Tetsuro Tamba
Known for: Acting
Born: July 17, 1922
Died: September 24, 2006
Place of birth: Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
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.
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Filmography
324 movies · 30 TV shows, newest first
NR
Teruo Ishii Fan Club
2006
6.6
Demon Pond
2005
8.3
Yoshitsune
2005NR
Order Made ~Shiawase Iro no Shinshi Fuku Mise~
2004
7.5
The Thousand Year Fire
2004
NR
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
2004NR
Yumemiru Budo
2003
6.8
Gozu
2003
6.3
Yakuza Demon
2003NR
A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Taxi Stand
2003
7.2
T.R.Y.
2003
NR
Shura Group Part 2
2002
7.8
The Twilight Samurai
2002
6.6
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
2002
7.1
The Cat Returns
2002
6.2
Graveyard of Honor
2002
6.9
The Happiness of the Katakuris
2002
NR
Shura Group
2002
8.3
Toshiie and Matsu
2002NR
Shura Group Part 1
2002
NR
Ino Tadataka: Meridian Dreams
2001
6.0
The Making Of The Katakuris
2001
NR
修羅のみち
2001
3.8
Blind Beast vs Killer Dwarf
2001
6.2
Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons
2000
7.8
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
2000
8.0
The Stupid Teacher
2000
4.7
Japanese Hell
1999
9.0
The Veteran Trio
1999
6.2
Jubaku: Spellbound
1999
6.5
Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle
1999
4.9
Screwed
1998
5.0
The Peking Man
1997NR
Kaseifu wa mita!
1997
NR
Hashiran ka!
1995
8.0
Gokenin Zankuro
1995
NR
Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole
1994NR
Coming Home
1994
9.0
Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown
1994
NR
新幹線物語'93夏
1993
NR
Emperor of Upheaval
1993
6.5
The Supernormal II
1993
NR
Hanshichi Torimonochō
1992
NR
Taira no Kiyomori
19925.0
Minamoto Yoshitsune
1991
NR
The Tale of Genji
1991
6.8
The Great Shogunate Battle
1991
7.5
Yakuza Warfare
1991
NR
源氏九郎颯爽記 秘剣揚羽の蝶
1991
6.9
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
1991
6.3
The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses
1991
NR
Kim's War
1991
4.9
Female Neo-Ninjas
1991
5.9
Heat Wave
1991
9.5
Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen
1990
8.3
1750 Days of Turbulence
1990
7.0
Be-In Bully High School
1990
5.2
Aurora Borealis
1990
NR
The Great White Tower
1990
7.0
13 Assassins
1990
NR
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!
1990
NR
HOTEL
1990
5.7
The Ginger Tree
1989
6.3
Tokyo: The Last War
1989
7.3
Four Days of Snow and Blood
1989
10.0
The Political Game
1989
8.0
Yakuza Ladies 3
1989
NR
長七郎江戸日記スペシャル 長七郎 大奥まかり通る
1989
6.9
Shogun's Shadow
1989
7.0
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
1989
NR
Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special
1988
6.9
Tokyo Pop
1988
6.4
A Taxing Woman's Return
1988NR
Tetsuro Tamba's Spirit World
1988
NR
Tabaruzaka
1987
6.0
There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl
1987
6.2
Twilight of the Cockroaches
1987
7.5
You're My Destiny
1987
NR
Ronin on a Mission
1987
5.8
Shinran: Path to Purity
1987
3.7
Night Train
1987
6.2
Tokyo Blackout
1987
NR
Byakkotai
1986NR
Be Free!
1986
4.8
April Fish
1986
4.8
Cabaret
1986
NR
Inochi
1986
NR
Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches
1986
NR
Vendetta of Obligation
1985
5.7
The Last True Yakuza
1985
9.0
The Sound of the Waves
1985
8.0
Sanada Taiheiki
1985
4.7
Love: Starting on a Journey
1985
NR
Nezumi Kozō kaitō den
1984
6.0
The Story of a Man Among Men
1984
NR
Life of St. Blue Eyes
1984
NR
Kōgen ni ressha ga hashitta
1984
5.6
Fireflies in the North
1984
6.1
Zero
1984
8.8
Heaven Station
1984
9.5
Kukai
1984
NR
水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵
1984
NR
Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy
1984
NR
L・O・V・I・N・G
1983
NR
A Madcap Corporation
1983
NR
Lady Vengeance and the 47 Ronin
1983
6.0
Masked Blade
1983
NR
The Tale of Saikaido
1983
5.6
The Geisha
1983
NR
The Duel in the Forbidden Territory
1983
7.7
Battle Anthem
1983
NR
The Brave Man Says Little
19838.0
Samon’s Hell Revenge: Unauthorised Jutte Records 2 - The Assassination of the Shogun
1983
6.8
Marco Polo
1982
7.7
To Trap a Kidnapper
1982
7.0
Suspicion
1982
5.5
The Imperial Japanese Empire
1982
NR
The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun
1982
6.2
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
1982
NR
Matsudaira Ukon Jikencho
1982
6.3
Call from Darkness
1981
6.3
The Wild Daisy
1981
6.6
The Imperial Navy
1981
5.3
The Bushido Blade
1981
5.9
Samurai Reincarnation
1981
8.0
Flames of Blood
1981
NR
The Last Days of Planet Earth
1981
6.3
Shogun's Ninja
1980
10.0
Drive for the Future
1980
7.4
Port Arthur
1980
NR
The Sand Boat
1980
5.5
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
1980
NR
The Way to The Gold Medals
1980
5.4
The Shogun Assassins
1979
8.0
Dead Angle
1979
6.3
Hunter in the Dark
1979
7.0
Nichiren
1979
6.8
The Fall of Ako Castle
1978
6.4
Never Give Up
1978
8.0
Monument to Holy Service
1978
7.3
August Without Emperor
1978
6.1
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
1978
7.2
The Incident
1978
5.9
Message from Space
1978
7.0
Shogun's Samurai
1978
NR
Ōgon no Hibi
1978
10.0
Sugata Sanshiro
1977
10.0
High Seas Hijack
1977
6.6
Mount Hakkoda
1977
10.0
Flickering Flames
1977
8.0
The Alaska Story
1977
8.0
Murderer!
1976
5.6
Zero Fighter
1976
3.7
The Corporation
1976
6.2
Seven Nights in Japan
1976
6.3
The Classroom of Terror
1976
8.0
Human Revolution II
1976
7.7
Operation Plazma in Osaka
1976
7.0
Between Women and Wives
1976
5.7
The International Gang of Kobe
1975
7.0
Company Buggers
1975
7.0
Conflagration
1975
6.9
The Bullet Train
1975
NR
Tidal Wave
1975
NR
G-Men '75
1975
7.0
All Men Are Brothers
1975
NR
A Picture of Madame Yuki
1975
5.7
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
1974
7.4
The Castle of Sand
1974
7.3
Karafuto 1945 Summer
1974
5.7
Prophecies of Nostradamus
1974NR
Secret Prophecies of Nostradamus
1974
6.5
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
1974
6.7
Violent Streets
1974
7.0
Submersion of Japan
1973
6.5
The Ando Gang Documentary Film
1973
6.7
Wild Cop 2
1973
NR
Big Bad Wolf
1973
7.0
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War
1973
7.0
The Human Revolution
1973
7.0
Japan's Top Gangster
1973
NR
The School Deviate Waru
1973
5.0
Quarreling with Yakuza
1973
6.6
Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight
1973
7.3
Battles Without Honor and Humanity
1973
NR
Informal Dress
1972
7.7
Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny
1972
10.0
Yakuza Skirmishes
1972
10.0
New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm
1972
NR
Shōwa Gokudōshi
1972
7.2
Shadow Hunters
1972
9.0
Organized Crime: Killer's Glory
1972
6.8
The Water Margin
1972
7.6
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun
1972
7.2
Silence
1971
8.0
The Armed Organization
1971
6.0
Troops of Darkness
1971
7.4
The Wolves
1971
8.5
The Gambler's Counterattack
1971
7.8
The Battle of Okinawa
1971
5.9
King of Pornography
1971
6.8
Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny
1970
9.5
Postwar Secrets
1970
9.0
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
1970
7.1
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
1970
7.4
Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive
1970
6.5
Rise and Fall of Chivalry
1970
NR
やくざ番外地 抹殺
1969
10.0
Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers
1969
6.6
The 5-Man Army
1969
NR
Thirteen Times a Loser
1969
6.2
Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room
1969
8.0
Lone Rebel
1969
7.5
The Private Police
1969
NR
Penitentiary Brothers
1969
7.0
Sky Scraper!
1969
7.5
Goyokin
1969
NR
Hot Vacation
1968
6.9
Black Lizard
1968
6.0
Snake Woman's Curse
1968
7.7
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
1968
NR
The Bad Boss
1968
10.0
Diamonds of the Andes
1968
7.0
Key Hunter
1968
6.6
Blackmail Is My Life
1968
7.0
The Code of Man
1968
7.0
Army Intelligence
1968
8.0
Gambler's Farewell
1968
9.0
The Return of the Filthy Seven
1967
5.0
Game of Chance 3
1967
NR
Escape Man
1967
9.0
King of the Gang
1967
9.0
Hawk of the Harbour
1967
7.5
Organized Violence II
1967
7.5
Portrait of Chieko
1967
6.6
You Only Live Twice
1967
10.0
Once and For All
1967
NR
Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo
1967
8.0
Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
1967
7.0
Dissolution Rites
1967
6.5
Organized Violence
1967
6.0
Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave
1966
8.0
Continental Drifter
1966
7.5
The Kii River
1966
7.0
Greatest Boss of the Showa Era
1966
6.7
Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn
1966
6.0
Thirst for Love
1966
NR
High-Ranking Yakuza
1965
6.7
Blood of Revenge
1965
NR
Blood and Law
1965
7.5
The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry
1965
6.4
Samurai Spy
1965
NR
The Gambler
1965
NR
Underworld Code
1965
7.2
Abashiri Prison
1965
7.0
Tokyo Untouchable
1965
1.0
Tale of Ninja Duty
1965
7.7
Kwaidan
1965
NR
Ninja Killers
1964
10.0
Gamblers and Racketeers
1964
7.0
Samurai from Somewhere
1964
NR
Detective
1964
7.6
Revenge
1964
6.0
Giant Rumble
1964
6.5
The 7th Dawn
1964
7.0
The Shogun's Vault
1964
7.1
Assassination
1964
NR
Homicide
1964
7.5
Three Outlaw Samurai
1964
NR
Tokyo Untouchables
1964
5.0
An Outlaw
1964
NR
Destroyer Yukikaze
1964
10.0
The Kingdom of Jirocho 3
1964
7.5
Jakoman and Tetsu
1964
7.2
Samurai from Nowhere
1964
10.0
Tokyo Gang vs. Hong Kong Gang
1964
7.5
13 Assassins
1963
9.0
Tange Sazen
1963
5.7
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
1963
NR
Element of Surprise
1963
9.0
Futari dake no toride
1963
NR
Ano hito wa ima
1963
9.0
Tokyo Untouchable: Escape
1963
NR
Kizu-darake no futeki-sha
1963
10.0
Gang vs. G-Men: Safe Breakers
1963
10.0
Eleven Gangsters
1963
7.0
Uragirimono wa jigoku daze
1962
9.0
Operation Diamond
1962
NR
Umineko ga tonde
1962
7.5
Gang vs. G-Men
1962
7.5
Hell's Kitchen
1962
6.1
A Flame at the Pier
1962
8.5
Harakiri
1962
7.3
Gang vs. Gang
1962
6.0
Four Sisters
1962
NR
Zankokuna tsuki
1962
6.3
G-Men in the Pacific
1962
7.4
The Challenge
1962
7.0
All Rascals
1962
8.2
Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3
1962NR
Black and Red Flower Petals
1962
NR
South Pacific Waves Are High
1962
7.0
Structure of Hate
1961
8.0
Greed in Broad Daylight
1961
6.9
Bridge to the Sun
1961
NR
Standing Towards the Great Forest
1961
8.0
The Yellow Climate
1961
8.0
Mist and Shadows
1961
10.0
Kill the Killer!
1961
7.0
Red Flowers of Hell
1961
NR
機動捜査班
196110.0
Kaachan
1961
7.1
Pigs and Battleships
1961
7.5
Daredevil in the Castle
1961
7.0
Get 'em All
1960
NR
Showdown on Pier No.3
1960
6.9
The Gambling Samurai
1960
NR
Zero sen no jorō gun
1960
6.5
Female Slave Ship
1960
NR
Kingorō no kaigun taishô
1959NR
No Police
1959NR
Nude Woman and Murder Maze
1959
8.0
The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal
1959NR
Kyōen Kobanzame
1958
NR
Bloody History of Soldiers
1958NR
Underwater Murder
1958
8.0
Quick on the Trigger
1958
NR
Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War
1958
7.7
A Wicked Woman
1958
7.5
Queen of Asia
1957
NR
Hibari's Triple Role: The Transformation of Yukinojo — Part II
1957
NR
Hibari's Triple Role: The Dazzling Transformation of Yukinojo
1957
7.3
The Ghost of Kasane
1957
NR
剣聖 暁の三十六番斬り
1957
8.0
Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War
1957
NR
Storming Osaka Castle: The Sanada Ten Braves
1957
NR
Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed
1957
NR
Devil Princess’ Beauty Competition
1956
6.2
The Ceiling at Utsunomiya
1956NR
President Rai of Kingoro
1956
5.0
Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets
1956
NR
The Prosecutor and His Sister
1956NR
Kingoro's Soldier
1956NR
Speed King
1956NR
The Fencing Collegian
1956
NR
Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko
1956
NR
Hanamazu
19558.5
The Vassal's Neck
1955
8.0
Twilight Saloon
1955
10.0
Mysterious Dwarf
1955
9.0
The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes
1955
7.0
日本敗れず
1954
NR
Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced
1954
NR
Hanran
1954