Meiko Kaji
Acting • Born 1947-03-24
Biography
Masako Ōta, known as Meiko Kaji, is a Japanese actress and enka singer born on 24 March 1947 in Chiyoda, Tokyo Prefecture. After graduating from Yakumo Academy in Meguro in 1965, she made her debut at Nikkatsu Studios under her real name, playing supporting roles in the late 1960s. Her first notable role came in 1969 in *Nihon Zankyoden*. She gained visibility with the 1970-1971 series *Stray Cat Rock* (Noraneko Rokku), playing young rebels in five films. In the 1970s, she excelled in roles as outlaws, notably in the *Joshuu Sasori* (Prisonnière Scorpion) series at Toei, with four films, the first of which was released in 1972. She became an icon with *Lady Snowblood* (1973), which greatly inspired Quentin Tarantino in *Kill Bill*. Her other notable films include *Double Suicide at Sonezaki* (1978). She also sang for her films and released several albums and singles. She has appeared in over 100 films and series since the 1960s.
Filmography
151 credits
Lady Snowblood
Movie • 1973
Yuki Kashima
Onihei Crime Files: The Final Kohen - Unryu Ken
Movie • 2016
Wandering Ginza Butterfly
Movie • 1972
Nami
Women's Police
Movie • 1969
Michiko Fukue
The Cleanup
Movie • 1969
Tale of the Last Japanese Yakuza
Movie • 1969
Vermillion Sword: Scabbard Code Sword Amidst the Swirling Cherry Blossoms
Movie • 1969
Natsuko Inubushi
The Lawyer of Shimane
Movie • 2007
Ishizuka Yoko
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable
Movie • 1973
Nami Matsushima
Goodbye Mr. Tears
Movie • 1966
The Blazing Continent
Movie • 1968
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
Movie • 1970
A Gangster's Morals
Movie • 1970
Stray Cat Rock: Delinquent Girl Boss
Movie • 1970
Mei
Yakuza Graveyard
Movie • 1976
Keiko Matsunaga
Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter
Movie • 1970
Mako
Stray Cat Rock: Machine Animal
Movie • 1970
Maya
Stray Cat Rock: Wild Jumbo
Movie • 1970
C-ko
Jeans Blues: No Future
Movie • 1974
Hijiriko
Whirlwind Of Love
Movie • 1969
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41
Movie • 1972
Nami Matsushima
I Love The Sun
Movie • 1966
Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance
Movie • 1974
Yuki Kashima
A Young Man's Stronghold
Movie • 1970
Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion
Movie • 1972
Nami Matsushima
Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song
Movie • 1973
Nami Matsushima
Seishun zenki: Aoi kajitsu
Movie • 1965
Wandering Ginza Butterfly: She-Cat Gambler
Movie • 1972
Nami
Confession of a girl: The Forbidden Fruit
Movie • 1968
Morning Fog
Movie • 1971
Kill or Be Killed
Movie • 1966
Onihei Crime Files Special: Okatsu from Yamabukiya
Movie • 2005
Omasa
Onihei Crime Files Special: Bandits
Movie • 2006
Omasa
Onihei Crime Files: Unibrow
Movie • 2007
Omasa
Onihei Crime Files: The Inside Woman
Movie • 2008
Omasa
Onihei Crime Files: Bungoro Amabiki
Movie • 2009
Omasa
The Silent Sword: Loyalty and Honor
Movie • 2008
Gambling is My Destiny
Movie • 1965
Greatest Boss of Japan
Movie • 1970
Zeno: Unlimited Love
Movie • 1999
Gentarou's mother (voice)
Tsuma to onna no aida
Movie • 1976
Eiko Maeda
Secret Zone of Tokyo
Movie • 1971
Mini-Skirt Lynchers
Movie • 1969
Toshie Takami
Onihei Crime Files: Sutegoro Takahagi
Movie • 2010
Omasa
Onihei Crime Files: Conscience of a Worm
Movie • 2011
Omasa
Gambling Den Desire
Movie • 1970
Cold Current
Movie • 1983
Blind Woman's Curse
Movie • 1970
Akemi Tachibana
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima
Movie • 1973
Yasuko Uehara
Showdown in the Red Valley
Movie • 1965
Daughter Kimiko
Adventure With Him
Movie • 1965
The Code of Man
Movie • 1968
Your Life
Movie • 1966
I Shall Not Forget
Movie • 1968
Monument to the Girl's Corps
Movie • 1968
Till We Meet Again
Movie • 1966
In Tears
Movie • 1965
Yabanjin no Nekutai
Movie • 1969
Women of the Night - Butterfly Flower
Movie • 1969
Dorobō Sodachi Dorobōi
Movie • 1968
Oh-Oku: The Women Of The Inner Palace
Movie • 2006
Narration
Gokudô Petenshi
Movie • 1969
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
Movie • 2004
Aruhi watashi wa
Movie • 1967
若い川の流れ
Movie • 1968
Inu to Asachan
Movie • 1969
Night Butterflies
Movie • 1971
Stray Cat Rock: Beat '71
Movie • 1971
Furiko
Double Suicide of Sonezaki
Movie • 1978
O-Hatsu
Lullaby of the Earth
Movie • 1976
Young Lady
Tree Without Leaves
Movie • 1986
Love or Duty: Samurai Rebellion
Movie • 2013
Suga Sasahara
Chivalrous Pride
Movie • 1969
The Homeless
Movie • 1974
Sakei
Love and Desire in the Night Mist
Movie • 1966
The Blue Mountains '88
Movie • 1988
Umetaro
Takehisa Yumeji monogatari: koi suru
Movie • 1975
Tamaki Kishi
Retaliation
Movie • 1968
Saeko
Onihei Crime Files: The Final Zenpen - Gonenme no Kyaku
Movie • 2016
Onihei's Detective Records
Movie • 1995
Onihei Crime Files: A Bandit Wedding
Movie • 2011
The Inugami Clan
Movie • 2018
宮川香琴
Samurai Justice: A Duel at Takadanobara
Movie • 2005
Samurai Justice: The Female Bodyguard
Movie • 2006
Flickering Flames
Movie • 1977
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
Movie • 1980
Yasuko Uehara
Youth A Go Go!
Movie • 1966
Yuko Muraki
Lone Wolf & Child: Assassin on the Road to Hell
Movie • 1989
Okiku
Main Line to Terror
Movie • 1975
Fumiko
No Greater Love
Movie • 1966
Song of Farewell
Movie • 1965
Yumi
I'll Never Cry!
Movie • 1966
New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 2: Head of the Boss
Movie • 1975
Misako
There Was a War When I Was a Child
Movie • 1981
Yakuza of the Present
Movie • 1973
Katsuko Niki
The SAKURA Code
Movie • 1969
Samurai Justice 2: Mother & Daughter
Movie • 2005
Omoto
Samurai Justice: Assistance in a Duel
Movie • 2004
Omoto
Bad Girls of Japan
Movie • 2015
Step on the Gas!
Movie • 1970
Emiko
Blood for Blood
Movie • 1971
Masae Yoshinaga
Melody of Rebellion
Movie • 1970
Aki
Outlaw: Gangster VIP 2
Movie • 1968
Keiko Asami
The Stormy Man
Movie • 1966
Hisako Teramoto
Blood Shed
Movie • 1966
Osakae
The Rule for a Vagabond
Movie • 1965
Hanako
The Wicked
Movie • 1980
Chise Fujishima
A Warm Misty Night
Movie • 1967
Hiromi
Bounty Hunter Muyonosuke
Movie • 1990
The Man of Victory
Movie • 1967
Burning Nature
Movie • 1967
The Voice of Sin
Movie • 2020
Mayumi Sone
Magistrate Toyama: Conspiracy of a Beautiful Woman! Rampage in Kanhashu
Movie • 1990
The Killer
Movie • 1971
Gambler's Dilemma
Movie • 1969
Komiyama Maki
Lost Virgin
Movie • 1968
Eiko Hase
Onna no Iji
Movie • 1971
Rika
What Did You Eat Yesterday?
Movie • 2021
Hisae Kakei
Detective Kyosuke Kozu's Murder Reasoning 8
Movie • 1988
Under the Open Sky
Movie • 2021
Shoji Atsuko
The Fearless Brotherhood Duet of Kanto
Movie • 1970
My Neighbor's Masala
Movie • 2020
Nezunoban
Movie • 2021
Kumiko
My Sweetheart
Movie • 1967
Women of the Night - Woman of Seniority
Movie • 1969
Ooku Dai-isho
TV • 2004
There's Someone Watching
TV • 2003
Shimako Matsumoto
Hanayome wa 16-sai!
TV • 1995
Hanayome Ishou wa Dare ga Kiru
TV • 1986
Akie Fujisaki
Wonderful Single Life
TV • 2012
Yoko Kirishima
SMAP×SMAP
TV • 1996
Bistro Guest
Kuwayama Jubei travels to eight provinces
TV • 2007
Seven Ms. Prisoners
TV • 2017
Ryo Ichijo
Yu Yu Hakusho
TV • 2023
Genkai
The Man of Five Rings
TV • 1981
Ōedo Sōsamō
TV • 1970
Modern Love Tokyo
TV • 2022
Mako
What Did You Eat Yesterday?
TV • 2019
Hisae Kakei
ミステリー「万引き夫人のとんでもない誤解」
TV • 1984
Onihei Hankachō
TV • 1989
おまさ
Sengoku Rock Hagure Kiba
TV • 1973
Sae
秘められた関係
TV • 1986
Nogaremono Orin
TV • 2006
Kosakatae
Terauchi Kantarō Ikka
TV • 1974
Ronin of the Wastelands
TV • 1972
Ofumi
Kenkaku Shōbai
TV • 1998
Life of St. Blue Eyes
TV • 1984
Misa Fujita
Ponytail Won't Look Back
TV • 1985
Akiko
Fushoku no kōzō
TV • 1977
Natori Fuyuko
Romantics Anonymous
TV • 2025
Dazzling Cops
TV • 1977
Misugi Rie