Tetsurō Tamba

Tetsurō 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

You Only Live Twice
The Cat Returns
Harakiri
Kwaidan
The Twilight Samurai
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
Birth Location Tokyo, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
Born 1922-07-17
Died 2006-09-24

Movies

The Exotic Locations of 'You Only Live Twice' as Tiger Tanaka (archive footage)
2006
2005
2003
2003
Best Ever Bond as Tiger Tanaka (archive footage) (uncredited)
2002
Bond Girls Are Forever as Tiger Tanaka (archive footage) (uncredited)
2002
The Twilight Samurai as Tozaemon Iguchi
2002
2002
The Cat Returns as Cat King (voice)
2002
Graveyard of Honor as Tetsuji Tokura
2002
The Happiness of the Katakuris as Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
2002
2000
2000
The Stupid Teacher as Utaemon Baba
2000
Japanese Hell as Asu Shino
1999
Jubaku: Spellbound as Tajiro Kawakami
1999
Screwed as Landlord
1998
The Peking Man as Osone
1997
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky as Master Zhang
1991
1991
Heat Wave as Denkichi Tsuzaki
1991
Female Neo-Ninjas as Time Patrol leader
1991
School Be-In Bully as Ryotaro Sakurazawa
1990
Aurora Borealis as Tsuneiro Kamisaka
1990
Four Days of Snow and Blood as Jinzaburi Shinzaki
1989
Yakuza Ladies 3 as Takeo Sakanishi
1989
Shogun's Shadow as Hotta Masamori
1989
Tokyo Pop as Mr. Dota
1988
1988
1987
Twilight of the Cockroaches as Grandpa (voice)
1987
Night Train as Isaburo Tamura
1987
Be Free! as Keizo Hasegawa
1986
April Fish as Panapora Chief Handa
1986
Cabaret as Yakuza boss
1986
The Last True Yakuza as Kazumasa Tashiro
1985
1985
1984
Zero as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
1984
1984
The Geisha as Kochi Notable
1983
Battle Anthem as Yamamoto
1983
Suspicion as Kanetaka Okamura
1982
1982
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather as Uichi Suda, The Big Boss
1982
Call from Darkness as Sugibayashi
1981
The Imperial Navy as Jisaburo Ozawa
1981
The Wild Daisy as Gozaburo Saito
1981
The Bushido Blade as Lord Yamato
1981
Samurai Reincarnation as Muramasa
1981
Shogun's Ninja as Tozawa Hakuunsai
1980
Drive for the Future as Akiji Nishikawa
1980
Port Arthur as Gentaro Kodama
1980
The Way to The Gold Medals as President Sakakibara
1980
The Shogun Assassins as Kato Kiyomasa
1979
1979
Hunter in the Dark as Okitsugu Tanuma
1979
1979
The Fall of Ako Castle as Yanagisawa
1978
August without Emperor as Army General Mikami
1978
1978
The Incident as Lawyer Kikuchi
1978
Message from Space as Ernest Noguchi
1978
Shogun's Samurai as Ogasawara Gensinsai
1978
Sugata Sanshiro as Iinuma
1977
High Seas Hijack as Captain Munekata
1977
Mount Hakkoda as Colonel Kojima
1977
The Alaska Story as Arashuk
1977
Murderer! as Nīto Kouken
1976
Zero Fighter as Captain Saito
1976
Conflagration as Captain Munekata
1975
The Bullet Train as Sunaga
1975
All Men Are Brothers as Lu Chun I
1975
The Castle of Sand as Detective Eitaro Imanishi
1974
Prophecies of Nostradamus as Dr. Nishiyama
1974
1974
Violent Streets as Shimamura Kansai
1974
Submersion of Japan as Prime Minister Yamamoto
1973
1973
Japan's Top Gangster as Noboru Yamaguchi
1973
1972
The Water Margin as Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
1972
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun as Sergeant Katsuo Togashi
1972
Silence as Cristóvão Ferreira
1971
The Wolves as Genryu Asakura
1971
The Gambler's Counterattack as Chief Inspector
1971
The Battle of Okinawa as Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
1971
Postwar Secrets as Kuroki
1970
1970
The Five Man Army as Samurai
1969
1969
Goyokin as Rokugo Tatewaki
1969
Black Lizard as Kuroki
1968
Snake Woman's Curse as Commander
1968
Gambler's Farewell as Tetsuji Kasai
1968
Army Intelligence as Lieutenant Colonel Akiyama
1968
Organized Violence II as Police Inspector Kitagawa
1967
Portrait of Chieko as Kotaro Takamura
1967
You Only Live Twice as Tiger Tanaka
1967
1967
Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave as J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)
1966
The Kii River as Shintani Kosaku
1966
Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn as Lord Tsushima Yagyu
1966
Thirst for Love as Kosuke Aso
1966
Blood of Revenge as Yutaro Nomura
1965
Samurai Spy as Sakon Takatani
1965
Abashiri Prison as Tsumaki
1965
Tale of Ninja Duty as Mumyo Tsunataro
1965
Kwaidan as Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")
1965
1964
Revenge as Shume Okuno
1964
The 7th Dawn as Ng
1964
Assassination as Hachiro Kiyokawa
1964
Homicide as Lieutenant Aikawa
1964
Samurai from Nowhere as Gunjuro Ohba
1964
Three Outlaw Samurai as Sakon Shiba
1964
1964
Jakoman and Tetsu as Jakoman
1964
13 Assassins as Doi Ōkō Toshi
1963
1963
Tokyo Untouchable: Escape as Goro Kawamoto
1963
Gang and G-Men Part 2 as 手塚徹
1963
Operation Diamond as Kazuo Kasami
1962
Gang vs. G-Men as Toru Tezuka
1962
Tokyo Untouchable as Goro Kawamoto
1962
Harakiri as Hikokuro Omodaka
1962
Four Sisters as Masao Igarashi
1962
G-Men in the Pacific as Mizuhara
1962
The Challenge as Takayama
1962
1961
1961
Mist and Shadows as Yusuke Komiya
1961
1961
Pigs and Battleships as Slasher Tetsuji
1961
Daredevil in the Castle as Sadamasa Ishikawa
1961
Get 'em All as Tanabe
1960
The Gambling Samurai as Fumizo Mitsuki
1960
1959
1959
A Wicked Woman as Ihei Ôsawa
1958
The Ghost of Kasane as Jinjûrô Ômura
1957
1957
The Ceiling at Utsunomiya as Kurozumi Tenzen
1956
1956
1955
Twilight Saloon as Morimoto
1955
Hanran as Captain Koda
1954