Tetsuro Tamba
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
Acting
1967
asTiger Tanaka
1991
as
1965
asWarrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")
1962
asKazuo Kasami
1966
asJ1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)
1961
asSlasher Tetsuji
1964
as
2005
as
1962
as
2003
as
1971
asGenryu Asakura
1971
as
1974
asDetective Eitaro Imanishi
2002
asSanada
1967
as
1962
asGoro Kawamoto
2002
asCat King (voice)
1989
as
1972
asJade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
1990
as
1972
asSergeant Katsuo Togashi
1974
asNagumo
1963
as
2002
asGranpa Jinpei Katakuri
1979
asOkitsugu Tanuma
1970
as
1969
asSamurai
1991
asMaster Zhang
1974
asShimamura Kansai
1965
asSakon Takatani
1969
asRokugo Tatewaki
1997
asOsone
1967
as
1957
as
1957
as
1990
asRyo Okamoto
1994
as
1989
as
1971
asCristóvão Ferreira
1964
asShume Okuno
1985
as
1973
as
1964
asNg
1972
asKagemetsuke
1972
as
1978
asKichibei
1964
asSakon Shiba
1999
asAsu Shino
1974
asShugi
1964
asHachiro Kiyokawa
1956
as
1973
asPrime Minister Yamamoto
1973
asShino
1962
as
1968
as1983
as
1988
as
1998
asLandlord
1982
as
1977
asColonel Kojima
1991
asDenkichi Tsuzaki
1955
asMorimoto
1990
asTsuneiro Kamisaka
1961
asJiro
1991
as
1983
as
1974
asDr. Nishiyama
1976
asCaptain Saito
1970
asHyoe
2001
as
1965
as
1962
as
1986
as
1970
asSoshun Kochiyama
1961
as
1972
as
1956
as
1964
as
1964
asLieutenant Aikawa
1954
asCaptain Koda
1984
as
1970
as
1988
asSadohara
2004
as
1989
asHotta Masamori
1967
as
1965
as
1969
as
1963
as
1963
asGoro Kawamoto
1968
as
1982
asUichi Suda, The Big Boss
1964
as
2002
as
1991
as
1983
as
1961
as
1962
as
2002
asTiger Tanaka (archive footage) (uncredited)
1966
as2002
asTiger Tanaka (archive footage) (uncredited)
1957
asAboshi Samajirô
1963
as
1982
asHideki Tojo
1984
asAdmiral Isoroku Yamamoto
1983
asYamamoto
1978
as2002
as
2002
as
1957
as
1987
as
1987
asŌishi Kuranosuke
1975
as
1976
asTerrorist Leader (uncredited)
1960
asFumizo Mitsuki
1978
asGeneral Wada
1973
as
1980
asTatsuo Akashi
1986
asPanapora Chief Handa
1987
asNakata
1971
asLieutenant General Isamu Cho
2000
asOld Master
2002
asTetsuji Tokura
2001
as
2000
asTetsuo Hatake
1999
asTajiro Kawakami
1994
as
1991
asTime Patrol leader
1988
asMr. Dota
1987
asIsaburo Tamura
1987
as1986
asKeizo Hasegawa
1980
asTozawa Hakuunsai
1979
as
1978
asArmy General Mikami
1977
as
1983
as
1982
asKanetaka Okamura
1957
as1956
as1956
as
1957
asRear Admiral Shimamura
1956
as1958
as1968
asLieutenant Colonel Akiyama
1973
asTatsuo Akashi
1964
as
1964
as
1968
as
1968
as
1962
asMizuhara
1962
asTakayama
1962
as1962
as
1963
as
1961
asSadamasa Ishikawa
1959
asSenba
1959
as
1984
as
1981
as
1975
asCaptain Munekata
1977
asCaptain Munekata
1977
asArashuk
1976
as
1966
as
1964
as
1964
asGunjuro Ohba
1962
as1958
as1958
as
1956
asKurozumi Tenzen
1954
as1956
as
1962
asHikokuro Omodaka
1962
as
1965
asTsumaki
1981
asGozaburo Saito
1981
asSugibayashi
1987
as
1984
as
1984
asYagyu Munefuyu
1959
as1961
as
1959
as
1978
asLawyer Kikuchi
1968
asTetsuji Kasai
1975
asRinsei
1955
as
1975
asLu Chun I
1979
as
1966
asKosuke Aso
1989
asTakeo Sakanishi
1964
asJakoman
1961
asMiyahara
1975
asSunaga
1965
asYutaro Nomura
1957
asJinjûrô Ômura
1958
asIhei Ôsawa
1962
asMasao Igarashi
1967
asPolice Inspector Kitagawa
1989
asJinzaburi Shinzaki
1967
as
1969
as
1969
as
1962
as
1980
asPresident Sakakibara
1984
asIshikura
1985
asKazumasa Tashiro
1962
asToru Tezuka
1967
asSakai
1972
as
1973
as
1968
asKuroki
1973
as
1967
asKotaro Takamura
1999
asTamba (voice)
1978
asOgasawara Gensinsai
1978
asYanagisawa
1981
asMuramasa
1963
asDoi Ōkō Toshi
1973
as
1966
asLord Tsushima Yagyu
1983
asKochi Notable
1981
asJisaburo Ozawa
1961
as
1976
as
1971
as
1969
as
1982
as
1963
as
1980
asGentaro Kodama
1987
asGrandpa (voice)
1979
asKato Kiyomasa
1960
asTanabe
1983
as
2004
as
1967
as2003
as
1984
as
1964
as
1965
as
1970
as
1971
asChief Inspector
1967
as
1972
as
1969
as
1966
asShintani Kosaku
1963
asGu Shimizu
1961
asYusuke Komiya
1955
as
1960
as
1980
as
1973
asNoboru Yamaguchi
1976
as
2002
asTozaemon Iguchi
1972
as
1990
as
1967
as
1970
asKuroki
1965
as
1976
asNīto Kouken
1981
asLord Yamato
1985
as
1965
asMumyo Tsunataro
1958
asKeisuke Otori
1974
as
1991
as
1990
asRyotaro Sakurazawa
1985
as
1964
as
1973
as
2001
as
1967
as
1975
as
1964
as
1972
as
1986
asYakuza boss
1974
asHimself
1978
asErnest Noguchi
2000
asUtaemon Baba
1993
as1977
asIinuma
1971
as
2006
as
1992
as
1991
as
1963
as手塚徹
1969
as
1976
as
2003
as
1962
as
1980
asAkiji Nishikawa
1955
as
1987
as
1956
as
1989
as吉野博士
1956
as
1991
as
1960
as
1968
asCommander
1989
asKanaami Kohou
2003
asMichitane Tendou
1983
as
1965
as
1975
asPrime Minister Yamato
1981
asDr. Nishiyama
1968
as
1993
as
1964
as
1969
as
asImai Sōkyū
as as 
asMinamoto no Yorimasa (Gen-ji)
as 
as
as
asOhara Tetsutaro
asTarozaemon Iguchi
asNaruse Hayatonosho
as平田無二斎
as
as
as前田米吉
asShirota Fukuzo
asSanada Masayuki
as黒木哲也
asVasaio
asTakahara Masamichi
asJinbo Kuranosuke
asInui Sanshiro
asTakeyoshi Takagi
asProduction
Crew
Directing
