Tetsuro Tamba
Known for Acting · 350 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
Masked Blade
1983
Marco Polo
1982
as Vasaio
HOTEL
1990
as Ohara Tetsutaro
Toshiie and Matsu
2002
as Tarozaemon Iguchi
Hashiran ka!
1995
as 前田米吉
Ōgon no Hibi
1978
as Imai Sōkyū
Inochi
1986
as Takahara Masamichi
Gokenin Zankuro
1995
Matsudaira Ukon Jikencho
1982
The Ginger Tree
1989
as Hirushi Tsushima
水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵
1984
as 平田無二斎
Life of St. Blue Eyes
1984
as Takeyoshi Takagi
新幹線物語'93夏
1993
as 黒木哲也
Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches
1986
as Naruse Hayatonosho
Sanada Taiheiki
1985
as Sanada Masayuki
Byakkotai
1986
as Jinbo Kuranosuke
Yumemiru Budo
2003
Coming Home
1994
as Shirota Fukuzo
G-Men '75
1975
as 黒木警視
Hanshichi Torimonochō
1992
The Veteran Trio
1999
as Inui Sanshiro
The Tale of Genji
1991
Order Made ~Shiawase Iro no Shinshi Fuku Mise~
2004
The Brave Man Says Little
1983
Tabaruzaka
1987
as Ôyama Tunayoshi
Kaseifu wa mita!
1997
Movies (321)
Harakiri
1962
as Hikokuro Omodaka
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
1991
as Master Zhang
You Only Live Twice
1967
as Tiger Tanaka
The Cat Returns
2002
as Cat King (voice)
Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle
1999
as Tamba (voice)
The Imperial Navy
1981
as Jisaburo Ozawa
Kwaidan
1965
as Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
1974
as Nagumo
Night Train
1987
as Isaburo Tamura
Submersion of Japan
1973
as Prime Minister Yamamoto
All Men Are Brothers
1975
as Lu Chun I
The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes
1955
Fireflies in the North
1984
as Ishikura
Port Arthur
1980
as Gentaro Kodama
The Water Margin
1972
as Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
The Twilight Samurai
2002
as Tozaemon Iguchi
Violent Streets
1974
as Shimamura Kansai
Thirst for Love
1966
as Kosuke Aso
Shogun's Samurai
1978
as Ogasawara Gensinsai
Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
1967
The Bullet Train
1975
as Sunaga
The Bushido Blade
1981
as Lord Yamato
Prophecies of Nostradamus
1974
as Dr. Nishiyama
A Taxing Woman's Return
1988
as Sadohara
Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers
1969
Female Neo-Ninjas
1991
as Time Patrol leader
Gozu
2003
The Battle of Okinawa
1971
as Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
Four Sisters
1962
as Masao Igarashi
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
1982
as Uichi Suda, The Big Boss
Battles Without Honor and Humanity
1973
Message from Space
1978
as Ernest Noguchi
The Gambling Samurai
1960
as Fumizo Mitsuki
Daredevil in the Castle
1961
as Sadamasa Ishikawa
Samurai Reincarnation
1981
as Muramasa
Shogun's Shadow
1989
as Hotta Masamori
Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight
1973
as Shino
Tokyo Untouchable: Escape
1963
as Goro Kawamoto
Shogun's Ninja
1980
as Tozawa Hakuunsai
The Geisha
1983
as Kochi Notable
The Peking Man
1997
as Osone
The Ando Gang Documentary Film
1973
Three Outlaw Samurai
1964
as Sakon Shiba
Dead Angle
1979
Love: Starting on a Journey
1985
Never Give Up
1978
as General Wada
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War
1973
as Tatsuo Akashi
Tokyo Pop
1988
as Mr. Dota
Tidal Wave
1975
as Prime Minister Yamato
Mount Hakkoda
1977
as Colonel Kojima
Pigs and Battleships
1961
as Slasher Tetsuji
The Political Game
1989
Four Days of Snow and Blood
1989
as Jinzaburi Shinzaki
Emperor of Upheaval
1993
Battle Anthem
1983
as Yamamoto
The Castle of Sand
1974
as Detective Eitaro Imanishi
Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny
1970
Yakuza Ladies 3
1989
as Takeo Sakanishi
The Happiness of the Katakuris
2002
as Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
Heat Wave
1991
as Denkichi Tsuzaki
The 5-Man Army
1969
as Samurai
Graveyard of Honor
2002
as Tetsuji Tokura
August Without Emperor
1978
as Army General Mikami
The Shogun Assassins
1979
as Kato Kiyomasa
You're My Destiny
1987
Goyokin
1969
as Rokugo Tatewaki
Revenge
1964
as Shume Okuno
Assassination
1964
as Hachiro Kiyokawa
Heaven Station
1984
The Last True Yakuza
1985
as Kazumasa Tashiro
The Fall of Ako Castle
1978
as Yanagisawa
Black Lizard
1968
as Kuroki
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
1978
as Kichibei
Samurai from Somewhere
1964
as Masagi Shohei
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
2002
as Sanada
The Imperial Japanese Empire
1982
as Hideki Tojo
13 Assassins
1963
as Doi Ōkō Toshi
The Story of a Man Among Men
1984
Greatest Boss of the Showa Era
1966
Cabaret
1986
as Yakuza boss
Samurai Spy
1965
as Sakon Takatani
T.R.Y.
2003
Silence
1971
as Cristóvão Ferreira
Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons
2000
as Old Master
Tokyo: The Last War
1989
as Kanaami Kohou / Kan'ami Kouou
Homicide
1964
as Lieutenant Aikawa
Human Revolution II
1976
Portrait of Chieko
1967
as Kotaro Takamura
The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses
1991
Yakuza Skirmishes
1972
The Armed Organization
1971
Suspicion
1982
as Kanetaka Okamura
Hunter in the Dark
1979
as Okitsugu Tanuma
The Classroom of Terror
1976
Twilight of the Cockroaches
1987
as Grandpa (voice)
Tokyo Blackout
1987
as Nakata
Abashiri Prison
1965
as Tsumaki
The Shogun's Vault
1964
Yakuza Demon
2003
as Michitane Tendou
Flames of Blood
1981
Rise and Fall of Chivalry
1970
A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Taxi Stand
2003
A Madcap Corporation
1983
as Yoshiteru Suma (Suma-gumi Boss)
Call from Darkness
1981
as Sugibayashi
Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny
1972
as Kagemetsuke
Kaachan
1961
The International Gang of Kobe
1975
as Rinsei
Operation Plazma in Osaka
1976
Diamonds of the Andes
1968
Quarreling with Yakuza
1973
Samurai from Nowhere
1964
as Gunjuro Ohba
The Wolves
1971
as Genryu Asakura
13 Assassins
1990
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun
1972
as Sergeant Katsuo Togashi
To Trap a Kidnapper
1982
Be-In Bully High School
1990
as Ryotaro Sakurazawa
The Making Of The Katakuris
2001
The 7th Dawn
1964
as Ng
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
1974
as Kimitake Shugi / Moroki
Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War
1958
as Keisuke Otori
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 350 credits spanning from 1954 to 2006, Tetsuro Tamba has appeared in 321 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
- Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (1991) — as Master Zhang
- You Only Live Twice (1967) — as Tiger Tanaka
- The Cat Returns (2002) — as Cat King (voice)
- Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle (1999) — as Tamba (voice)
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.