Tanba Tetsuro, born Tanba Shozaburo (丹波正三郎), was a Japanese actor, voice actor, entertainment promoter, and paranormal researcher. He founded the Tamba Production Company (丹波プロダクション) and the actor training institute Tamba Dojo (丹波道場). Additionally, he researched spiritualism and the afterlife, authoring several books.

His grandfather was Tanba Keizo (丹波慶三), and his father was Tanba Ryokusen (丹波緑泉), a Japanese-style painter and an army pharmacist. Among his relatives were his cousin Tamba Akira (丹波明), a music scholar, and Hayashi Raisaburo (林雷三郎), a former Chief Justice of the Great Court. The Tanba lineage can be traced back to the Nara period, and they were renowned as a prestigious family of physicians. Their lineage connects to Tanba Yasuyori (丹波安頼), the author of Ishinpo, Japan’s oldest surviving medical text.

Tanba attended Seijo Junior High School (成城中学校) but struggled with entrance exams for military and high school institutions. He later enrolled at Chuo University (中央大学) due to the influence of his relative, Hayashi Raisaburo. During his university years, he was drafted into the army and served in the Eastern 64th Unit (Imperial Guard Infantry 5th Regiment), enduring harsh corporal punishment. He later trained as an aviation technician at the Tachikawa Army Aviation Maintenance School (立川陸軍航空整備学校) but did not become a kamikaze pilot.

After World War II, Tanba returned to university in 1945, working as an interpreter for the Allied Forces' General Headquarters despite limited English proficiency. He graduated in 1948 and initially worked at the Oil and Sugar Distribution Corporation (石油砂糖配給公社) before pursuing an acting career. He joined the Sogei Little Theater (素芸小劇場) in 1950 and the Bunkaza Theater Company (文化座) shortly after. In 1951, Tanba was scouted by Shintoho (新東宝), where he worked until 1959. He left the studio after publicly criticizing its film quality, despite being offered forgiveness by the president, Okura Mitsugu (大倉満).

In 2005, Tanba was hospitalized due to influenza and appendicitis, which led to significant health concerns. He passed away from pneumonia at the age of 84 in Mitaka, Tokyo.

(Source: kisskh) Edit Biography