Acting
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
Browse movies and TV shows featuring Tetsuro Tamba
Harakiri
Down-on-his-luck veteran Tsugumo Hanshirō enters the courtyard of the prosperous House of Iyi. Unemployed, and...
Yoshitsune
Yoshitsune is a Japanese television drama series originally broadcast between 9 January and 11 December 2005, w...
The Cat Returns
Young Haru rescues a cat from being run over, but soon learns it's no ordinary feline; it happens to be the Pri...
You Only Live Twice
A mysterious spacecraft captures Russian and American space capsules and brings the two superpowers to the brin...
Marco Polo
The life of the 13th-century Venetian explorer who sought to connect the civilizations of China and Europe thro...
HOTEL
Ōgon no Hibi
Luzon Sukezaemon is a merchant who imports vases from the Philippines. The vases are highly valued as tea utens...
Toshiie and Matsu
The 41st NHK Taiga Drama is Toshiie to Matsu. During the turbulent Warring States Era, one man's life and caree...
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
In 2001, where all correctional facilities have been privatized, martial artist Ricky finds himself victim to t...
Masked Blade
Choshichiro Nagayori Matsudaira is the son of Tadanaga Tokugawa, which makes him a nephew of the Shogun. Tadana...
Key Hunter
Key Hunter is a prime-time Japanese television detective series. It aired on Saturday nights in the 9:00–9:56 p...
Hashiran ka!
Set in Hakata, the series is about a young man who wants to play rock music even though his father expects him...
Inochi
The drama begins in August 1945, three days after the end of the Pacific war. A freight train completely jam-pa...
Gokenin Zankuro
Zankuro Matsudaira (Ken Watanabe) is a low-grade vassal of the Tokugawa Shogun, forced to moonlight as a bodygu...
Matsudaira Ukon Jikencho
In this gripping period drama, Matsudaira Ukon, the younger brother of the 11th Tokugawa Shogun Ienari, lives i...
Kwaidan
Taking its title from an archaic Japanese word meaning "ghost story," this anthology adapts four folk tales. A...
水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
Agent Zero is a cop that uses her own methods for dealing with criminals. After she unlawfully kills a rapist i...
Life of St. Blue Eyes
A romantic comedy set in a high school in Kamakura. Ekiden Club member Yutaro Takagi and Beth Green, an exchang...
Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle
There's only one way to stop a filthy evil scientist from destroying the world, and it's with a powerful hot sp...
The Water Margin
The corruption in the Sung Dynasty of 11th century China is so rampant that it inspires a band of Oriental Robi...
Fireflies in the North
Set in the icy wilderness of Hokkaido during the early days of the Meiji era, where the brutal warden of Kabato...
The Twilight Samurai
Seibei Iguchi leads a difficult life as a low ranking samurai at the turn of the nineteenth century. A widower...
新幹線物語'93夏
Byakkotai
Byakkotai was part of Aizu's four-unit military, set up in the domain's drive to finalize its military moderniz...
Samurai Reincarnation
After surviving the slaughter of many Christians 350 years ago, a samurai denounces God for ignoring the pleas...
Sanada Taiheiki
The drama tells the story of the Sanada family. Originally serving the Takeda Clan they ruled the northern dist...
Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches
The story of the battles between the 3 related families Kishu, Mito, and Owari, as each vies for the shogun’s s...
Battles Without Honor and Humanity
In the teeming black markets of postwar Japan, Shozo Hirono and his buddies find themselves in a new war betwee...
The Bullet Train
A Japanese bullet train is threatened with a bomb that will explode automatically if the train slows below 80 k...
Hanshichi Torimonochō
Shogun's Samurai
Following the death of the second Tokugawa shogun, it is revealed that he was poisoned by retainers of his son...
Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight
A Ronin with a death wish reluctantly joins the Clan of the Forgotten Eight, a nasty crew of ronin who are wrap...
The Ginger Tree
In 1903, a young Scotswoman goes to join her diplomat fiancé in Manchuria. She marries him, and finds herself i...
Shogun's Ninja
In the middle of the 16th century, Hideyoshi, a power hungry warlord sets out to destroy the Momochi clan. He s...