Highest rated as cast or director
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. 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.
Acted in 337
2000s
- 2006
Teruo Ishii Fan Club
Movie
- 2005
Demon Pond
Movie
- 2004
The Thousand Year Fire
Movie
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
Movie
- 2003
- 2002
The Happiness of the Katakuris
Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
Shura Group
Movie
- 2001
Ino Tadataka: Meridian Dreams
Movie
The Making Of The Katakuris
Movie
修羅のみち
Movie
Blind Beast vs Killer Dwarf
Movie
- 2000
Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons
Old Master
The Stupid Teacher
Utaemon Baba
1990s
- 1999
Japanese Hell
Asu Shino
The Veteran Trio
Inui Sanshiro · 9 episodes
- 1998
Screwed
Landlord
- 1997
The Peking Man
Osone
Fujisawa Shuhei's Sparkling Sword: Puppeteer in the Shadows
Movie
- 1995
Gokenin Zankuro
TV
- 1994
Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole
Movie
Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown
Movie
- 1993
新幹線物語'93夏
黒木哲也 · 12 episodes
The Supernormal II
Movie
- 1992
Hanshichi Torimonochō
TV
Taira no Kiyomori
Movie
- 1991
The Tale of Genji
TV
The Great Shogunate Battle
Movie
源氏九郎颯爽記 秘剣揚羽の蝶
Movie
The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses
Movie
Kim's War
Movie
Female Neo-Ninjas
Time Patrol leader
- 1990
Be-In Bully High School
Ryotaro Sakurazawa
Under Aurora
Tsuneiro Kamisaka
The Great White Tower
Professor Ukai · 2 episodes
13 Assassins
Movie
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!
Ryo Okamoto
1980s
- 1989
The Ginger Tree
Hirushi Tsushima · 1 episode
The Political Game
Movie
長七郎江戸日記スペシャル 長七郎 大奥まかり通る
Movie
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
吉野博士
- 1988
Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special
Movie
Tokyo Pop
Mr. Dota
A Taxing Woman's Return
Sadohara
- 1987
Tabaruzaka
Ôyama Tunayoshi · 2 episodes
There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl
Movie
Twilight of the Cockroaches
Grandpa (voice)
You're My Destiny
Movie
Ronin on a Mission
Ōishi Kuranosuke
Night Train
Isaburo Tamura
Tokyo Blackout
Nakata
- 1986
Byakkotai
Jinbo Kuranosuke · 2 episodes
Be Free!
Keizo Hasegawa
April Fish
Panapora Chief Handa
Inochi
Takahara Masamichi · 50 episodes
Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches
Naruse Hayatonosho · 13 episodes
- 1985
Vendetta of Obligation
Movie
The Last True Yakuza
Kazumasa Tashiro
The Sound of the Waves
Movie
Sanada Taiheiki
Sanada Masayuki · 45 episodes
- 1984
Nezumi Kozō kaitō den
Movie
Life of St. Blue Eyes
Takeyoshi Takagi · 1 episode
Kōgen ni ressha ga hashitta
Movie
Zero
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵
平田無二斎 · 45 episodes
Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy
Yagyu Munefuyu
- 1983
L・O・V・I・N・G
Movie
A Madcap Corporation
Yoshiteru Suma (Suma-gumi Boss)
Lady Vengeance and the 47 Ronin
Movie
The Tale of Saikaido
Movie
The Duel in the Forbidden Territory
Movie
The Brave Man Says Little
TV
- 1982
The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun
Movie
Matsudaira Ukon Jikencho
TV
- 1981
I Saw a Monster Fish
ryuji
The Wild Daisy
Gozaburo Saito
The Bushido Blade
Lord Yamato
Flames of Blood
Movie
The Last Days of Planet Earth
Dr. Nishiyama
- 1980
Drive for the Future
Akiji Nishikawa
The Sand Boat
Movie
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
Tatsuo Akashi
The Way to The Gold Medals
President Sakakibara
1970s
- 1979
Nichiren
Movie
- 1978
- 1977
Sugata Sanshiro
Iinuma
High Seas Hijack
Captain Munekata
Mount Hakkoda
Colonel Kojima
Flickering Flames
Movie
The Alaska Story
Arashuk
- 1976
Zero Pilot
Captain Saito
Seven Nights in Japan
Terrorist Leader (uncredited)
Human Revolution II
Movie
Between Women and Wives
Movie
- 1975
The International Gang of Kobe
Rinsei
Conflagration
Captain Munekata
Tidal Wave
Prime Minister Yamato
A Picture of Madame Yuki
Movie
- 1974
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
Kimitake Shugi / Moroki
Karafuto 1945 Summer
Movie
- 1973
The Ando Gang Documentary Film
Movie
Wild Cop 2
Movie
Big Bad Wolf
Movie
The Human Revolution
Josei Toda
Japan's Top Gangster
Noboru Yamaguchi
Eyeful Daisakusen
TV
The School Deviate Waru
Movie
Quarreling with Yakuza
Movie
- 1972
Informal Dress
Movie
Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny
Kagemetsuke
Yakuza Skirmishes
Movie
Shōwa Gokudōshi
Movie
Organized Crime: Killer's Glory
Movie
- 1971
The Armed Organization
Movie
Troops of Darkness
Movie
The Wolves
Genryu Asakura
The Gambler's Counterattack
Chief Inspector
The Battle of Okinawa
Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
King of Pornography
Movie
- 1970
Postwar Secrets
Kuroki
Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive
Hyoe
Rise and Fall of Chivalry
Movie
1960s
- 1969
やくざ番外地 抹殺
Movie
Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers
Movie
Thirteen Times a Loser
Shinji Kaizuka
Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room
Movie
Lone Rebel
Movie
Penitentiary Brothers
Movie
Sky Scraper!
Movie
Goyokin
Rokugo Tatewaki
- 1968
Hot Vacation
Movie
Black Lizard
Kuroki
Snake Woman's Curse
Commander
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
Movie
The Bad Boss
Movie
The Code of Man
Movie
Army Intelligence
Lieutenant Colonel Akiyama
Gambler's Farewell
Tetsuji Kasai
- 1967
Game of Chance 3
Movie
Escape Man
Movie
King of the Gang
Movie
Organized Violence II
Police Inspector Kitagawa
Once and For All
Movie
Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo
Movie
Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
Movie
Dissolution Rites
Sakai
Organized Violence
Movie
- 1966
Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave
J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)
Continental Drifter
Movie
The Kii River
Shintani Kosaku
Greatest Boss of the Showa Era
Movie
Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn
Lord Tsushima Yagyu
Thirst for Love
Kosuke Aso
- 1965
High-Ranking Yakuza
Movie
Blood of Revenge
Yutaro Nomura
Blood and Law
Movie
The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry
Movie
The Gambler
Movie
Underworld Code
Movie
Abashiri Prison
Tsumaki
Tokyo Untouchable
Goro Kawamoto
Tale of Ninja Duty
Mumyo Tsunataro
- 1964
Ninja Killers
Movie
Gamblers and Racketeers
Movie
Samurai from Somewhere
Masagi Shohei
Detective
Movie
Revenge
Shume Okuno
Giant Rumble
Movie
The Shogun's Vault
Movie
Homicide
Lieutenant Aikawa
An Outlaw
Movie
The Kingdom of Jirocho 3
Movie
- 1963
Tange Sazen
Movie
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
Gu Shimizu
Element of Surprise
Movie
Futari dake no toride
Movie
Ano hito wa ima
Movie
Tokyo Untouchable: Escape
Goro Kawamoto
Kizu-darake no futeki-sha
Movie
Gang vs. G-Men: Safe Breakers
手塚徹
Eleven Gangsters
Movie
- 1962
Uragirimono wa jigoku daze
Movie
Operation Diamond
Kazuo Kasami
Umineko ga tonde
Movie
Gang vs. G-Men
Toru Tezuka
Hell's Kitchen
Movie
A Flame at the Pier
Movie
Gang vs. Gang
Movie
Zankokuna tsuki
Movie
The Challenge
Takayama
All Rascals
Movie
South Pacific Waves Are High
Movie
- 1961
Structure of Hate
Movie
Greed in Broad Daylight
Miyahara
Bridge to the Sun
Jiro
The Yellow Climate
Movie
Mist and Shadows
Yusuke Komiya
Kill the Killer!
Narumi
Red Flowers of Hell
Movie
Pigs and Battleships
Slasher Tetsuji
Daredevil in the Castle
Sadamasa Ishikawa
- 1960
Get 'em All
Tanabe
Showdown on Pier No.3
Kirishima
The Gambling Samurai
Fumizo Mitsuki
Zero sen no jorō gun
Movie
Female Slave Ship
Movie
1950s
- 1959
Kingorō no kaigun taishô
Movie
The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal
Movie
- 1958
Bloody History of Soldiers
Shumei Okawa
Quick on the Trigger
Movie
Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War
Keisuke Otori
A Wicked Woman
Ihei Ôsawa
- 1957
Queen of Asia
Movie
Hibari's Triple Role: The Transformation of Yukinojo — Part II
Movie
Hibari's Triple Role: The Dazzling Transformation of Yukinojo
Movie
The Ghost of Kasane
Jinjûrô Ômura
剣聖 暁の三十六番斬り
Movie
Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War
Rear Admiral Shimamura
Storming Osaka Castle: The Sanada Ten Braves
Mondonoshô Hirano
Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed
Aboshi Samajirô
- 1956
Devil Princess’ Beauty Competition
Movie
The Ceiling at Utsunomiya
Kurozumi Tenzen
Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets
Movie
The Prosecutor and His Sister
Movie
Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko
Movie
- 1955
Hanamazu
Movie
Twilight Saloon
Morimoto
Mysterious Dwarf
Movie
The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes
Movie
- 1954
日本敗れず
Movie
Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced
Movie
Hanran
Captain Koda
Produced 4
1990s
- 1990
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!
Executive Producer
1980s
- 1989
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
General Manager
- 1980
The Sand Boat
Executive Producer
1960s
- 1964
Wrote 4
1990s
- 1994
Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole
Screenplay
- 1990
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!
Screenplay
1980s
- 1989
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
Story, Screenplay
- 1980
The Sand Boat
Screenplay
Directed 2
1990s
- 1994
Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole
Director
1980s
- 1980
The Sand Boat
Director