Actor

Tetsuro Tamba

324 movies as actor · 3 as director

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, 2…

Known for

You Only Live Twice

1967 · Action, Thriller

The Cat Returns

2002 · Adventure, Fantasy

Harakiri

1962 · Action, Drama

Kwaidan

1965 · Horror, Fantasy

Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky

1991 · Action, Sci-Fi

The Twilight Samurai

2002 · Drama, Romance

Gozu

2003 · Horror, Comedy

The Happiness of the Katakuris

2002 · Comedy, Drama

Battles Without Honor and Humanity

1973 · Crime, Action

Three Outlaw Samurai

1964 · Action, Drama

The Bullet Train

1975 · Action, Crime

Goyokin

1969 · Drama, Action

Tetsuro Tamba movies

Teruo Ishii Fan Club

2006

Demon Pond

2005

The Thousand Year Fire

2004

Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio

2004

Gozu

2003

Yakuza Demon

2003 · Michitane Tendou

A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Ta

A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Taxi Stand

2003

T.R.Y.

2003

Shura Group Part 2

2002

The Twilight Samurai

2002 · Tozaemon Iguchi

Deadly Outlaw: Rekka

2002 · Sanada

The Cat Returns

2002 · Cat King (voice)

Graveyard of Honor

2002 · Tetsuji Tokura

The Happiness of the Katakuris

2002 · Granpa Jinpei Katakuri

Shura Group

2002

Shura Group Part 1

Shura Group Part 1

2002

Ino Tadataka: Meridian Dreams

2001

The Making Of The Katakuris

2001

修羅のみち

2001

Blind Beast vs Killer Dwarf

2001

Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons

2000 · Old Master

A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen

2000 · Tetsuo Hatake

The Stupid Teacher

2000 · Utaemon Baba

Japanese Hell

1999 · Asu Shino

Jubaku: Spellbound

1999 · Tajiro Kawakami

Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle

1999 · Tamba (voice)

Screwed

1998 · Landlord

The Peking Man

1997 · Osone

Fujisawa Shuhei's Sparkling Sword: Puppeteer in the Shadows

1997

Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole

1994

Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown

1994

Emperor of Upheaval

1993

The Supernormal II

1993

Taira no Kiyomori

1992

Minamoto Yoshitsune

Minamoto Yoshitsune

1991

The Great Shogunate Battle

1991

Yakuza Warfare

1991

源氏九郎颯爽記　秘剣揚羽の蝶

1991

Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky

1991 · Master Zhang

The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses

1991

Kim's War

1991

Female Neo-Ninjas

1991 · Time Patrol leader

Heat Wave

1991 · Denkichi Tsuzaki

1750 Days of Turbulence

1990

Be-In Bully High School

1990 · Ryotaro Sakurazawa

Aurora Borealis

1990 · Tsuneiro Kamisaka

13 Assassins

1990

Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!

1990 · Ryo Okamoto

Tokyo: The Last War

1989 · Kanaami Kohou, Kan'ami Kouou

Four Days of Snow and Blood

1989 · Jinzaburi Shinzaki

The Political Game

1989

Yakuza Ladies 3

1989 · Takeo Sakanishi

長七郎江戸日記スペシャル 長七郎 大奥まかり通る

1989

Shogun's Shadow

1989 · Hotta Masamori

Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die

1989 · 吉野博士

Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special

1988

Tokyo Pop

1988 · Mr. Dota

A Taxing Woman's Return

1988 · Sadohara

There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl

1987

Twilight of the Cockroaches

1987 · Grandpa (voice)

You're My Destiny

1987

Ronin on a Mission

1987 · Ōishi Kuranosuke

Shinran: Path to Purity

1987

Night Train

1987 · Isaburo Tamura

Tokyo Blackout

1987 · Nakata

Be Free!

1986 · Keizo Hasegawa

April Fish

1986 · Panapora Chief Handa

Cabaret

1986 · Yakuza boss

Vendetta of Obligation

1985

The Last True Yakuza

1985 · Kazumasa Tashiro

The Sound of the Waves

1985

Love: Starting on a Journey

1985

Nezumi Kozō kaitō den

1984

The Story of a Man Among Men

1984

Kōgen ni ressha ga hashitta

1984

Fireflies in the North

1984 · Ishikura

Zero

1984 · Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

Heaven Station

1984

Kukai

1984

Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy

1984 · Yagyu Munefuyu

L・O・V・I・N・G

1983

A Madcap Corporation

1983 · Yoshiteru Suma (Suma-gumi Boss)

Lady Vengeance and the 47 Ronin

1983

The Tale of Saikaido

1983

The Geisha

1983 · Kochi Notable

The Duel in the Forbidden Territory

1983

Battle Anthem

1983 · Yamamoto

Samon’s Hell Revenge: Unauthorised Jutte

Samon’s Hell Revenge: Unauthorised Jutte Records 2 - The Assassination of the Shogun

1983

To Trap a Kidnapper

1982

Suspicion

1982 · Kanetaka Okamura

The Imperial Japanese Empire

1982 · Hideki Tojo

The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun

1982

Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather

1982 · Uichi Suda, The Big Boss

Call from Darkness

1981 · Sugibayashi

The Wild Daisy

1981 · Gozaburo Saito

The Imperial Navy

1981 · Jisaburo Ozawa

The Bushido Blade

1981 · Lord Yamato

Samurai Reincarnation

1981 · Muramasa

Flames of Blood

1981

The Last Days of Planet Earth

1981 · Dr. Nishiyama

Shogun's Ninja

1980 · Tozawa Hakuunsai

Drive for the Future

1980 · Akiji Nishikawa

Port Arthur

1980 · Gentaro Kodama

The Sand Boat

1980

Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga

1980 · Tatsuo Akashi

The Way to The Gold Medals

1980 · President Sakakibara

The Shogun Assassins

1979 · Kato Kiyomasa

Dead Angle

1979

Hunter in the Dark

1979 · Okitsugu Tanuma

Nichiren

1979

The Fall of Ako Castle

1978 · Yanagisawa

Never Give Up

1978 · General Wada

Monument to Holy Service

1978

August Without Emperor

1978 · Army General Mikami

Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron

1978 · Kichibei

The Incident

1978 · Lawyer Kikuchi

Message from Space

1978 · Ernest Noguchi

Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy

1978 · Ogasawara Gensinsai

Sugata Sanshiro

1977 · Iinuma

High Seas Hijack

1977 · Captain Munekata

Mount Hakkoda

1977 · Colonel Kojima

Flickering Flames

1977

The Alaska Story

1977 · Arashuk

Murderer!

1976 · Nīto Kouken

Zero Pilot

1976 · Captain Saito

The Corporation

1976 · Kawamata

Seven Nights in Japan

1976 · Terrorist Leader (uncredited)

The Classroom of Terror

1976

Human Revolution II

1976

Operation Plazma in Osaka

1976

Between Women and Wives

1976

The International Gang of Kobe

1975 · Rinsei

Company Buggers

1975

Conflagration

1975 · Captain Munekata

The Bullet Train

1975 · Sunaga

Tidal Wave

1975 · Prime Minister Yamato

All Men Are Brothers

1975 · Lu Chun I

A Picture of Madame Yuki

1975

The Executioner II: Karate Inferno

1974 · Kimitake Shugi / Moroki

The Castle of Sand

1974 · Detective Eitaro Imanishi

Karafuto 1945 Summer

1974

Prophecies of Nostradamus

1974 · Dr. Nishiyama

Secret Prophecies of Nostradamus

Secret Prophecies of Nostradamus

1974 · Himself

Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs

1974 · Nagumo

Violent Streets

1974 · Shimamura

Submersion of Japan

1973 · Prime Minister Yamamoto

The Ando Gang Documentary Film

1973

Wild Cop 2

1973

Big Bad Wolf

1973

Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War

1973 · Tatsuo Akashi

The Human Revolution

1973

Japan's Top Gangster

1973 · Noboru Yamaguchi

The School Deviate Waru

1973

Quarreling with Yakuza

1973

Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight

1973 · Shino

Battles Without Honor and Humanity

1973

Informal Dress

1972

Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny

1972 · Kagemetsuke

Yakuza Skirmishes

1972

New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm

1972

Shōwa Gokudōshi

1972

Shadow Hunters

1972

Organized Crime: Killer's Glory

1972

The Water Margin

1972 · Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I

Under the Flag of the Rising Sun

1972 · Sergeant Katsuo Togashi

Silence

1971 · Cristóvão Ferreira

The Armed Organization

1971

Troops of Darkness

1971

The Wolves

1971 · Genryu Asakura

The Gambler's Counterattack

1971 · Chief Inspector

The Battle of Okinawa

1971 · Lieutenant General Isamu Cho

King of Pornography

1971

Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny

1970

Postwar Secrets

1970 · Kuroki

Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!

1970

The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan

1970 · Soshun Kochiyama

Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive

1970 · Hyoe

Rise and Fall of Chivalry

1970

やくざ番外地　抹殺

1969

Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers

1969

The 5-Man Army

1969 · Samurai

Thirteen Times a Loser

1969 · Shinji Kaizuka

Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room

1969

Lone Rebel

1969

The Private Police

1969

Penitentiary Brothers

1969

Sky Scraper!

1969

Goyokin

1969 · Rokugo Tatewaki

Hot Vacation

1968

Black Lizard

1968 · Kuroki

Snake Woman's Curse

1968 · Commander

The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze

1968

The Bad Boss

1968

Diamonds of the Andes

1968

Blackmail Is My Life

1968

The Code of Man

1968

Army Intelligence

1968 · Lieutenant Colonel Akiyama

Gambler's Farewell

1968 · Tetsuji Kasai

The Return of the Filthy Seven

1967

Game of Chance 3

1967

Escape Man

1967

King of the Gang

1967

Hawk of the Harbour

1967

Organized Violence II

1967 · Police Inspector Kitagawa

Portrait of Chieko

1967 · Kotaro Takamura

You Only Live Twice

1967 · Tiger Tanaka

Once and For All

1967

Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo

1967

Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido

1967

Dissolution Rites

1967 · Sakai

Organized Violence

1967

Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave

1966 · J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)

Continental Drifter

1966

The Kii River

1966 · Shintani Kosaku

Greatest Boss of the Showa Era

1966

Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn

1966 · Lord Tsushima Yagyu

Thirst for Love

1966 · Kosuke Aso

High-Ranking Yakuza

1965

Blood of Revenge

1965 · Yutaro Nomura

Blood and Law

1965

The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry

1965

Samurai Spy

1965 · Sakon Takatani

The Gambler

1965

Underworld Code

1965

Abashiri Prison

1965 · Tsumaki

Tokyo Untouchable

1965 · Goro Kawamoto

Tale of Ninja Duty

1965 · Mumyo Tsunataro

Kwaidan

1965 · Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")

Ninja Killers

1964

Gamblers and Racketeers

1964

Samurai from Somewhere

1964 · Masagi Shohei

Detective

1964

Revenge

1964 · Shume Okuno

Giant Rumble

1964

The 7th Dawn

1964 · Ng

The Shogun's Vault

1964

Assassination

1964 · Hachiro Kiyokawa

Homicide

1964 · Lieutenant Aikawa

Three Outlaw Samurai

1964 · Sakon Shiba

Tokyo Untouchables

1964

An Outlaw

1964

Destroyer Yukikaze

1964

The Kingdom of Jirocho 3

1964

Jakoman and Tetsu

1964 · Jakoman

Samurai from Nowhere

1964 · Gunjuro Ohba

Tokyo Gang vs. Hong Kong Gang

1964

13 Assassins

1963 · Doi Ōkō Toshi

Tange Sazen

1963

Gang Loyalty and Vengeance

1963 · Gu Shimizu

Element of Surprise

1963

Futari dake no toride

1963

Ano hito wa ima

1963

Tokyo Untouchable: Escape

1963 · Goro Kawamoto

Kizu-darake no futeki-sha

1963

Gang vs. G-Men: Safe Breakers

1963 · 手塚徹

Eleven Gangsters

1963

Uragirimono wa jigoku daze

1962

Operation Diamond

1962 · Kazuo Kasami

Umineko ga tonde

1962

Gang vs. G-Men

1962 · Toru Tezuka

Hell's Kitchen

1962

A Flame at the Pier

1962

Harakiri

1962 · Hikokuro Omodaka

Gang vs. Gang

1962

Four Sisters

1962 · Masao Igarashi

Zankokuna tsuki

1962

G-Men in the Pacific

1962 · Mizuhara

The Challenge

1962 · Takayama

All Rascals

1962

Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3

1962

Black and Red Flower Petals

Black and Red Flower Petals

1962

South Pacific Waves Are High

1962

Structure of Hate

1961

Greed in Broad Daylight

1961 · Miyahara

Bridge to the Sun

1961 · Jiro

Standing Towards the Great Forest

1961

The Yellow Climate

1961

Mist and Shadows

1961 · Yusuke Komiya

Kill the Killer!

1961 · Narumi

Red Flowers of Hell

1961

機動捜査班

1961

Kaachan

Kaachan

1961

Pigs and Battleships

1961 · Slasher Tetsuji

Daredevil in the Castle

1961 · Sadamasa Ishikawa

Get 'em All

1960 · Tanabe

Showdown on Pier No.3

1960 · Kirishima

The Gambling Samurai

1960 · Fumizo Mitsuki

Zero sen no jorō gun

1960

Female Slave Ship

1960

Kingorō no kaigun taishô

1959

No Police

No Police

1959

Nude Woman and Murder Maze

Nude Woman and Murder Maze

1959 · Senba

The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal

1959

Kyōen Kobanzame

Kyōen Kobanzame

1958

Bloody History of Soldiers

1958 · Shumei Okawa

Underwater Murder

Underwater Murder

1958

Quick on the Trigger

1958

Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War

1958 · Keisuke Otori

A Wicked Woman

1958 · Ihei Ôsawa

Queen of Asia

1957

Hibari's Triple Role: The Transformation of Yukinojo — Part II

1957

Hibari's Triple Role: The Dazzling Transformation of Yukinojo

1957

The Ghost of Kasane

1957 · Jinjûrô Ômura

剣聖　暁の三十六番斬り

1957

Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War

1957 · Rear Admiral Shimamura

Storming Osaka Castle: The Sanada Ten Braves

1957 · Mondonoshô Hirano

Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed

1957 · Aboshi Samajirô

Devil Princess’ Beauty Competition

1956

The Ceiling at Utsunomiya

1956 · Kurozumi Tenzen

President Rai of Kingoro

President Rai of Kingoro

1956

Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets

1956

The Prosecutor and His Sister

1956

Kingoro's Soldier

Kingoro's Soldier

1956

Speed King

Speed King

1956

The Fencing Collegian

The Fencing Collegian

1956

Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko

1956

Hanamazu

1955

The Vassal's Neck

The Vassal's Neck

1955

Twilight Saloon

1955 · Morimoto

Mysterious Dwarf

1955

The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes

1955

日本敗れず

1954

Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced

1954

Hanran

1954 · Captain Koda

Directed by Tetsuro Tamba

Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole

1994

Tetsuro Tamba's Spirit World

Tetsuro Tamba's Spirit World

1988

The Sand Boat

1980

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