Meiko Kaji
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- March 24, 1947 (age 79)
- Birthplace
- Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
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.
Known For
Lady Snowblood
Yu Yu Hakusho
Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion
Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable
Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima
Blind Woman's Curse
Under the Open Sky
Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter
Yakuza Graveyard
Photos
Filmography
Romantics Anonymous
TV · as Ritsuko Saegusa · 8 eps
Yu Yu Hakusho
TV · as Genkai · 2 eps
Modern Love Tokyo
TV · as Mako · 1 ep
What Did You Eat Yesterday?
Movie · as Hisae Kakei
Under the Open Sky
Movie · as Shoji Atsuko
Nezunoban
Movie · as Kumiko
The Voice of Sin
Movie · as Mayumi Sone
My Neighbor's Masala
Movie
What Did You Eat Yesterday?
TV · as Hisae Kakei · 24 eps
The Inugami Clan
Movie · as 宮川香琴
Seven Ms. Prisoners
TV · as Ryo Ichijo · 8 eps
Onihei Crime Files: The Final Kohen - Unryu Ken
Movie
Onihei Crime Files: The Final Zenpen - Gonenme no Kyaku
Movie
Bad Girls of Japan
Movie
Love or Duty: Samurai Rebellion
Movie · as Suga Sasahara
Wonderful Single Life
TV · as Yoko Kirishima · 11 eps
Onihei Crime Files: Conscience of a Worm
Movie · as Omasa
Onihei Crime Files: A Bandit Wedding
Movie
Onihei Crime Files: Sutegoro Takahagi
Movie · as Omasa
Onihei Crime Files: Bungoro Amabiki
Movie · as Omasa
Onihei Crime Files: The Inside Woman
Movie · as Omasa
The Silent Sword: Loyalty and Honor
Movie
The Lawyer of Shimane
Movie · as Ishizuka Yoko
Onihei Crime Files: Unibrow
Movie · as Omasa
Kuwayama Jubei travels to eight provinces
TV · 1 ep
Onihei Crime Files Special: Bandits
Movie · as Omasa
Oh-Oku: The Women Of The Inner Palace
Movie · as Narration
Samurai Justice: The Female Bodyguard
Movie
Nogaremono Orin
TV · as Kosakatae · 1 ep
Onihei Crime Files Special: Okatsu from Yamabukiya
Movie · as Omasa
Samurai Justice: A Duel at Takadanobara
Movie
Samurai Justice 2: Mother & Daughter
Movie · as Omoto
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
Movie
Samurai Justice: Assistance in a Duel
Movie · as Omoto
Ooku Dai-isho
TV · 11 eps
There's Someone Watching
TV · as Shimako Matsumoto · 10 eps
Zeno: Unlimited Love
Movie · as Gentarou's mother (voice)
Kenkaku Shōbai
TV · 10 eps
SMAP×SMAP
TV · as Bistro Guest · 1 ep
Onihei's Detective Records
Movie
Hanayome wa 16-sai!
TV · 10 eps
Bounty Hunter Muyonosuke
Movie
Magistrate Toyama: Conspiracy of a Beautiful Woman! Rampage in Kanhashu
Movie
Lone Wolf & Child: Assassin on the Road to Hell
Movie · as Okiku
Onihei Hankachō
TV · as おまさ · 134 eps
The Blue Mountains '88
Movie · as Umetaro
Detective Kyosuke Kozu's Murder Reasoning 8
Movie
Tree Without Leaves
Movie
Hanayome Ishou wa Dare ga Kiru
TV · as Akie Fujisaki · 1 ep
秘められた関係
TV · 1 ep
森村誠一サスペンス 異常の太陽
TV · 1 ep
Ponytail Won't Look Back
TV · as Akiko · 24 eps
A Star is Born
TV · 1 ep
ミステリー「万引き夫人のとんでもない誤解」
TV · 1 ep
Life of St. Blue Eyes
TV · as Misa Fujita · 1 ep
Cold Current
Movie
There Was a War When I Was a Child
Movie
The Man of Five Rings
TV · 1 ep
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
Movie · as Yasuko Uehara
The Wicked
Movie · as Chise Fujishima
Double Suicide of Sonezaki
Movie · as O-Hatsu
Flickering Flames
Movie
Fushoku no kōzō
TV · as Natori Fuyuko · 1 ep
Dazzling Cops
TV · as Misugi Rie · 1 ep
Yakuza Graveyard
Movie · as Keiko Matsunaga
Between Women and Wives
Movie · as Eiko Maeda
Lullaby of the Earth
Movie · as Young Lady
The Story of Yumeji Takehisa: In Love
Movie · as Tamaki Kishi
Main Line to Terror
Movie · as Fumiko
New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 2: Head of the Boss
Movie · as Misako
Jeans Blues: No Future
Movie · as Hijiriko
Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance
Movie · as Yuki Kashima
The Homeless
Movie · as Sakei
Terauchi Kantarō Ikka
TV · 1 ep
Lady Snowblood
Movie · as Yuki Kashima
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable
Movie · as Nami Matsushima
Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song
Movie · as Nami Matsushima
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima
Movie · as Yasuko Uehara
Yakuza of the Present
Movie · as Katsuko Niki
Sengoku Rock Hagure Kiba
TV · as Sae · 9 eps
Wandering Ginza Butterfly
Movie · as Nami Higuchi
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41
Movie · as Nami Matsushima
Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion
Movie · as Nami Matsushima
Wandering Ginza Butterfly: She-Cat Gambler
Movie · as Nami Higuchi
Ronin of the Wastelands
TV · as Ofumi · 13 eps
Morning Fog
Movie
Secret Zone of Tokyo
Movie
Night Butterflies
Movie
Stray Cat Rock: Beat '71
Movie · as Furiko
Blood for Blood
Movie · as Masae Yoshinaga
The Killer
Movie
Onna no Iji
Movie · as Rika
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
Movie
A Gangster's Morals
Movie
Stray Cat Rock: Delinquent Girl Boss
Movie · as Mei
Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter
Movie · as Mako
Stray Cat Rock: Machine Animal
Movie · as Maya
Stray Cat Rock: Wild Jumbo
Movie · as C-ko
A Young Man's Stronghold
Movie
Greatest Boss of Japan
Movie
Gambling Den Desire
Movie
Blind Woman's Curse
Movie · as Akemi Tachibana
Step on the Gas!
Movie · as Emiko
Melody of Rebellion
Movie · as Aki
The Fearless Brotherhood Duet of Kanto
Movie
Ōedo Sōsamō
TV · 2 eps
Women's Police
Movie · as Michiko Fukue
The Cleanup
Movie
Tale of the Last Japanese Yakuza
Movie
Vermillion Sword: Scabbard Code Sword Amidst the Swirling Cherry Blossoms
Movie · as Natsuko Inubushi
Whirlwind Of Love
Movie
Mini-Skirt Lynchers
Movie · as Toshie Takami
Yabanjin no Nekutai
Movie
Women of the Night - Butterfly Flower
Movie
Gokudô Petenshi
Movie
Inu to Asachan
Movie
Chivalrous Pride
Movie
The SAKURA Code
Movie
Gambler's Dilemma
Movie · as Komiyama Maki
Women of the Night - Woman of Seniority
Movie
The Blazing Continent
Movie
Confession of a girl: The Forbidden Fruit
Movie
The Code of Man
Movie
I Shall Not Forget
Movie
Monument to the Girl's Corps
Movie
Dorobō Sodachi Dorobōi
Movie
若い川の流れ
Movie
Retaliation
Movie · as Saeko
Outlaw: Gangster VIP 2
Movie · as Keiko Asami
Lost Virgin
Movie · as Eiko Hase
Aruhi watashi wa
Movie
A Warm Misty Night
Movie · as Hiromi
The Man of Victory
Movie
Burning Nature
Movie
My Sweetheart
Movie
Goodbye Mr. Tears
Movie
I Love The Sun
Movie
Kill or Be Killed
Movie
Your Life
Movie
Till We Meet Again
Movie
Love and Desire in the Night Mist
Movie
Youth A Go Go!
Movie · as Yuko Muraki
No Greater Love
Movie
I'll Never Cry!
Movie
The Stormy Man
Movie · as Hisako Teramoto
Blood Shed
Movie · as Osakae
Seishun zenki: Aoi kajitsu
Movie
Gambling is My Destiny
Movie
Showdown in the Red Valley
Movie · as Daughter Kimiko
Adventure With Him
Movie
In Tears
Movie
Song of Farewell
Movie · as Yumi
The Rule for a Vagabond
Movie · as Hanako