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Tetsuro Tamba
Acting
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…
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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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BODY OF WORK
Tetsuro Tamba's Filmography
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Teruo Ishii Fan Club
Demon Pond
The Thousand Year Fire
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
Gozu
Yakuza Demon
as Michitane Tendou
No Poster
A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Taxi Stand
T.R.Y.
Shura Group Part 2
The Twilight Samurai
as Tozaemon Iguchi
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
as Sanada
The Cat Returns
as Cat King (voice)
Graveyard of Honor
as Tetsuji Tokura
The Happiness of the Katakuris
as Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
Shura Group
No Poster
Shura Group Part 1
Ino Tadataka: Meridian Dreams
The Making Of The Katakuris
修羅のみち
Blind Beast vs Killer Dwarf
Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons
as Old Master
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
as Tetsuo Hatake
The Stupid Teacher
as Utaemon Baba
Japanese Hell
as Asu Shino
Jubaku: Spellbound
as Tajiro Kawakami
Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle
as Tamba (voice)
Screwed
as Landlord
The Peking Man
as Osone
Fujisawa Shuhei's Sparkling Sword: Puppeteer in the Shadows
Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole
Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown
Emperor of Upheaval
The Supernormal II
Taira no Kiyomori
No Poster
Minamoto Yoshitsune
The Great Shogunate Battle
Yakuza Warfare
源氏九郎颯爽記 秘剣揚羽の蝶
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
as Master Zhang
The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses
Kim's War
Female Neo-Ninjas
as Time Patrol leader
Heat Wave
as Denkichi Tsuzaki
1750 Days of Turbulence
Be-In Bully High School
as Ryotaro Sakurazawa
Under Aurora
as Tsuneiro Kamisaka
13 Assassins
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!
as Ryo Okamoto
Tokyo: The Last War
as Kanaami Kohou
Tokyo: The Last War
as Kan'ami Kouou
Four Days of Snow and Blood
as Jinzaburi Shinzaki
The Political Game
Yakuza Ladies 3
as Takeo Sakanishi
長七郎江戸日記スペシャル 長七郎 大奥まかり通る
Shogun's Shadow
as Hotta Masamori
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
as 吉野博士
Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special
Tokyo Pop
as Mr. Dota
A Taxing Woman's Return
as Sadohara
There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl
Twilight of the Cockroaches
as Grandpa (voice)
You're My Destiny
Ronin on a Mission
as Ōishi Kuranosuke
Shinran: Path to Purity
Night Train
as Isaburo Tamura
Tokyo Blackout
as Nakata
Be Free!
as Keizo Hasegawa
April Fish
as Panapora Chief Handa
Cabaret
as Yakuza boss
Vendetta of Obligation
The Last True Yakuza
as Kazumasa Tashiro
The Sound of the Waves
Love: Starting on a Journey
Nezumi Kozō kaitō den
The Story of a Man Among Men
Kōgen ni ressha ga hashitta
Fireflies in the North
as Ishikura
Zero
as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Heaven Station
Kukai
Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy
as Yagyu Munefuyu
L・O・V・I・N・G
A Madcap Corporation
as Yoshiteru Suma (Suma-gumi Boss)
Lady Vengeance and the 47 Ronin
The Tale of Saikaido
The Geisha
as Kochi Notable
The Duel in the Forbidden Territory
Battle Anthem
as Yamamoto
No Poster
Samon’s Hell Revenge: Unauthorised Jutte Records 2 - The Assassination of the Shogun
To Trap a Kidnapper
Suspicion
as Kanetaka Okamura
The Imperial Japanese Empire
as Hideki Tojo
The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
as Uichi Suda, The Big Boss
Call from Darkness
as Sugibayashi
I Saw a Monster Fish
as ryuji
The Imperial Navy
as Jisaburo Ozawa
The Wild Daisy
as Gozaburo Saito
The Bushido Blade
as Lord Yamato
Samurai Reincarnation
as Muramasa
Flames of Blood
The Last Days of Planet Earth
as Dr. Nishiyama
Shogun's Ninja
as Tozawa Hakuunsai
Drive for the Future
as Akiji Nishikawa
Port Arthur
as Gentaro Kodama
The Sand Boat
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
as Tatsuo Akashi
The Way to The Gold Medals
as President Sakakibara
The Shogun Assassins
as Kato Kiyomasa
Dead Angle
Hunter in the Dark
as Okitsugu Tanuma
Nichiren
The Fall of Ako Castle
as Yanagisawa
Never Give Up
as General Wada
August Without Emperor
as Army General Mikami
Monument to Holy Service
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
as Kichibei
The Incident
as Lawyer Kikuchi
Message from Space
as Ernest Noguchi
Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy
as Ogasawara Gensinsai
Sugata Sanshiro
as Iinuma
High Seas Hijack
as Captain Munekata
Mount Hakkoda
as Colonel Kojima
Flickering Flames
The Alaska Story
as Arashuk
Murderer!
as Nīto Kouken
Zero Pilot
as Captain Saito
The Corporation
as Kawamata
Seven Nights in Japan
as Terrorist Leader (uncredited)
The Classroom of Terror
Human Revolution II
Operation Plazma in Osaka
Between Women and Wives
The International Gang of Kobe
as Rinsei
Company Buggers
Conflagration
as Captain Munekata
The Bullet Train
as Sunaga
Tidal Wave
as Prime Minister Yamato
All Men Are Brothers
as Lu Chun I
A Picture of Madame Yuki
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
as Kimitake Shugi / Moroki
The Castle of Sand
as Detective Eitaro Imanishi
Karafuto 1945 Summer
Prophecies of Nostradamus
as Dr. Nishiyama
No Poster
Secret Prophecies of Nostradamus
as Himself
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
as Nagumo
Violent Streets
as Shimamura
Submersion of Japan
as Prime Minister Yamamoto
The Ando Gang Documentary Film
Wild Cop 2
Big Bad Wolf
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War
as Tatsuo Akashi
The Human Revolution
as Josei Toda
Japan's Top Gangster
as Noboru Yamaguchi
The School Deviate Waru
Quarreling with Yakuza
Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight
as Shino
Battles Without Honor and Humanity
Informal Dress
Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny
as Kagemetsuke
Yakuza Skirmishes
New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm
Shōwa Gokudōshi
Shadow Hunters
Organized Crime: Killer's Glory
The Water Margin
as Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun
as Sergeant Katsuo Togashi
Silence
as Cristóvão Ferreira
The Armed Organization
Troops of Darkness
The Wolves
as Genryu Asakura
The Gambler's Counterattack
as Chief Inspector
The Battle of Okinawa
as Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
King of Pornography
Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny
Postwar Secrets
as Kuroki
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
as Soshun Kochiyama
Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive
as Hyoe
Rise and Fall of Chivalry
やくざ番外地 抹殺
Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers
The 5-Man Army
as Samurai
Thirteen Times a Loser
as Shinji Kaizuka
Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room
Lone Rebel
The Private Police
Penitentiary Brothers
Sky Scraper!
Goyokin
as Rokugo Tatewaki
Hot Vacation
Black Lizard
as Kuroki
Snake Woman's Curse
as Commander
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
The Bad Boss
Diamonds of the Andes
Blackmail Is My Life
The Code of Man
Gambler's Farewell
as Tetsuji Kasai
Army Intelligence
as Lieutenant Colonel Akiyama
The Return of the Filthy Seven
Game of Chance 3
Escape Man
King of the Gang
Hawk of the Harbour
Organized Violence II
as Police Inspector Kitagawa
Portrait of Chieko
as Kotaro Takamura
You Only Live Twice
as Tiger Tanaka
Once and For All
Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo
Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
Dissolution Rites
as Sakai
Organized Violence
Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave
as J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)
Continental Drifter
The Kii River
as Shintani Kosaku
Greatest Boss of the Showa Era
Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn
as Lord Tsushima Yagyu
Thirst for Love
as Kosuke Aso
High-Ranking Yakuza
Blood of Revenge
as Yutaro Nomura
Blood and Law
The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry
Samurai Spy
as Sakon Takatani
The Gambler
Underworld Code
Abashiri Prison
as Tsumaki
Tokyo Untouchable
as Goro Kawamoto
Tale of Ninja Duty
as Mumyo Tsunataro
Kwaidan
as Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")
Ninja Killers
Gamblers and Racketeers
Samurai from Somewhere
as Masagi Shohei
Detective
Revenge
as Shume Okuno
Giant Rumble
The 7th Dawn
as Ng
The Shogun's Vault
Assassination
as Hachiro Kiyokawa
Homicide
as Lieutenant Aikawa
Three Outlaw Samurai
as Sakon Shiba
Tokyo Untouchables
An Outlaw
Destroyer Yukikaze
The Kingdom of Jirocho 3
Jakoman and Tetsu
as Jakoman
Samurai from Nowhere
as Gunjuro Ohba
Tokyo Gang vs. Hong Kong Gang
13 Assassins
as Doi Ōkō Toshi
Tange Sazen
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
as Gu Shimizu
Element of Surprise
Futari dake no toride
Ano hito wa ima
Tokyo Untouchable: Escape
as Goro Kawamoto
Kizu-darake no futeki-sha
Gang vs. G-Men: Safe Breakers
as 手塚徹
Eleven Gangsters
Uragirimono wa jigoku daze
Operation Diamond
as Kazuo Kasami
Umineko ga tonde
Gang vs. G-Men
as Toru Tezuka
Hell's Kitchen
A Flame at the Pier
Harakiri
as Hikokuro Omodaka
Gang vs. Gang
Four Sisters
as Masao Igarashi
Zankokuna tsuki
G-Men in the Pacific
as Mizuhara
The Challenge
as Takayama
All Rascals
Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3
No Poster
Black and Red Flower Petals
South Pacific Waves Are High
Structure of Hate
Greed in Broad Daylight
as Miyahara
Bridge to the Sun
as Jiro
The Yellow Climate
Standing Towards the Great Forest
Mist and Shadows
as Yusuke Komiya
Kill the Killer!
as Narumi
Red Flowers of Hell
機動捜査班
No Poster
Kaachan
Pigs and Battleships
as Slasher Tetsuji
Daredevil in the Castle
as Sadamasa Ishikawa
Get 'em All
as Tanabe
Showdown on Pier No.3
as Kirishima
The Gambling Samurai
as Fumizo Mitsuki
Zero sen no jorō gun
Female Slave Ship
Kingorō no kaigun taishô
No Poster
No Police
No Poster
Nude Woman and Murder Maze
as Senba
The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal
No Poster
Kyōen Kobanzame
Bloody History of Soldiers
as Shumei Okawa
No Poster
Underwater Murder
Quick on the Trigger
Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War
as Keisuke Otori
A Wicked Woman
as Ihei Ôsawa
Queen of Asia
Hibari's Triple Role: The Transformation of Yukinojo — Part II
Hibari's Triple Role: The Dazzling Transformation of Yukinojo
The Ghost of Kasane
as Jinjûrô Ômura
剣聖 暁の三十六番斬り
Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War
as Rear Admiral Shimamura
Storming Osaka Castle: The Sanada Ten Braves
as Mondonoshô Hirano
Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed
as Aboshi Samajirô
Devil Princess’ Beauty Competition
The Ceiling at Utsunomiya
as Kurozumi Tenzen
No Poster
President Rai of Kingoro
Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets
The Prosecutor and His Sister
No Poster
Kingoro's Soldier
No Poster
Speed King
No Poster
The Fencing Collegian
Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko
Hanamazu
No Poster
The Vassal's Neck
Twilight Saloon
as Morimoto
Mysterious Dwarf
The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes
日本敗れず
Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced
Hanran
as Captain Koda