**Tetsurô Tanba (丹波哲郎)** (1922-2006) was a prolific Japanese actor whose imposing presence and versatility made him an iconic figure in cinema. His long film career often saw him playing “tough guy” roles, such as yakuza bosses, unyielding samurai, police officers, and authoritarian figures, but he also played more ambiguous or openly evil characters.

He achieved international fame for his role as Tiger Tanaka in the James Bond film *You Only Live Twice* (1967). He is also known for his participation in numerous yakuza films, including titles from the *Battles Without Honor and Humanity* series, and for his role as Yagyū Retsudō in the *Lone Wolf and Cub* film series (Kozure Ōkami). His filmography is extensive and he has left a significant mark on Japanese cinema.