
As Tiger Tanaka
TMDb 6.6 / 10

Born
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.

As Tiger Tanaka
TMDb 6.6 / 10

As Hikokuro Omodaka
TMDb 8.5 / 10

As Cat King (voice)
TMDb 7.1 / 10

As Master Zhang
TMDb 6.9 / 10

As Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")
TMDb 7.7 / 10

As Tozaemon Iguchi
TMDb 7.8 / 10

As Nagumo
TMDb 6.4 / 10

TMDb 6.8 / 10

As Lord Yamato
TMDb 5.3 / 10

As Tamba (voice)
TMDb 6.5 / 10

As Samurai
TMDb 6.6 / 10

As Detective Eitaro Imanishi
TMDb 7.4 / 10

As Muramasa
TMDb 5.9 / 10

As Ishikura
TMDb 5.6 / 10

As Sunaga
TMDb 6.9 / 10

TMDb 6.0 / 10

As Shino
TMDb 6.6 / 10

As Gentaro Kodama
TMDb 7.4 / 10

As Mizuhara
TMDb 6.3 / 10

TMDb 7.3 / 10

As Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
TMDb 7.8 / 10

As Jinzaburi Shinzaki
TMDb 7.3 / 10

As Cristóvão Ferreira
TMDb 7.2 / 10

As Dr. Nishiyama
TMDb 5.7 / 10

As Prime Minister Yamamoto
TMDb 7.0 / 10

As Ernest Noguchi
TMDb 5.9 / 10

As Ng
TMDb 6.5 / 10

As Tozawa Hakuunsai
TMDb 6.3 / 10

As Uichi Suda, The Big Boss
TMDb 6.2 / 10

As Doi Ōkō Toshi
TMDb 7.5 / 10

TMDb 3.8 / 10

As Jisaburo Ozawa
TMDb 6.6 / 10

As Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
TMDb 6.9 / 10

As Rokugo Tatewaki
TMDb 7.5 / 10

As Hotta Masamori
TMDb 6.9 / 10

As Tatsuo Akashi
TMDb 7.0 / 10

As Mr. Dota
TMDb 6.9 / 10

As Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
TMDb 6.8 / 10

As Kichibei
TMDb 6.1 / 10

TMDb 4.7 / 10

As Ogasawara Gensinsai
TMDb 7.0 / 10

As Sakon Shiba
TMDb 7.5 / 10

As Okitsugu Tanuma
TMDb 6.3 / 10

As Lawyer Kikuchi
TMDb 7.2 / 10


As Shume Okuno
TMDb 7.6 / 10

As Tajiro Kawakami
TMDb 6.2 / 10

TMDb 9.0 / 10

As Tetsuji Tokura
TMDb 6.3 / 10

As Kato Kiyomasa
TMDb 5.4 / 10

As Yanagisawa
TMDb 6.8 / 10

As Isaburo Tamura
TMDb 3.7 / 10

As Colonel Kojima
TMDb 6.6 / 10

As Captain Munekata
TMDb 7.0 / 10

TMDb 5.8 / 10

As Tatsuo Akashi
TMDb 5.5 / 10

As Terrorist Leader (uncredited)
TMDb 6.2 / 10

As Shimamura
TMDb 6.7 / 10

As Lu Chun I
TMDb 7.0 / 10

As Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
TMDb 6.1 / 10

As Iinuma
TMDb 10.0 / 10

As Kanetaka Okamura
TMDb 7.0 / 10

As Denkichi Tsuzaki
TMDb 5.9 / 10

As Nakata
TMDb 6.2 / 10

As Osone
TMDb 5.0 / 10

TMDb 6.5 / 10

As Jiro
TMDb 6.9 / 10

As Dr. Nishiyama

As Slasher Tetsuji
TMDb 7.1 / 10

As Tetsuo Hatake
TMDb 7.8 / 10

As Prime Minister Yamato

As J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)
TMDb 6.0 / 10


TMDb 7.2 / 10

As Captain Munekata
TMDb 10.0 / 10

As Kochi Notable
TMDb 5.6 / 10

As 手塚徹
TMDb 10.0 / 10

TMDb 8.0 / 10

As Hideki Tojo
TMDb 5.5 / 10


TMDb 8.0 / 10

TMDb 7.7 / 10

As Toru Tezuka
TMDb 7.5 / 10


TMDb 9.0 / 10

As Takeo Sakanishi
TMDb 8.0 / 10

As Yakuza boss
TMDb 4.8 / 10

As Grandpa (voice)
TMDb 6.2 / 10

As Hyoe
TMDb 7.4 / 10

As Kotaro Takamura
TMDb 7.5 / 10

As Jakoman
TMDb 7.5 / 10

As Sanada
TMDb 6.6 / 10

As Old Master
TMDb 6.2 / 10

As Sadohara
TMDb 6.4 / 10

TMDb 6.2 / 10

As Kuroki
TMDb 6.9 / 10

As Yutaro Nomura
TMDb 6.7 / 10

TMDb 8.0 / 10

TMDb 6.0 / 10

As Shumei Okawa

As Yamamoto
TMDb 7.7 / 10

As General Wada
TMDb 6.4 / 10

TMDb 6.3 / 10

As Sakon Takatani
TMDb 6.4 / 10

As Masagi Shohei
TMDb 7.0 / 10

TMDb 8.0 / 10

TMDb 7.0 / 10

As Army General Mikami
TMDb 7.3 / 10

As Sergeant Katsuo Togashi
TMDb 7.6 / 10

TMDb 6.6 / 10

TMDb 7.0 / 10

TMDb 9.5 / 10

TMDb 7.0 / 10


As Kuroki
TMDb 9.5 / 10

TMDb 7.3 / 10


As Commander
TMDb 6.0 / 10

TMDb 6.5 / 10

As Kanaami Kohou, Kan'ami Kouou
TMDb 6.3 / 10



As Genryu Asakura
TMDb 7.4 / 10

TMDb 8.0 / 10

TMDb 10.0 / 10

As Noboru Yamaguchi
TMDb 7.0 / 10

TMDb 10.0 / 10

As Yagyu Munefuyu

As Goro Kawamoto
TMDb 7.0 / 10

As Rinsei
TMDb 5.7 / 10

TMDb 7.5 / 10

TMDb 6.8 / 10

TMDb 8.8 / 10

TMDb 10.0 / 10


As Gunjuro Ohba
TMDb 7.2 / 10

TMDb 6.5 / 10

TMDb 8.0 / 10

TMDb 7.5 / 10



As Sadamasa Ishikawa
TMDb 7.5 / 10

As Landlord
TMDb 4.9 / 10

As Tetsuji Kasai
TMDb 8.0 / 10

TMDb 8.3 / 10

As Asu Shino
TMDb 4.7 / 10

TMDb 7.0 / 10

As Miyahara
TMDb 8.0 / 10

TMDb 6.3 / 10

TMDb 7.7 / 10


TMDb 10.0 / 10

As Tsuneiro Kamisaka
TMDb 5.2 / 10

As Sugibayashi
TMDb 6.3 / 10

As Kawamata
TMDb 3.7 / 10


As Takayama
TMDb 7.4 / 10

TMDb 10.0 / 10

As Morimoto
TMDb 8.0 / 10

TMDb 6.8 / 10

TMDb 6.1 / 10

As Shinji Kaizuka

As Fumizo Mitsuki
TMDb 6.9 / 10

TMDb 5.9 / 10

As Kosuke Aso
TMDb 6.0 / 10

As Utaemon Baba
TMDb 8.0 / 10



As Captain Saito
TMDb 5.6 / 10

TMDb 8.0 / 10

As Gozaburo Saito
TMDb 6.3 / 10
As Keizo Hasegawa

TMDb 7.0 / 10

TMDb 8.0 / 10

As Hachiro Kiyokawa
TMDb 7.1 / 10

As Tsumaki
TMDb 7.2 / 10

TMDb 10.0 / 10

TMDb 5.0 / 10

TMDb 5.0 / 10


TMDb 10.0 / 10

As Kazuo Kasami
TMDb 9.0 / 10

TMDb 7.5 / 10

TMDb 7.5 / 10

As Kazumasa Tashiro
TMDb 5.7 / 10

As Tanabe
TMDb 7.0 / 10

As Kimitake Shugi / Moroki
TMDb 5.8 / 10


TMDb 9.0 / 10

TMDb 7.7 / 10


TMDb 7.0 / 10

As Time Patrol leader
TMDb 4.9 / 10

TMDb 5.0 / 10

TMDb 6.0 / 10

As Lord Tsushima Yagyu
TMDb 6.7 / 10

TMDb 6.0 / 10



TMDb 10.0 / 10

TMDb 7.5 / 10

TMDb 7.2 / 10


As Aboshi Samajirô

As 吉野博士
TMDb 7.0 / 10

As Yoshiteru Suma (Suma-gumi Boss)

As Captain Koda

As Ōishi Kuranosuke


TMDb 9.0 / 10

As Kagemetsuke
TMDb 7.7 / 10

As Soshun Kochiyama
TMDb 7.1 / 10

TMDb 9.0 / 10

As Jinjûrô Ômura
TMDb 7.3 / 10


TMDb 10.0 / 10

As Ryo Okamoto

TMDb 7.0 / 10

As Yusuke Komiya
TMDb 8.0 / 10

As Shintani Kosaku
TMDb 7.5 / 10

As Michitane Tendou
TMDb 6.2 / 10

As Sakai
TMDb 7.0 / 10


As Arashuk
TMDb 8.0 / 10

TMDb 6.0 / 10

TMDb 8.0 / 10

As President Sakakibara

TMDb 7.0 / 10

As Akiji Nishikawa
TMDb 10.0 / 10

TMDb 7.5 / 10


TMDb 8.0 / 10


As Narumi
TMDb 10.0 / 10

TMDb 7.0 / 10
As Himself

TMDb 7.0 / 10

As Panapora Chief Handa
TMDb 4.8 / 10

TMDb 7.5 / 10

TMDb 6.6 / 10



As Ryotaro Sakurazawa
TMDb 7.0 / 10


As Rear Admiral Shimamura
TMDb 8.0 / 10


As Masao Igarashi
TMDb 6.0 / 10


As Police Inspector Kitagawa
TMDb 7.5 / 10


TMDb 7.0 / 10


As Gu Shimizu
TMDb 5.7 / 10

TMDb 10.0 / 10


TMDb 8.0 / 10


TMDb 7.0 / 10

TMDb 10.0 / 10



As Nīto Kouken
TMDb 8.0 / 10

TMDb 8.2 / 10
TMDb 8.0 / 10

As Keisuke Otori



As Chief Inspector
TMDb 8.5 / 10

As Mumyo Tsunataro
TMDb 1.0 / 10


TMDb 10.0 / 10

TMDb 7.0 / 10


As Goro Kawamoto
TMDb 9.0 / 10





TMDb 9.0 / 10
TMDb 10.0 / 10

As Mondonoshô Hirano

TMDb 9.0 / 10

TMDb 6.5 / 10

TMDb 7.0 / 10


TMDb 6.7 / 10

TMDb 5.0 / 10
TMDb 8.5 / 10

As Lieutenant Aikawa

TMDb 5.0 / 10

TMDb 6.5 / 10

As Kirishima

As Lieutenant Colonel Akiyama
TMDb 7.0 / 10


As Ihei Ôsawa
TMDb 7.7 / 10

TMDb 9.0 / 10



TMDb 9.0 / 10


TMDb 9.0 / 10

TMDb 7.3 / 10


As Kurozumi Tenzen
TMDb 6.2 / 10


As Senba






Filmography and biography: TMDb