Tetsurō 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.
Movies
You Only Live Twice
Tiger Tanaka
The Challenge
Takayama
Kwaidan
Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")
Pigs and Battleships
Slasher Tetsuji
Demon Pond
Gozu
The Wolves
Genryu Asakura
The Castle of Sand
Detective Eitaro Imanishi
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
Sanada
The Cat Returns
Cat King (voice)
The Water Margin
Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
Nagumo
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun
Sergeant Katsuo Togashi
Hunter in the Dark
Okitsugu Tanuma
The Happiness of the Katakuris
Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
The Five Man Army
Samurai
Violent Streets
Shimamura Kansai
Samurai Spy
Sakon Takatani
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
Master Zhang
Goyokin
Rokugo Tatewaki
The Peking Man
Osone
Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons
Old Master
Revenge
Shume Okuno
The 7th Dawn
Ng
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
Kichibei
Three Outlaw Samurai
Sakon Shiba
Shadow Hunters
Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny
Kagemetsuke
Japanese Hell
Asu Shino
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
Shugi
Assassination
Hachiro Kiyokawa
Submersion of Japan
Prime Minister Yamamoto
Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight
Shino
Blackmail Is My Life
Mysterious Pygmy
Mount Hakkoda
Colonel Kojima
Screwed
Landlord
Heat Wave
Denkichi Tsuzaki
Samurai from Nowhere
Gunjuro Ohba
Prophecies of Nostradamus
Dr. Nishiyama
Zero Fighter
Captain Saito
Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive
Hyoe
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
Soshun Kochiyama
You're My Destiny
Night Train
Isaburo Tamura
Samurai from Somewhere
The Fencing Collegian
Underwater Murder
A Taxing Woman's Return
Sadohara
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
Uichi Suda, The Big Boss
Suspicion
Kanetaka Okamura
Shogun's Ninja
Tozawa Hakuunsai
Graveyard of Honor
Tetsuji Tokura
There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl
Gang vs. Gang
Flames of Blood
Conflagration
Captain Munekata
Blind Beast vs Dwarf Killer
Queen of Asia
Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown
Quick on the Trigger
Abashiri Prison
Tsumaki
Be Free!
Keizo Hasegawa
The Ceiling at Utsunomiya
Kurozumi Tenzen
The Imperial Japanese Empire
Hideki Tojo
Bridge to the Sun
Jiro
Zero
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Silence
Cristóvão Ferreira
Battle Anthem
Yamamoto
The Gambling Samurai
Fumizo Mitsuki
Twilight Saloon
Morimoto
The Battle of Okinawa
Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
Daredevil in the Castle
Sadamasa Ishikawa
Mukeisatsu
Speed King
A Flame at the Pier
All Rascals
The Alaska Story
Arashuk
Harakiri
Hikokuro Omodaka
Dead Angle
An Outlaw
Tange Sazen
The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal
金語楼の海軍大将
The Shogun's Vault
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
Tetsuo Hatake
Kingoro's Soldier
金語楼の雷社長
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
Female Neo-Ninjas
Time Patrol leader
Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War
Rear Admiral Shimamura
Kyōen Kobanzame
Kuro to aka no hanabira
Kukai
August without Emperor
Army General Mikami
Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced
Flickering Flames
Army Intelligence
Lieutenant Colonel Akiyama
Kaachan
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
Tatsuo Akashi
April Fish
Panapora Chief Handa
Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy
Yagyu Munefuyu
Human Revolution II
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War
Tatsuo Akashi
The Bad Boss
G-Men in the Pacific
Mizuhara
The Wild Daisy
Gozaburo Saito
Jubaku: Spellbound
Tajiro Kawakami
High Seas Hijack
Captain Munekata
Rajo to satsujin-meiro
Senba
A Madcap Corporation
Tokyo Pop
Mr. Dota
Nezumi Kozō kaitō den
Greatest Boss of the Showa Era
Call from Darkness
Sugibayashi
Shinran: Path to Purity
Gambler's Farewell
Tetsuji Kasai
The International Gang of Kobe
Rinsei
The Incident
Lawyer Kikuchi
All Men Are Brothers
Lu Chun I
Nichiren
Greed in Broad Daylight
Miyahara
Jakoman and Tetsu
Jakoman
Thirst for Love
Kosuke Aso
Yakuza Ladies 3
Takeo Sakanishi
The Bullet Train
Sunaga
The Ghost of Kasane
Jinjûrô Ômura
A Wicked Woman
Ihei Ôsawa
Blood of Revenge
Yutaro Nomura
Four Sisters
Masao Igarashi
Organized Violence II
Police Inspector Kitagawa
Four Days of Snow and Blood
Jinzaburi Shinzaki
King of the Gang
Penitentiary Brothers
The Private Police
The Way to The Gold Medals
President Sakakibara
Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3
Fireflies in the North
Ishikura
The Last True Yakuza
Kazumasa Tashiro
Quarreling with Yakuza
Yakuza Skirmishes
The Ando Gang Documentary Film
Dissolution Rites
Sakai
Gang vs. G-Men
Toru Tezuka
Black Lizard
Kuroki
Portrait of Chieko
Kotaro Takamura
Shogun's Samurai
Ogasawara Gensinsai
The Fall of Ako Castle
Yanagisawa
Samurai Reincarnation
Muramasa
Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle
Tamba (voice)
13 Assassins
Doi Ōkō Toshi
Wild Cop 2
Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn
Lord Tsushima Yagyu
The Geisha
Kochi Notable
The Yellow Climate
The Classroom of Terror
The Imperial Navy
Jisaburo Ozawa
The Armed Organization
Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room
Eleven Gangsters
Twilight of the Cockroaches
Grandpa (voice)
The Shogun Assassins
Kato Kiyomasa
To Trap a Kidnapper
Port Arthur
Gentaro Kodama
Get 'em All
Tanabe
L・O・V・I・N・G
The Thousand Year Fire
Once and For All
The Story of a Man Among Men
A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Taxi Stand
The Gambler's Counterattack
Chief Inspector
Organized Violence
Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers
Blood and Law
Destroyer Yukikaze
The Kii River
Shintani Kosaku
Rise and Fall of Chivalry
Informal Dress
Mist and Shadows
Yusuke Komiya
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
Gu Shimizu
Female Slave Ship
The Sand Boat
The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes
The Twilight Samurai
Tozaemon Iguchi
Japan's Top Gangster
Noboru Yamaguchi
Operation Plazma in Osaka
Organized Crime: Killer's Glory
1750 Days of Turbulence
Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
Postwar Secrets
Kuroki
The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry
Murderer!
Nīto Kouken
The Bushido Blade
Lord Yamato
Love: Starting on a Journey
Tale of Ninja Duty
Mumyo Tsunataro
Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War
Keisuke Otori
Karafuto 1945 Summer
Yakuza Warfare
Vendetta of Obligation
School Be-In Bully
Ryotaro Sakurazawa
The Great Duel
The Human Revolution
Game of Chance 3
The Making Of The Katakuris
Company Buggers
Gamblers and Racketeers
New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm
Cabaret
Yakuza boss
Secret Prophecies of Nostradamus
Himself
Message from Space
Ernest Noguchi
The Stupid Teacher
Utaemon Baba
The Supernormal II
Sugata Sanshiro
Iinuma
Troops of Darkness
Teruo Ishii Fan Club
Taira no Kiyomori
The Great Shogunate Battle
Gang and G-Men Part 2
手塚徹
Lone Rebel
The Corporation
T.R.Y.
Hell's Kitchen
Drive for the Future
Akiji Nishikawa
花眞珠
Tabaruzaka
検事とその妹
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
吉野博士
Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets
The Hitman Blood Smells Like Roses
Tokyo: The Last War
Snake Woman's Curse
Commander
Zero sen no jorō gun
Yakuza Demon
Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave
J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)
Operation Diamond
Kazuo Kasami
Tokyo Gang Vs. Hong Kong Gang
King of Pornography
Tokyo Untouchable
Goro Kawamoto
13 Assassins
Futari dake no toride
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo
Shiosai
The School Deviate Waru
鬼姫競艶録
Umineko ga tonde
The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun
Ino Tadataka: Meridian dreams
The Tale of Genji
The Tale of Saikaido
Dai shinrin ni mukatte tatsu
Shōwa Gokudōshi
Detective
Shogun's Shadow
Hotta Masamori
Sky Scraper!
The Return of the Filthy Seven
The Gambler
Tokyo Untouchable: Escape
Goro Kawamoto
The Code of Man
The Kingdom of Jirocho 3
Shura Group
Kim's War
Bond Girls Are Forever
Tiger Tanaka (archive footage) (uncredited)
Tokyo Drifters
The Exotic Locations of 'You Only Live Twice'
Tiger Tanaka (archive footage)
Best Ever Bond
Tiger Tanaka (archive footage) (uncredited)
Minamoto Yoshitsune
South Pacific Waves Are High
Hawk of the Harbour
長七郎江戸日記スペシャル 長七郎 大奥まかり通る
ひばりの三役 競艶雪之丞変化 後篇
Hibari no san'yaku: Kei tsuya yuki no jôhenge
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!
Ryo Okamoto
Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole
The Political Game
Samon’s Hell Revenge: Unauthorised Jutte Records 2 - The Assassination of the Shogun
Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special
Aurora Borealis
Tsuneiro Kamisaka
Ankoku gai jingi
Zankokuna tsuki
The White Tiger Battalion
Hanran
Captain Koda
Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko
Homicide
Lieutenant Aikawa
Kōgen ni ressha ga hashitta
Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
Kizu-darake no futeki-sha
The Duel in the forbidden territory
Red Flowers of Hell
Uragirimono wa jigoku daze
Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed
Aboshi Samajirô
Element of Surprise
Monument to Holy Service
Shura Group Part 1
Shura Group Part 2
剣聖 暁の三十六番斬り
Ronin on a Mission
Ōishi Kuranosuke
雪夫人繪圖
Shows
Kaseifu wa mita!
Order Made ~Shiawase Iro no Shinshi Fuku Mise~
Yumemiru Budo
Yoshitsune
Minamoto no Yorimasa (Gen-ji)
Toshiie and Matsu
Tarozaemon Iguchi
Coming Home
Shirota Fukuzo
Sanada Taiheiki
Sanada Masayuki
Inochi
Takahara Masamichi
Byakkotai
Jinbo Kuranosuke
The Veteran Trio
Inui Sanshiro
Ōgon no Hibi
Imai Sōkyū
Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches
Naruse Hayatonosho
Gokenin Zankuro
Hashiran ka!
前田米吉
Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen
Matsudaira Ukon Jikencho
HOTEL
Ohara Tetsutaro
水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵
平田無二斎
Hanshichi Torimonochō
新幹線物語'93夏
Marco Polo
Vasaio