Tiger Tanaka (Japanese: 田中虎 or たなかトラ) is the head of the Japanese Secret Service, the Koan-Chosa-Kyoku, in the novel You Only Live Twice. He takes his name from being born in the year of the tiger.
Tanaka is portrayed as highly intellectual, somewhat arrogant, and cynical. He acts as a mentor to Bond, engaging in long, philosophical discussions about cultural differences between the West and Japan, post-WWII angst, and the decline of the British Empire. He is a proud product of Japanese culture, often chiding Bond for not understanding local protocols.
In the 1967 film adaptation Tanaka is portrayed by Tetsuro Tamba, where he is depicted as a charismatic, efficient, and technologically advanced intelligence chief who aids Bond against SPECTRE.
The character is also featured in the Raymond Benson novel The Man with the Red Tattoo, in which he has retired from the Japanese Secret Service but still retains authority as a director emeritus.
Tiger Tanaka has been suggested to play 2 roles. Click below to see other actors suggested for each role, and vote for who you think would play the role best.
