Tetsuro Tamba
Known for Acting · 348 credits
- Born
- 1922-07-17
- Died
- 2006-09-24
- Place of birth
- Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
- Also known as
- 丹波 哲郎 · Tetzuro Tamba · Tetsurô Tanba · Tetsuro Tambo · Tetsurô Tamba · Tetsurou Tanba
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
TV Shows (29)
Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen
1990
Yoshitsune
2005
as Minamoto no Yorimasa (Gen-ji)
Key Hunter
1968
as 黒木鉄也
Marco Polo
1982
as Vasaio
HOTEL
1990
as Ohara Tetsutaro
Toshiie and Matsu
2002
as Tarozaemon Iguchi
Ōgon no Hibi
1978
as Imai Sōkyū
Inochi
1986
as Takahara Masamichi
Matsudaira Ukon Jikencho
1982
Gokenin Zankuro
1995
Hashiran ka!
1995
as 前田米吉
Masked Blade
1983
Life of St. Blue Eyes
1984
as Takeyoshi Takagi
水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵
1984
as 平田無二斎
The Ginger Tree
1989
as Hirushi Tsushima
Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches
1986
as Naruse Hayatonosho
新幹線物語'93夏
1993
as 黒木哲也
Byakkotai
1986
as Jinbo Kuranosuke
Yumemiru Budo
2003
Hanshichi Torimonochō
1992
Sanada Taiheiki
1985
as Sanada Masayuki
Coming Home
1994
as Shirota Fukuzo
G-Men '75
1975
as 黒木警視
The Veteran Trio
1999
as Inui Sanshiro
The Tale of Genji
1991
Order Made ~Shiawase Iro no Shinshi Fuku Mise~
2004
Tabaruzaka
1987
as Ôyama Tunayoshi
The Brave Man Says Little
1983
Kaseifu wa mita!
1997
Movies (319)
Harakiri
1962
as Hikokuro Omodaka
The Cat Returns
2002
as Cat King (voice)
You Only Live Twice
1967
as Tiger Tanaka
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
1991
as Master Zhang
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
1974
as Nagumo
Kwaidan
1965
as Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")
Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle
1999
as Tamba (voice)
The Twilight Samurai
2002
as Tozaemon Iguchi
Fireflies in the North
1984
as Ishikura
Battles Without Honor and Humanity
1973
Shogun's Samurai
1978
as Ogasawara Gensinsai
Samurai Reincarnation
1981
as Muramasa
The Bullet Train
1975
as Sunaga
The Fall of Ako Castle
1978
as Yanagisawa
The Water Margin
1972
as Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
Message from Space
1978
as Ernest Noguchi
All Men Are Brothers
1975
as Lu Chun I
Shogun's Ninja
1980
as Tozawa Hakuunsai
The Imperial Navy
1981
as Jisaburo Ozawa
The 5-Man Army
1969
as Samurai
Port Arthur
1980
as Gentaro Kodama
The Castle of Sand
1974
as Detective Eitaro Imanishi
August Without Emperor
1978
as Army General Mikami
The Battle of Okinawa
1971
as Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
1978
as Kichibei
13 Assassins
1963
as Doi Ōkō Toshi
Three Outlaw Samurai
1964
as Sakon Shiba
Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight
1973
as Shino
Submersion of Japan
1973
as Prime Minister Yamamoto
The Geisha
1983
as Kochi Notable
Night Train
1987
as Isaburo Tamura
Four Days of Snow and Blood
1989
as Jinzaburi Shinzaki
Twilight of the Cockroaches
1987
as Grandpa (voice)
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
2002
as Sanada
The Happiness of the Katakuris
2002
as Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
The Bushido Blade
1981
as Lord Yamato
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War
1973
as Tatsuo Akashi
Tokyo Blackout
1987
as Nakata
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun
1972
as Sergeant Katsuo Togashi
Mount Hakkoda
1977
as Colonel Kojima
Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn
1966
as Lord Tsushima Yagyu
Heat Wave
1991
as Denkichi Tsuzaki
Violent Streets
1974
as Shimamura Kansai
Daredevil in the Castle
1961
as Sadamasa Ishikawa
Get 'em All
1960
as Tanabe
Shogun's Shadow
1989
as Hotta Masamori
Gozu
2003
Hunter in the Dark
1979
as Okitsugu Tanuma
Yakuza Ladies 3
1989
as Takeo Sakanishi
Pigs and Battleships
1961
as Slasher Tetsuji
Prophecies of Nostradamus
1974
as Dr. Nishiyama
Black Lizard
1968
as Kuroki
The Shogun Assassins
1979
as Kato Kiyomasa
Revenge
1964
as Shume Okuno
Goyokin
1969
as Rokugo Tatewaki
The Incident
1978
as Lawyer Kikuchi
T.R.Y.
2003
Four Sisters
1962
as Masao Igarashi
Shadow Hunters
1972
Samurai from Somewhere
1964
as Masagi Shohei
The Imperial Japanese Empire
1982
as Hideki Tojo
A Taxing Woman's Return
1988
as Sadohara
Battle Anthem
1983
as Yamamoto
You're My Destiny
1987
Assassination
1964
as Hachiro Kiyokawa
Love: Starting on a Journey
1985
Cabaret
1986
as Yakuza boss
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
1974
as Kimitake Shugi / Moroki
Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers
1969
Dead Angle
1979
Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny
1970
Suspicion
1982
as Kanetaka Okamura
The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes
1955
Operation Plazma in Osaka
1976
Conflagration
1975
as Captain Munekata
Heaven Station
1984
Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons
2000
as Old Master
Samurai Spy
1965
as Sakon Takatani
Never Give Up
1978
as General Wada
Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War
1957
as Rear Admiral Shimamura
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
1968
Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
1967
Call from Darkness
1981
as Sugibayashi
Tokyo: The Last War
1989
as Kanaami Kohou / Kan'ami Kouou
To Trap a Kidnapper
1982
The Gambling Samurai
1960
as Fumizo Mitsuki
Blackmail Is My Life
1968
Demon Pond
2005
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
1970
as Soshun Kochiyama
Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown
1994
Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room
1969
Graveyard of Honor
2002
as Tetsuji Tokura
Samurai from Nowhere
1964
as Gunjuro Ohba
Screwed
1998
as Landlord
Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets
1956
Twilight Saloon
1955
as Morimoto
Shura Group Part 2
2002
The International Gang of Kobe
1975
as Rinsei
A Picture of Madame Yuki
1975
The Story of a Man Among Men
1984
Emperor of Upheaval
1993
Gamblers and Racketeers
1964
Company Buggers
1975
Jubaku: Spellbound
1999
as Tajiro Kawakami
Eleven Gangsters
1963
Zero
1984
as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo
1967
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
1970
The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses
1991
Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny
1972
as Kagemetsuke
Yakuza Warfare
1991
Lone Rebel
1969
The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry
1965
The Challenge
1962
as Takayama
The Gambler's Counterattack
1971
as Chief Inspector
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
1980
as Tatsuo Akashi
Yakuza Demon
2003
as Michitane Tendou
The Corporation
1976
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
1989
as 吉野博士
The Last Days of Planet Earth
1981
as Dr. Nishiyama
About Tetsuro Tamba
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 Youg… With 348 credits spanning from 1954 to 2006, Tetsuro Tamba has appeared in 319 films and 29 TV shows.
Fans searching for Tetsuro Tamba movies, Tetsuro Tamba filmography, or the latest projects starring Tetsuro Tamba can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Tetsuro Tamba Movies
- Harakiri (1962) — as Hikokuro Omodaka
- The Cat Returns (2002) — as Cat King (voice)
- You Only Live Twice (1967) — as Tiger Tanaka
- Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (1991) — as Master Zhang
- Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs (1974) — as Nagumo
Where to Watch Tetsuro Tamba Films
Most Tetsuro Tamba movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Tetsuro Tamba, check our movies catalogue and browse page.