969)
Actor
Penitentiary Brothers (1969)
Actor
April Fish (1986)
as Panapora Chief Handa
Showdown on Pier No.3 (1960)
as Kirishima
The Code of Man (1968)
Actor
The Duel in the Forbidden Territory (1983)
Actor
Organized Crime: Killer's Glory (1972)
Actor
High Seas Hijack (1977)
as Captain Munekata
Hanamazu (1955)
Actor
Four Sisters (1962)
as Masao Igarashi
Eleven Gangsters (1963)
Actor
Gang vs. Gang (1962)
Actor
Quarreling with Yakuza (1973)
Actor
A Picture of Madame Yuki (1975)
Actor
やくざ番外地 抹殺 (1969)
Actor
Flickering Flames (1977)
Actor
1750 Days of Turbulence (1990)
Actor
Structure of Hate (1961)
Actor
Standing Towards the Great Forest (1961)
Actor
Diamonds of the Andes (1968)
Actor
The Sound of the Waves (1985)
Actor
Nezumi Kozō kaitō den (1984)
Actor
Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown (1994)
Actor
Homicide (1964)
as Lieutenant Aikawa
The Alaska Story (1977)
as Arashuk
Secret Prophecies of Nostradamus (1974)
as Himself
Army Intelligence (1968)
as Lieutenant Colonel Akiyama
Umineko ga tonde (1962)
Actor
Shura Group Part 1 (2002)
Actor
Nude Woman and Murder Maze (1959)
as Senba
An Outlaw (1964)
Actor
Seven Nights in Japan (1976)
as Terrorist Leader (uncredited)
Wild Cop 2 (1973)
Actor
President Rai of Kingoro (1956)
Actor
Kaachan (1961)
Actor
Emperor of Upheaval (1993)
Actor
Ano hito wa ima (1963)
Actor
Tokyo Gang vs. Hong Kong Gang (1964)
Actor
The Way to The Gold Medals (1980)
as President Sakakibara
Escape Man (1967)
Actor
The Last Days of Planet Earth (1981)
as Dr. Nishiyama
Zankokuna tsuki (1962)
Actor
The Ceiling at Utsunomiya (1956)
as Kurozumi Tenzen
Be Free! (1986)
as Keizo Hasegawa
Ino Tadataka: Meridian Dreams (2001)
Actor
Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3 (1962)
Actor
Tange Sazen (1963)
Actor
Hibari's Triple Role: The Dazzling Transformation of Yukinojo (1957)
Actor
A Wicked Woman (1958)
as Ihei Ôsawa
Black and Red Flower Petals (1962)
Actor
Greed in Broad Daylight (1961)
as Miyahara
Be-In Bully High School (1990)
as Ryotaro Sakurazawa
Underworld Code (1965)
Actor
Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave (1966)
as J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)
Kill the Killer! (1961)
as Narumi
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!! (1990)
as Ryo Okamoto
The Prosecutor and His Sister (1956)
Actor
Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced (1954)
Actor
Lady Vengeance and the 47 Ronin (1983)
Actor
Bridge to the Sun (1961)
as Jiro
Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed (1957)
as Aboshi Samajirô
The Ghost of Kasane (1957)
as Jinjûrô Ômura
Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido (1967)
Actor
Storming Osaka Castle: The Sanada Ten Braves (1957)
as Mondonoshô Hirano
L・O・V・I・N・G (1983)
Actor
Hawk of the Harbour (1967)
Actor
Shura Group Part 2 (2002)
Actor
Mysterious Dwarf (1955)
Actor
Uragirimono wa jigoku daze (1962)
Actor
Vendetta of Obligation (1985)
Actor
Tokyo Untouchable: Escape (1963)
as Goro Kawamoto
剣聖 暁の三十六番斬り (1957)
Actor
Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko (1956)
Actor
Kizu-darake no futeki-sha (1963)
Actor
Kōgen ni ressha ga hashitta (1984)
Actor
The Making Of The Katakuris (2001)
Actor
The Fencing Collegian (1956)
Actor
No Police (1959)
Actor
The Vassal's Neck (1955)
Actor
Zero sen no jorō gun (1960)
Actor
Hibari's Triple Role: The Transformation of Yukinojo — Part II (1957)
Actor
Kyōen Kobanzame (1958)
Actor
Kingoro's Soldier (1956)
Actor
Ronin on a Mission (1987)
as Ōishi Kuranosuke
Speed King (1956)
Actor
Tidal Wave (1975)
as Prime Minister Yamato
長七郎江戸日記スペシャル 長七郎 大奥まかり通る (1989)
Actor
Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special (1988)
Actor
源氏九郎颯爽記 秘剣揚羽の蝶 (1991)
Actor
機動捜査班 (1961)
Actor
修羅のみち (2001)
Actor