Tetsuro Tamba
Acting

Tetsuro Tamba

Born 17 July 1922 · Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan · Died 24 September 2006

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.

Known for

You Only Live Twice
The Cat Returns
Harakiri
Kwaidan
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
The Twilight Samurai
Gozu
The Happiness of the Katakuris
Battles Without Honor and Humanity
Three Outlaw Samurai
Goyokin
The Bullet Train
Demon Pond
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
The Thousand Year Fire
Gozu
T.R.Y.
Yakuza Demon
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
The Cat Returns
The Happiness of the Katakuris
Shura Group
Shura Group Part 2
Graveyard of Honor
The Twilight Samurai
Free and Easy 13
Ino Tadataka: Meridian Dreams
Blind Beast vs Killer Dwarf
修羅のみち
Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
The Stupid Teacher
Japanese Hell
Jubaku: Spellbound
Crayon Shinchan the Movie: Burst! Hot Spring Battle
Screwed
The Peking Man
Fujisawa Shuhei's Sparkling Sword: Puppeteer in the Shadows
Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole
Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown
The Supernormal II
Emperor of Upheaval
Taira no Kiyomori
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
Heat Wave
Kim's War
Female Neo-Ninjas
Yakuza Warfare
The Great Shogunate Battle
The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses
源氏九郎颯爽記 秘剣揚羽の蝶
13 Assassins
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!
Under Aurora
1750 Days of Turbulence
Be-In Bully High School
長七郎江戸日記スペシャル 長七郎 大奥まかり通る
The Political Game
Shogun's Shadow
Yakuza Ladies 3
Four Days of Snow and Blood
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
Tokyo: The Last War
Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special
A Taxing Woman's Return
Tokyo Pop
You're My Destiny
Ronin on a Mission
Tokyo Blackout
There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl
Night Train
Shinran: Path to Purity
Twilight of the Cockroaches
April Fish
Be Free!
Cabaret
The Sound of the Waves
The Last True Yakuza
Love: Starting on a Journey
Vendetta of Obligation
Kōgen ni ressha ga hashitta
Zero
Kukai
Nezumi Kozō kaitō den
Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy
Fireflies in the North
The Story of a Man Among Men
Heaven Station
The Tale of Saikaido
The Duel in the Forbidden Territory
Battle Anthem
A Madcap Corporation
The Geisha
L・O・V・I・N・G
Lady Vengeance and the 47 Ronin
The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
The Imperial Japanese Empire
Suspicion
To Trap a Kidnapper
Flames of Blood
The Wild Daisy
Call from Darkness
Samurai Reincarnation
The Imperial Navy
The Bushido Blade
The Last Days of Planet Earth
I Saw a Monster Fish
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
Shogun's Ninja
The Way to The Gold Medals
Port Arthur
The Sand Boat
Drive for the Future
Hunter in the Dark
Dead Angle
Nichiren
The Shogun Assassins
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
Monument to Holy Service
Never Give Up
August Without Emperor
The Incident
The Fall of Ako Castle
Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy
Message from Space
Mount Hakkoda
Flickering Flames
The Alaska Story
High Seas Hijack
Sugata Sanshiro
Zero Pilot
Human Revolution II
The Classroom of Terror
Operation Plazma in Osaka
Murderer!
The Corporation
Between Women and Wives
A Picture of Madame Yuki
Conflagration
The International Gang of Kobe
All Men Are Brothers
The Bullet Train
Company Buggers
Tidal Wave
The Castle of Sand
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
Violent Streets
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
Prophecies of Nostradamus
Karafuto 1945 Summer
The School Deviate Waru
Submersion of Japan
Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight
Battles Without Honor and Humanity
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War
Quarreling with Yakuza
The Ando Gang Documentary Film
Wild Cop 2
Japan's Top Gangster
The Human Revolution
Big Bad Wolf
The Water Margin
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun
Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny
Shadow Hunters
Shōwa Gokudōshi
Yakuza Skirmishes
Informal Dress
Organized Crime: Killer's Glory
New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm
The Wolves
King of Pornography
Silence
The Battle of Okinawa
The Armed Organization
The Gambler's Counterattack
Troops of Darkness
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny
Rise and Fall of Chivalry
Postwar Secrets
The 5-Man Army
Goyokin
Sky Scraper!
Penitentiary Brothers
The Private Police
Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room
Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers
Lone Rebel
やくざ番外地 抹殺
Thirteen Times a Loser
Blackmail Is My Life
The Code of Man
The Bad Boss
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
Army Intelligence
Gambler's Farewell
Black Lizard
Snake Woman's Curse
Diamonds of the Andes
Hot Vacation
You Only Live Twice
Hawk of the Harbour
Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo
The Return of the Filthy Seven
Organized Violence II
King of the Gang
Dissolution Rites
Portrait of Chieko
Once and For All
Organized Violence
Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
Game of Chance 3
Escape Man
Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave
Continental Drifter
Greatest Boss of the Showa Era
Thirst for Love
Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn
The Kii River
Kwaidan
Tokyo Untouchable
Samurai Spy
Underworld Code
The Gambler
Abashiri Prison
Blood of Revenge
Blood and Law
The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry
Tale of Ninja Duty
High-Ranking Yakuza
Tokyo Gang vs. Hong Kong Gang
Revenge
The 7th Dawn
Three Outlaw Samurai
Assassination
Detective
Homicide
The Kingdom of Jirocho 3
An Outlaw
The Shogun's Vault
Samurai from Somewhere
Samurai from Nowhere
Jakoman and Tetsu
Destroyer Yukikaze
Giant Rumble
Gamblers and Racketeers
Tokyo Untouchables
Ninja Killers
Futari dake no toride
Kizu-darake no futeki-sha
Tokyo Untouchable: Escape
Element of Surprise
Tange Sazen
13 Assassins
Eleven Gangsters
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
Gang vs. G-Men: Safe Breakers
Ano hito wa ima
Operation Diamond
South Pacific Waves Are High
Umineko ga tonde
Zankokuna tsuki
Uragirimono wa jigoku daze
The Challenge
G-Men in the Pacific
All Rascals
A Flame at the Pier
Harakiri
Gang vs. Gang
Four Sisters
Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3
Gang vs. G-Men
Hell's Kitchen
Pigs and Battleships
Bridge to the Sun
Standing Towards the Great Forest
Red Flowers of Hell
Daredevil in the Castle
Greed in Broad Daylight
The Yellow Climate
Mist and Shadows
Structure of Hate
機動捜査班
Kill the Killer!
The Gambling Samurai
Get 'em All
Female Slave Ship
Zero sen no jorō gun
Showdown on Pier No.3
The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal
Kingorō no kaigun taishô
Quick on the Trigger
A Wicked Woman
Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War
Bloody History of Soldiers
Hibari's Triple Role: The Dazzling Transformation of Yukinojo
Hibari's Triple Role: The Transformation of Yukinojo — Part II
Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed
剣聖 暁の三十六番斬り
Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War
Queen of Asia
The Ghost of Kasane
Storming Osaka Castle: The Sanada Ten Braves
Devil Princess’ Beauty Competition
Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko
The Ceiling at Utsunomiya
The Prosecutor and His Sister
Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets
Twilight Saloon
Mysterious Dwarf
The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes
Hanamazu
Hanran
Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced
日本敗れず
Tetsuro Tamba · Midrow