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 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.
Filmography
Teruo Ishii Fan Club
Teruo Ishii Fan Club
Demon Pond
Demon Pond
The Thousand Year Fire
The Thousand Year Fire
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
Gozu
Gozu
Yakuza Demon
as Michitane Tendou
Yakuza Demon
as Michitane Tendou
A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Taxi Stand
A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Taxi Stand
T.R.Y.
T.R.Y.
Shura Group Part 2
Shura Group Part 2
The Twilight Samurai
as Tozaemon Iguchi
The Twilight Samurai
as Tozaemon Iguchi
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
as Sanada
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
as Sanada
The Cat Returns
as Cat King (voice)
The Cat Returns
as Cat King (voice)
Graveyard of Honor
as Tetsuji Tokura
Graveyard of Honor
as Tetsuji Tokura
The Happiness of the Katakuris
as Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
The Happiness of the Katakuris
as Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
Shura Group
Shura Group
Shura Group Part 1
Shura Group Part 1
Ino Tadataka: Meridian Dreams
Ino Tadataka: Meridian Dreams
The Making Of The Katakuris
The Making Of The Katakuris
修羅のみち
修羅のみち
Blind Beast vs Killer Dwarf
Blind Beast vs Killer Dwarf
Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons
as Old Master
Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons
as Old Master
The Stupid Teacher
as Utaemon Baba
The Stupid Teacher
as Utaemon Baba
Japanese Hell
as Asu Shino
Japanese Hell
as Asu Shino
Jubaku: Spellbound
as Tajiro Kawakami
Jubaku: Spellbound
as Tajiro Kawakami
Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle
as Tamba (voice)
Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle
as Tamba (voice)
Screwed
as Landlord
Screwed
as Landlord
Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown
Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown
Emperor of Upheaval
Emperor of Upheaval
The Supernormal II
The Supernormal II
Taira no Kiyomori
Taira no Kiyomori
Minamoto Yoshitsune
Minamoto Yoshitsune
The Great Shogunate Battle
The Great Shogunate Battle
源氏九郎颯爽記 秘剣揚羽の蝶
源氏九郎颯爽記 秘剣揚羽の蝶
Female Neo-Ninjas
as Time Patrol leader
Female Neo-Ninjas
as Time Patrol leader
Heat Wave
as Denkichi Tsuzaki
Heat Wave
as Denkichi Tsuzaki
13 Assassins
13 Assassins
Four Days of Snow and Blood
as Jinzaburi Shinzaki
Four Days of Snow and Blood
as Jinzaburi Shinzaki
Shogun's Shadow
as Hotta Masamori
Shogun's Shadow
as Hotta Masamori
There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl
There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl
Shinran: Path to Purity
Shinran: Path to Purity
Tokyo Blackout
as Nakata
Tokyo Blackout
as Nakata
Cabaret
as Yakuza boss
Cabaret
as Yakuza boss
The Last True Yakuza
as Kazumasa Tashiro
The Last True Yakuza
as Kazumasa Tashiro
Heaven Station
Heaven Station
The Imperial Japanese Empire
as Hideki Tojo
The Imperial Japanese Empire
as Hideki Tojo
Call from Darkness
as Sugibayashi
Call from Darkness
as Sugibayashi
The Bushido Blade
as Lord Yamato
The Bushido Blade
as Lord Yamato
Samurai Reincarnation
as Muramasa
Samurai Reincarnation
as Muramasa
Drive for the Future
as Akiji Nishikawa
Drive for the Future
as Akiji Nishikawa
The Way to The Gold Medals
as President Sakakibara
The Way to The Gold Medals
as President Sakakibara
Dead Angle
Dead Angle
Hunter in the Dark
as Okitsugu Tanuma
Hunter in the Dark
as Okitsugu Tanuma
Never Give Up
as General Wada
Never Give Up
as General Wada
Monument to Holy Service
Monument to Holy Service
Shogun's Samurai
as Ogasawara Gensinsai
Shogun's Samurai
as Ogasawara Gensinsai
Sugata Sanshiro
as Iinuma
Sugata Sanshiro
as Iinuma
High Seas Hijack
as Captain Munekata
High Seas Hijack
as Captain Munekata
Between Women and Wives
Between Women and Wives
The International Gang of Kobe
as Rinsei
The International Gang of Kobe
as Rinsei
Company Buggers
Company Buggers
Conflagration
as Captain Munekata
Conflagration
as Captain Munekata
The Bullet Train
as Sunaga
The Bullet Train
as Sunaga
Tidal Wave
as Prime Minister Yamato
Tidal Wave
as Prime Minister Yamato
All Men Are Brothers
as Lu Chun I
All Men Are Brothers
as Lu Chun I
A Picture of Madame Yuki
A Picture of Madame Yuki
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
as Kimitake Shugi / Moroki
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
as Kimitake Shugi / Moroki
The Castle of Sand
as Detective Eitaro Imanishi
The Castle of Sand
as Detective Eitaro Imanishi
Karafuto 1945 Summer
Karafuto 1945 Summer
Secret Prophecies of Nostradamus
as Himself
Secret Prophecies of Nostradamus
as Himself
Submersion of Japan
as Prime Minister Yamamoto
Submersion of Japan
as Prime Minister Yamamoto
The Ando Gang Documentary Film
The Ando Gang Documentary Film
The School Deviate Waru
The School Deviate Waru
Shadow Hunters
Shadow Hunters
The Water Margin
as Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
The Water Margin
as Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
The Battle of Okinawa
as Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
The Battle of Okinawa
as Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
Lone Rebel
Lone Rebel
The Private Police
The Private Police
Penitentiary Brothers
Penitentiary Brothers
Diamonds of the Andes
Diamonds of the Andes
King of the Gang
King of the Gang
Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave
as J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)
Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave
as J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)
The Kingdom of Jirocho 3
The Kingdom of Jirocho 3
Element of Surprise
Element of Surprise
Four Sisters
as Masao Igarashi
Four Sisters
as Masao Igarashi
G-Men in the Pacific
as Mizuhara
G-Men in the Pacific
as Mizuhara
Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3
Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3
Structure of Hate
Structure of Hate
Red Flowers of Hell
Red Flowers of Hell
Get 'em All
as Tanabe
Get 'em All
as Tanabe
剣聖 暁の三十六番斬り
剣聖 暁の三十六番斬り
The Prosecutor and His Sister
The Prosecutor and His Sister
Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko
Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko
The Vassal's Neck
The Vassal's Neck