Name
Tetsuro Tamba
Known For
Acting
Birthday
1922-07-17
Deathday
2006-09-24 (84 years old)
Place of Birth
Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
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.
Known For
You Only Live Twice
(2,513 Votes)
6.6
A mysterious spacecraft captures Russian and American space capsules and brings the two su...
Relase Date : 13 Jun, 1967
Trailer
Details
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
(373 Votes)
6.881
In 2001, where all correctional facilities have been privatized, martial artist Ricky find...
Relase Date : 5 Oct, 1991
Trailer
Details
There's only one way to stop a filthy evil scientist from destroying the world, and it's w...
Relase Date : 17 Apr, 1999
Trailer
Details
The Bushido Blade
(14 Votes)
5.5
A steel samurai blade that was to be given to the American ambassador by the Emperor of Ja...
Relase Date : 19 Jun, 1981
Trailer
Details
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
(26 Votes)
6.2
Onimasa is the egocentric boss of a small yakuza clan on Shikoku Island, whose criminal du...
Relase Date : 5 Jun, 1982
Trailer
Details
The Battle of Okinawa
(14 Votes)
7.8
The Americans are swiftly closing on Okinawa, an island just south of the Japanese mainlan...
Relase Date : 14 Aug, 1971
Trailer
Details
Movies
Tv Shows
- 1967 You Only Live Twice as Tiger Tanaka
- 1991 Minamoto Yoshitsune
- 1965 Kwaidan as Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")
- 1962 Operation Diamond as Kazuo Kasami
- 1966 Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave as J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)
- 1961 Pigs and Battleships as Slasher Tetsuji
- 1964 Tokyo Gang vs. Hong Kong Gang
- 2005 Demon Pond
- 1962 South Pacific Waves Are High
- 2003 Gozu
- 1971 The Wolves as Genryu Asakura
- 1971 King of Pornography
- 1974 The Castle of Sand as Detective Eitaro Imanishi
- 2002 Deadly Outlaw: Rekka as Sanada
- 1967 Hawk of the Harbour
- 1965 Tokyo Untouchable as Goro Kawamoto
- 2002 The Cat Returns as Cat King (voice)
- 1989 長七郎江戸日記スペシャル 長七郎 大奥まかり通る
- 1972 The Water Margin as Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
- 1990 13 Assassins
- 1974 Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs as Nagumo
- 1972 Under the Flag of the Rising Sun as Sergeant Katsuo Togashi
- 1963 Futari dake no toride
- 2002 The Happiness of the Katakuris as Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
- 1979 Hunter in the Dark as Okitsugu Tanuma
- 1970 Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
- 1969 The 5-Man Army as Samurai
- 1991 Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky as Master Zhang
- 1974 Violent Streets as Shimamura Kansai
- 1965 Samurai Spy as Sakon Takatani
- 1969 Goyokin as Rokugo Tatewaki
- 1997 The Peking Man as Osone
- 1967 Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo
- 1957 Hibari's Triple Role: The Dazzling Transformation of Yukinojo
- 1957 Hibari's Triple Role: The Transformation of Yukinojo — Part II
- 1990 Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!! as Ryo Okamoto
- 1994 Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole
- 1989 The Political Game
- 1971 Silence as Cristóvão Ferreira
- 1964 Revenge as Shume Okuno
- 1985 The Sound of the Waves
- 1973 The School Deviate Waru
- 1964 The 7th Dawn as Ng
- 1972 Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny as Kagemetsuke
- 1978 Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron as Kichibei
- 1972 Shadow Hunters
- 1964 Three Outlaw Samurai as Sakon Shiba
- 1999 Japanese Hell as Asu Shino
- 1974 The Executioner II: Karate Inferno as Kimitake Shugi / Moroki
- 1964 Assassination as Hachiro Kiyokawa
- 1956 Devil Princess’ Beauty Competition
- 1973 Submersion of Japan as Prime Minister Yamamoto
- 1973 Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight as Shino
- 1962 Umineko ga tonde
- 1968 Blackmail Is My Life
- 1983 Samon’s Hell Revenge: Unauthorised Jutte Records 2 - The Assassination of the Shogun
- 1988 Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special
- 1998 Screwed as Landlord
- 1982 The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun
- 1977 Mount Hakkoda as Colonel Kojima
- 1991 Heat Wave as Denkichi Tsuzaki
- 1955 Twilight Saloon as Morimoto
- 1990 Aurora Borealis as Tsuneiro Kamisaka
- 1961 Bridge to the Sun as Jiro
- 1983 The Tale of Saikaido
- 1974 Prophecies of Nostradamus as Dr. Nishiyama
- 1976 Zero Fighter as Captain Saito
- 1970 Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive as Hyoe
- 2001 Ino Tadataka: Meridian Dreams
- 1965 Underworld Code
- 1962 Zankokuna tsuki
- 1970 The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan as Soshun Kochiyama
- 1961 Standing Towards the Great Forest
- 1972 Shōwa Gokudōshi
- 1956 Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko
- 1964 Detective
- 1964 Homicide as Lieutenant Aikawa
- 1954 Hanran as Captain Koda
- 1984 Kōgen ni ressha ga hashitta
- 1970 Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny
- 1988 A Taxing Woman's Return as Sadohara
- 2004 Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
- 1989 Shogun's Shadow as Hotta Masamori
- 1967 The Return of the Filthy Seven
- 1965 The Gambler
- 1969 Sky Scraper!
- 1963 Kizu-darake no futeki-sha
- 1963 Tokyo Untouchable: Escape as Goro Kawamoto
- 1968 The Code of Man
- 1982 Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather as Uichi Suda, The Big Boss
- 1964 The Kingdom of Jirocho 3
- 2002 Shura Group
- 1991 Kim's War
- 1983 The Duel in the Forbidden Territory
- 1961 Red Flowers of Hell
- 1962 Uragirimono wa jigoku daze
- 1966 Continental Drifter
- 1957 Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed as Aboshi Samajirô
- 1963 Element of Surprise
- 1982 The Imperial Japanese Empire as Hideki Tojo
- 1984 Zero as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
- 1983 Battle Anthem as Yamamoto
- 1978 Monument to Holy Service
- 2002 Shura Group Part 1
- 2002 Shura Group Part 2
- 1957 剣聖 暁の三十六番斬り
- 1987 You're My Destiny
- 1987 Ronin on a Mission as Ōishi Kuranosuke
- 1975 A Picture of Madame Yuki
- 1976 Seven Nights in Japan as Terrorist Leader (uncredited)
- 1960 The Gambling Samurai as Fumizo Mitsuki
- 1978 Never Give Up as General Wada
- 1973 Battles Without Honor and Humanity
- 1980 Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga as Tatsuo Akashi
- 1986 April Fish as Panapora Chief Handa
- 1987 Tokyo Blackout as Nakata
- 2000 Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons as Old Master
- 1971 The Battle of Okinawa as Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
- 1987 There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl
- 1964 An Outlaw
- 1959 Nude Woman and Murder Maze as Senba
- 1977 Flickering Flames
- 1968 The Bad Boss
- 1978 August Without Emperor as Army General Mikami
- 1984 Kukai
- 1979 Dead Angle
- 1973 Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War as Tatsuo Akashi
- 1988 Tokyo Pop as Mr. Dota
- 1986 Be Free! as Keizo Hasegawa
- 1983 A Madcap Corporation as Yoshiteru Suma (Suma-gumi Boss)
- 1982 Suspicion as Kanetaka Okamura
- 1962 The Challenge as Takayama
- 2000 A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen as Tetsuo Hatake
- 1961 Daredevil in the Castle as Sadamasa Ishikawa
- 1999 Jubaku: Spellbound as Tajiro Kawakami
- 1987 Night Train as Isaburo Tamura
- 1957 Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War as Rear Admiral Shimamura
- 1958 Kyōen Kobanzame
- 1962 G-Men in the Pacific as Mizuhara
- 1963 Tange Sazen
- 2001 Blind Beast vs Killer Dwarf
- 1956 President Rai of Kingoro
- 1964 The Shogun's Vault
- 1968 The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
- 1981 Flames of Blood
- 1991 Female Neo-Ninjas as Time Patrol leader
- 1980 Shogun's Ninja as Tozawa Hakuunsai
- 1956 The Fencing Collegian
- 2002 Graveyard of Honor as Tetsuji Tokura
- 1957 Queen of Asia
- 1956 Kingoro's Soldier
- 1994 Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown
- 1962 All Rascals
- 1962 Black and Red Flower Petals
- 1968 Army Intelligence as Lieutenant Colonel Akiyama
- 1959 No Police
- 1962 A Flame at the Pier
- 1965 Abashiri Prison as Tsumaki
- 1987 Shinran: Path to Purity
- 1977 The Alaska Story as Arashuk
- 1962 Harakiri as Hikokuro Omodaka
- 1981 The Wild Daisy as Gozaburo Saito
- 1964 Samurai from Somewhere as Masagi Shohei
- 1956 The Ceiling at Utsunomiya as Kurozumi Tenzen
- 1975 Conflagration as Captain Munekata
- 1958 Underwater Murder
- 1976 Human Revolution II
- 1954 Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced
- 1964 Samurai from Nowhere as Gunjuro Ohba
- 1966 Greatest Boss of the Showa Era
- 1977 High Seas Hijack as Captain Munekata
- 1962 Gang vs. Gang
- 1984 Nezumi Kozō kaitō den
- 1958 Quick on the Trigger
- 1984 Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy as Yagyu Munefuyu
- 1956 Speed King
- 1981 Call from Darkness as Sugibayashi
- 1959 The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal
- 1961 Kaachan
- 1959 Kingorō no kaigun taishô
- 1978 The Incident as Lawyer Kikuchi
- 1968 Gambler's Farewell as Tetsuji Kasai
- 1975 The International Gang of Kobe as Rinsei
- 1955 Mysterious Dwarf
- 1975 All Men Are Brothers as Lu Chun I
- 1979 Nichiren
- 1964 Jakoman and Tetsu as Jakoman
- 1966 Thirst for Love as Kosuke Aso
- 1989 Yakuza Ladies 3 as Takeo Sakanishi
- 1961 Greed in Broad Daylight as Miyahara
- 1975 The Bullet Train as Sunaga
- 1965 Blood of Revenge as Yutaro Nomura
- 1957 The Ghost of Kasane as Jinjûrô Ômura
- 1958 A Wicked Woman as Ihei Ôsawa
- 1962 Four Sisters as Masao Igarashi
- 1967 Organized Violence II as Police Inspector Kitagawa
- 1989 Four Days of Snow and Blood as Jinzaburi Shinzaki
- 1967 King of the Gang
- 1969 Penitentiary Brothers
- 1969 The Private Police
- 1962 Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3
- 1980 The Way to The Gold Medals as President Sakakibara
- 1984 Fireflies in the North as Ishikura
- 1985 The Last True Yakuza as Kazumasa Tashiro
- 1962 Gang vs. G-Men as Toru Tezuka
- 1967 Dissolution Rites as Sakai
- 1972 Yakuza Skirmishes
- 1973 Quarreling with Yakuza
- 1968 Black Lizard as Kuroki
- 1973 The Ando Gang Documentary Film
- 1967 Portrait of Chieko as Kotaro Takamura
- 1999 Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle as Tamba (voice)
- 1978 The Fall of Ako Castle as Yanagisawa
- 1978 Shogun's Samurai as Ogasawara Gensinsai
- 1981 Samurai Reincarnation as Muramasa
- 1963 13 Assassins as Doi Ōkō Toshi
- 1973 Wild Cop 2
- 1966 Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn as Lord Tsushima Yagyu
- 1983 The Geisha as Kochi Notable
- 1981 The Imperial Navy as Jisaburo Ozawa
- 1961 The Yellow Climate
- 1976 The Classroom of Terror
- 1971 The Armed Organization
- 1969 Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room
- 1982 To Trap a Kidnapper
- 1963 Eleven Gangsters
- 1980 Port Arthur as Gentaro Kodama
- 1987 Twilight of the Cockroaches as Grandpa (voice)
- 1979 The Shogun Assassins as Kato Kiyomasa
- 1960 Get 'em All as Tanabe
- 1983 L・O・V・I・N・G
- 2004 The Thousand Year Fire
- 1967 Once and For All
- 2003 A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Taxi Stand
- 1984 The Story of a Man Among Men
- 1964 Destroyer Yukikaze
- 1965 Blood and Law
- 1970 Rise and Fall of Chivalry
- 1971 The Gambler's Counterattack as Chief Inspector
- 1967 Organized Violence
- 1972 Informal Dress
- 1969 Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers
- 1966 The Kii River as Shintani Kosaku
- 1963 Gang Loyalty and Vengeance as Gu Shimizu
- 1961 Mist and Shadows as Yusuke Komiya
- 1955 The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes
- 1960 Female Slave Ship
- 1980 The Sand Boat
- 1973 Japan's Top Gangster as Noboru Yamaguchi
- 2002 The Twilight Samurai as Tozaemon Iguchi
- 1976 Operation Plazma in Osaka
- 1972 Organized Crime: Killer's Glory
- 1990 1750 Days of Turbulence
- 1967 Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
- 1970 Postwar Secrets as Kuroki
- 1965 The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry
- 1976 Murderer! as Nīto Kouken
- 1981 The Bushido Blade as Lord Yamato
- 1965 Tale of Ninja Duty as Mumyo Tsunataro
- 1985 Love: Starting on a Journey
- 1958 Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War as Keisuke Otori
- 1974 Karafuto 1945 Summer
- 1991 Yakuza Warfare
- 1990 Be-In Bully High School as Ryotaro Sakurazawa
- 1985 Vendetta of Obligation
- 1964 Giant Rumble
- 1973 The Human Revolution
- 2001 The Making Of The Katakuris
- 1967 Game of Chance 3
- 1975 Company Buggers
- 1964 Gamblers and Racketeers
- 1972 New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm
- 1986 Cabaret as Yakuza boss
- 1974 Secret Prophecies of Nostradamus as Himself
- 1978 Message from Space as Ernest Noguchi
- 2000 The Stupid Teacher as Utaemon Baba
- 1993 The Supernormal II
- 1977 Sugata Sanshiro as Iinuma
- 1971 Troops of Darkness
- 2006 Teruo Ishii Fan Club
- 1992 Taira no Kiyomori
- 1991 The Great Shogunate Battle
- 1963 Gang vs. G-Men: Safe Breakers as 手塚徹
- 1969 Lone Rebel
- 1976 The Corporation
- 2003 T.R.Y.
- 1962 Hell's Kitchen
- 1980 Drive for the Future as Akiji Nishikawa
- 1955 Hanamazu
- 1956 The Prosecutor and His Sister
- 1989 Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die as 吉野博士
- 1956 Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets
- 1991 The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses
- 1960 Zero sen no jorō gun
- 1968 Snake Woman's Curse as Commander
- 1989 Tokyo: The Last War as Kanaami Kohou
- 2003 Yakuza Demon as Michitane Tendou
- 1983 Lady Vengeance and the 47 Ronin
- 1965 High-Ranking Yakuza
- 1975 Tidal Wave as Prime Minister Yamato
- 1981 The Last Days of Planet Earth as Dr. Nishiyama
- 1968 Diamonds of the Andes
- 1993 Emperor of Upheaval
- 1964 Tokyo Untouchables
- 1969 やくざ番外地 抹殺
- 1963 Ano hito wa ima
- 1957 Storming Osaka Castle: The Sanada Ten Braves as Mondonoshô Hirano
- 1991 源氏九郎颯爽記 秘剣揚羽の蝶
- 1954 日本敗れず
- 1961 Structure of Hate
- 1967 Escape Man
- 1961 機動捜査班
- 1984 Heaven Station
- 1961 Kill the Killer! as Narumi
- 1989 Tokyo: The Last War as Kan'ami Kouou
- 2001 修羅のみち
- 1960 Showdown on Pier No.3 as Kirishima
- 1958 Bloody History of Soldiers as Shumei Okawa
- 1969 Thirteen Times a Loser as Shinji Kaizuka
- 1964 Ninja Killers
- 1976 Between Women and Wives
- 1973 Big Bad Wolf
- 1955 The Vassal's Neck
- 1978 Ōgon no Hibi ( 51 episodes ) as Imai Sōkyū
- 1997 Kaseifu wa mita! ( 1 episode )
- 2004 Order Made ~Shiawase Iro no Shinshi Fuku Mise~ ( 5 episodes )
- 2005 Yoshitsune ( 49 episodes ) as Minamoto no Yorimasa (Gen-ji)
- 2003 Yumemiru Budo ( 11 episodes )
- 1990 Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen ( 5 episodes )
- 1982 Matsudaira Ukon Jikencho ( 73 episodes )
- 1990 HOTEL ( 85 episodes ) as Ohara Tetsutaro
- 2002 Toshiie and Matsu ( 51 episodes ) as Tarozaemon Iguchi
- 1986 Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches ( 13 episodes ) as Naruse Hayatonosho
- 1984 水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵 ( 45 episodes ) as 平田無二斎
- 1995 Gokenin Zankuro ( 8 episodes )
- 1992 Hanshichi Torimonochō ( 2 episodes )
- 1995 Hashiran ka! ( 151 episodes ) as 前田米吉
- 1994 Coming Home ( 12 episodes ) as Shirota Fukuzo
- 1985 Sanada Taiheiki ( 45 episodes ) as Sanada Masayuki
- 1993 新幹線物語'93夏 ( 12 episodes ) as 黒木哲也
- 1982 Marco Polo ( 2 episodes ) as Vasaio
- 1986 Inochi ( 50 episodes ) as Takahara Masamichi
- 1986 Byakkotai ( 2 episodes ) as Jinbo Kuranosuke
- 1999 The Veteran Trio ( 9 episodes ) as Inui Sanshiro
- 1984 Life of St. Blue Eyes ( 1 episode ) as Takeyoshi Takagi
- 1983 Masked Blade ( 118 episodes )
- 1968 Key Hunter ( 262 episodes ) as 黒木鉄也
- 1991 The Tale of Genji ( 2 episodes )
- 1987 Tabaruzaka ( 2 episodes ) as Ôyama Tunayoshi
- 1975 G-Men '75 ( 354 episodes ) as 黒木警視
- 1983 The Brave Man Says Little ( 4 episodes )
- 1989 The Ginger Tree ( 1 episode ) as Hirushi Tsushima
- 1990 The Great White Tower ( 2 episodes ) as Professor Ukai
