Yoshifumi Tajima was born on August 4, 1918 in Kobe, Japan. His career in movies debuted in 1956, starring in a movie produced by Daiei Studios (known for making its "Gamera" movies) and directed by Ishirô Honda called Night School (1956). He joined Toho Studios the same year, playing "Izeki" in the sci-fi epic Rodan (1956). He became quite a fixture in Toho Studios' sci-fi films from then on, playing an assortment of characters from villains to detectives, and from generals to captains. However, he was probably most famous for his role as the delightfully villainous entrepreneur Kumayama in Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964). He also appeared as a regular cast member of the TV series Ultra Q (1965).