Biography
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.
Filmography
all 324
Movies 298
TV Shows 26
Voice 3
Director 3
self 2
Producer 2
The Exotic Locations of 'You Only Live Twice' (2006)
Teruo Ishii Fan Club (2006)
Demon Pond (2005)
Yoshitsune (2005)
Order Made ~Shiawase Iro no Shinshi Fuku Mise~ (2004)
The Thousand Year Fire (2004)
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio (2004)
Yumemiru Budo (2003)
Gozu (2003)
Yakuza Demon (2003)
A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Taxi Stand (2003)
T.R.Y. (2003)
Best Ever Bond (2002)
Bond Girls Are Forever (2002)
The Twilight Samurai (2002)
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka (2002)
Free and Easy 13 (2002)
The Cat Returns (2002)
Graveyard of Honor (2002)
The Happiness of the Katakuris (2002)
Shura Group (2002)
Toshiie and Matsu (2002)
Ino Tadataka: Meridian dreams (2001)
The Making Of The Katakuris (2001)
Blind Beast vs Dwarf Killer (2001)
Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons (2000)
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen (2000)
The Stupid Teacher (2000)
Japanese Hell (1999)
One for All (1999)
Jubaku: Spellbound (1999)
Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle (1999)
Screwed (1998)
The Peking Man (1997)
Kaseifu wa mita! (1997)
Hashiran ka! (1995)
Gokenin Zankuro (1995)
Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole (1994)
Coming Home (1994)
Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown (1994)
The Supernormal II (1993)
Hanshichi Torimonochō (1992)
Taira no Kiyomori (1992)
Minamoto Yoshitsune (1991)
The Tale of Genji (1991)
The Great Shogunate Battle (1991)
Yakuza Warfare (1991)
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (1991)
The Hitman Blood Smells Like Rose (1991)
Kim's War (1991)
Heat Wave (1991)
Female Neo-Ninjas (1991)
Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen (1990)
1750 Days of Turbulence (1990)
School Be-In Bully (1990)
Aurora Borealis (1990)
13 Assassins (1990)
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!! (1990)
HOTEL (1990)
Tokyo: The Last War (1989)
Four Days of Snow and Blood (1989)
The Political Game (1989)
Yakuza Ladies 3 (1989)
長七郎江戸日記スペシャル 長七郎 大奥まかり通る (1989)
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die (1989)
Shogun's Shadow (1989)
Kasuga the Court Lady (1989)
Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special (1988)
Tokyo Pop (1988)
A Taxing Woman's Return (1988)
Tetsuro Tamba's Spirit World (1988)
Tabaruzaka (1987)
There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl (1987)
Twilight of the Cockroaches (1987)
You're My Destiny (1987)
Shinran: Path to Purity (1987)
Night Train (1987)
Byakkotai (1986)
The White Tiger Battalion (1986)
Be Free! (1986)
April Fish (1986)
Cabaret (1986)
Inochi (1986)
Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches (1986)
Vendetta of Obligation (1985)
The Last True Yakuza (1985)
Shiosai (1985)
Sanada Taiheiki (1985)
Love: Starting on a Journey (1985)
Nezumi Kozō kaitō den (1984)
The Story of a Man Among Men (1984)
Kōgen ni ressha ga hashitta (1984)
Fireflies in the North (1984)
Zero (1984)
Kukai (1984)
宮本武蔵 (1984)
水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵 (1984)
Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy (1984)
L・O・V・I・N・G (1983)
A Madcap Corporation (1983)
The Tale of Saikaido (1983)
The Geisha (1983)
The Duel in the forbidden territory (1983)
Samon’s Hell Revenge: Unauthorised Jutte Records 2 - The Assassination of the Shogun (1983)
Battle Anthem (1983)
Marco Polo (1982)
To Trap a Kidnapper (1982)
Suspicion (1982)
The Imperial Japanese Empire (1982)
The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun (1982)
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather (1982)
Matsudaira Ukon Jikencho (1982)
Toge no Gunzo (1982)
Call from Darkness (1981)
The Wild Daisy (1981)
The Imperial Navy (1981)
The Bushido Blade (1981)
Samurai Reincarnation (1981)
Flames of Blood (1981)
Shogun's Ninja (1980)
Drive for the Future (1980)
Port Arthur (1980)
The Sand Boat (1980)
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga (1980)
The Way to The Gold Medals (1980)
The Shogun Assassins (1979)
Dead Angle (1979)
Hunter in the Dark (1979)
Nichiren (1979)
The Fall of Ako Castle (1978)
August without Emperor (1978)
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron (1978)
The Incident (1978)
Message from Space (1978)
Shogun's Samurai (1978)
Ōgon no Hibi (1978)
Sugata Sanshiro (1977)
High Seas Hijack (1977)
Mount Hakkoda (1977)
Flickering Flames (1977)
The Alaska Story (1977)
Murderer! (1976)
Zero Fighter (1976)
The Corporation (1976)
The Classroom of Terror (1976)
Human Revolution II (1976)
Operation Plazma in Osaka (1976)
The International Gang of Kobe (1975)
Company Buggers (1975)
Conflagration (1975)
The Bullet Train (1975)
All Men Are Brothers (1975)
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno (1974)
The Castle of Sand (1974)
Karafuto 1945 Summer (1974)
Third Generation Boss (1974)
Secret Prophecies of Nostradamus (1974)
Prophecies of Nostradamus (1974)
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs (1974)
Violent Streets (1974)
Submersion of Japan (1973)
The Ando Gang Documentary Film (1973)
Wild Cop 2 (1973)
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War (1973)
The Human Revolution (1973)
Japan's Top Gangster (1973)
The School Deviate Waru (1973)
Quarreling with Yakuza (1973)
Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight (1973)
Informal Dress (1972)
Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny (1972)
Yakuza Skirmishes (1972)
New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm (1972)
Shōwa Gokudōshi (1972)
Shadow Hunters (1972)
Organized Crime: Killer's Glory (1972)
The Water Margin (1972)
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun (1972)
Silence (1971)
The Armed Organization (1971)
Troops of Darkness (1971)
The Wolves (1971)
The Gambler's Counterattack (1971)
The Battle of Okinawa (1971)
King of Pornography (1971)
Epic Chushingura (1971)
Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny (1970)
Postwar Secrets (1970)
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies! (1970)
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan (1970)
Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive (1970)
Rise and Fall of Chivalry (1970)
Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers (1969)
The Five Man Army (1969)
Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room (1969)
Lone Rebel (1969)
The Private Police (1969)
Penitentiary Brothers (1969)
Sky Scraper! (1969)
Goyokin (1969)
Delinquent Boss: Wolves of the City (1969)
Black Lizard (1968)
Snake Woman's Curse (1968)
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze (1968)
The Bad Boss (1968)
Diamonds of the Andes (1968)
Blackmail Is My Life (1968)
The Code of Man (1968)
Gambler's Farewell (1968)
Army Intelligence (1968)
The Return of the Filthy Seven (1967)
Game of Chance 3 (1967)
King of the Gang (1967)
Hawk of the Harbour (1967)
Organized Violence II (1967)
Portrait of Chieko (1967)
You Only Live Twice (1967)
Once and For All (1967)
Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo (1967)
Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido (1967)
Dissolution Rites (1967)
Organized Violence (1967)
Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave (1966)
Tokyo Drifters (1966)
The Kii River (1966)
Greatest Boss of the Showa Era (1966)
Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn (1966)
Thirst for Love (1966)
Blood of Revenge (1965)
Blood and Law (1965)
The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry (1965)
The Gambler (1965)
Samurai Spy (1965)
Ankoku gai jingi (1965)
Abashiri Prison (1965)
Tale of Ninja Duty (1965)
Kwaidan (1965)
Gamblers and Racketeers (1964)
Samurai from Somewhere (1964)
Detective (1964)
Revenge (1964)
The Great Duel (1964)
The 7th Dawn (1964)
Assassination (1964)
Homicide (1964)
The Shogun's Vault (1964)
Samurai from Nowhere (1964)
Three Outlaw Samurai (1964)
An Outlaw (1964)
Destroyer Yukikaze (1964)
The Kingdom of Jirocho 3 (1964)
Jakoman and Tetsu (1964)
Tokyo Gang Vs. Hong Kong Gang (1964)
13 Assassins (1963)
Tange Sazen (1963)
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance (1963)
Futari dake no toride (1963)
Tokyo Untouchable: Escape (1963)
Kizu-darake no futeki-sha (1963)
Gang and G-Men Part 2 (1963)
Eleven Gangsters (1963)
Uragirimono wa jigoku daze (1962)
Operation Diamond (1962)
Umineko ga tonde (1962)
Gang vs. G-Men (1962)
Tokyo Untouchable (1962)
Hell's Kitchen (1962)
A Flame at the Pier (1962)
Harakiri (1962)
Gang vs. Gang (1962)
Four Sisters (1962)
Zankokuna tsuki (1962)
G-Men in the Pacific (1962)
The Challenge (1962)
All Rascals (1962)
Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3 (1962)
Kuro to aka no hanabira (1962)
South Pacific Waves Are High (1962)
Structure of Hate (1961)
Greed in Broad Daylight (1961)
Bridge to the Sun (1961)
Dai shinrin ni mukatte tatsu (1961)
The Yellow Climate (1961)
Mist and Shadows (1961)
Red Flowers of Hell (1961)
Kaachan (1961)
Pigs and Battleships (1961)
Daredevil in the Castle (1961)
Get 'em All (1960)
The Gambling Samurai (1960)
Zero sen no jorō gun (1960)
Female Slave Ship (1960)
金語楼の海軍大将 (1959)
Mukeisatsu (1959)
Rajo to satsujin-meiro (1959)
The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal (1959)
Kyōen Kobanzame (1958)
Underwater Murder (1958)
Quick on the Trigger (1958)
Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War (1958)
A Wicked Woman (1958)
Queen of Asia (1957)
ひばりの三役 競艶雪之丞変化 後篇 (1957)
Hibari no san'yaku: Kei tsuya yuki no jôhenge (1957)
The Ghost of Kasane (1957)
Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War (1957)
鬼姫競艶録 (1956)
The Ceiling at Utsunomiya (1956)
金語楼の雷社長 (1956)
Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets (1956)
検事とその妹 (1956)
Kingoro's Soldier (1956)
Speed King (1956)
The Fencing Collegian (1956)
Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko (1956)
花眞珠 (1955)
The Vassal's Neck (1955)
Twilight Saloon (1955)
Mysterious Pygmy (1955)
The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes (1955)
Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced (1954)
Hanran (1954)
Key Hunter
Choshichiro Edo Nikki
Ratings
Gallery
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1922-07-17
Deathday2006-09-24 (84 years old)
Birth Name丹波 正三郎
Birth PlaceŌkubo, Japan
Height175-centimeter
ChildrenYoshitaka Tamba
RelativesAkira Tanba, Tanba Keizō
CitizenshipsJapan
Also Known As丹波 哲郎, Tetsurō Tanba, 丹波哲郎 , Tetsuro Tamba, Tetzuro Tamba, Tetsurô Tanba , Tetsuro Tambo, Tetsurô Tamba, Tetsurou Tanba, Тэцуро Тамба
AwardsMainichi Film Award for Best Actor, Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Supporting Actor, 4th Japan Academy Prize
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