Meiko Kaji
Acting
Born: March 24, 1947 (age 79) · Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
Highest Rated
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
1973
Yu Yu Hakusho
2023
Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion
1972
Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance
1974
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41
1972
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable
1973
Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song
1973
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima
1973
Blind Woman's Curse
1970
Under the Open Sky
2021
Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter
1970
Yakuza Graveyard
1976
Photos (4)
Movies (120)
Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion
Nami Matsushima
Lady Snowblood
Yuki Kashima
Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song
Nami Matsushima
Under the Open Sky
Shoji Atsuko
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable
Nami Matsushima
Yakuza Graveyard
Keiko Matsunaga
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41
Nami Matsushima
Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance
Yuki Kashima
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima
Yasuko Uehara
The Voice of Sin
Mayumi Sone
Women of the Night - Butterfly Flower
1969
The Blazing Continent
1968
Blood for Blood
Masae Yoshinaga
Lullaby of the Earth
Young Lady
What Did You Eat Yesterday?
Hisae Kakei
Stray Cat Rock: Beat '71
Furiko
Tree Without Leaves
1986
Women's Police
Michiko Fukue
Stray Cat Rock: Delinquent Girl Boss
Mei
Lone Wolf & Child: Assassin on the Road to Hell
Okiku
No Greater Love
1966
Between Women and Wives
Eiko Maeda
Bad Girls of Japan
2015
New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 2: Head of the Boss
Misako
Secret Zone of Tokyo
1971
Youth A Go Go!
Yuko Muraki
Wandering Ginza Butterfly
Nami
Oh-Oku: The Women Of The Inner Palace
Narration
Seishun zenki: Aoi kajitsu
1965
The Wicked
Chise Fujishima
Blind Woman's Curse
Akemi Tachibana
Onihei Crime Files: The Final Kohen - Unryu Ken
2016
Love and Desire in the Night Mist
1966
Burning Nature
1967
Yakuza of the Present
Katsuko Niki
Double Suicide of Sonezaki
O-Hatsu
Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter
Mako
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
Yasuko Uehara
Retaliation
Saeko
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
2004
Blood Shed
Osakae
My Sweetheart
1967
The Homeless
Sakei
Gambler's Dilemma
Komiyama Maki
Yabanjin no Nekutai
1969
Nezunoban
Kumiko
Mini-Skirt Lynchers
Toshie Takami
Love or Duty: Samurai Rebellion
Suga Sasahara
Stray Cat Rock: Machine Animal
Maya
The Blue Mountains '88
Umetaro
Gokudô Petenshi
1969
Main Line to Terror
Fumiko
Melody of Rebellion
Aki
Your Life
1966
Wandering Ginza Butterfly: She-Cat Gambler
Nami
Jeans Blues: No Future
Hijiriko
Samurai Justice: The Female Bodyguard
2006
Monument to the Girl's Corps
1968
Stray Cat Rock: Wild Jumbo
C-ko
Zeno: Unlimited Love
Gentarou's mother (voice)
There Was a War When I Was a Child
1981
Gambling is My Destiny
1965
Onihei Crime Files: Conscience of a Worm
Omasa
The Rule for a Vagabond
Hanako
Samurai Justice: Assistance in a Duel
Omoto
Women of the Night - Woman of Seniority
1969
Onna no Iji
Rika
Outlaw: Gangster VIP 2
Keiko Asami
The Lawyer of Shimane
Ishizuka Yoko
Onihei Crime Files: Bungoro Amabiki
Omasa
Kill or Be Killed
1966
The Code of Man
1968
The Inugami Clan
宮川香琴
若い川の流れ
1968
Night Butterflies
1971
Confession of a girl: The Forbidden Fruit
1968
Samurai Justice 2: Mother & Daughter
Omoto
I Shall Not Forget
1968
The Stormy Man
Hisako Teramoto
Adventure With Him
1965
Onihei's Detective Records
1995
My Neighbor's Masala
2020
Lost Virgin
Eiko Hase
Gambling Den Desire
1970
A Warm Misty Night
Hiromi
Song of Farewell
Yumi
I'll Never Cry!
1966
Takehisa Yumeji monogatari: koi suru
Tamaki Kishi
Aruhi watashi wa
1967
Vermillion Sword: Scabbard Code Sword Amidst the Swirling Cherry Blossoms
Natsuko Inubushi
Onihei Crime Files Special: Bandits
Omasa
Onihei Crime Files: The Final Zenpen - Gonenme no Kyaku
2016
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
1970
The Man of Victory
1967
Greatest Boss of Japan
1970
Onihei Crime Files Special: Okatsu from Yamabukiya
Omasa
The SAKURA Code
1969
Tale of the Last Japanese Yakuza
1969
A Young Man's Stronghold
1970
Onihei Crime Files: Sutegoro Takahagi
Omasa
Cold Current
1983
Flickering Flames
1977
In Tears
1965
Goodbye Mr. Tears
1966
Till We Meet Again
1966
Showdown in the Red Valley
Daughter Kimiko
The Cleanup
1969
Samurai Justice: A Duel at Takadanobara
2005
Chivalrous Pride
1969
The Fearless Brotherhood Duet of Kanto
1970
The Killer
1971
Step on the Gas!
Emiko
Onihei Crime Files: Unibrow
Omasa
Morning Fog
1971
Detective Kyosuke Kozu's Murder Reasoning 8
1988
Onihei Crime Files: A Bandit Wedding
2011
Whirlwind Of Love
1969
I Love The Sun
1966
Onihei Crime Files: The Inside Woman
Omasa
Bounty Hunter Muyonosuke
1990
TV Shows (24)
SMAP×SMAP
Bistro Guest · 1 eps
Onihei Hankachō
おまさ · 134 eps
Ponytail Won't Look Back
Akiko · 24 eps
Yu Yu Hakusho
Genkai · 2 eps
Romantics Anonymous
8 eps
What Did You Eat Yesterday?
Hisae Kakei · 24 eps
Modern Love Tokyo
Mako · 1 eps
Seven Ms. Prisoners
Ryo Ichijo · 8 eps
Ooku Dai-isho
11 eps
Dazzling Cops
Misugi Rie · 1 eps
Wonderful Single Life
Yoko Kirishima · 11 eps
Life of St. Blue Eyes
Misa Fujita · 1 eps
Ōedo Sōsamō
2 eps
Kuwayama Jubei travels to eight provinces
1 eps
There's Someone Watching
Shimako Matsumoto · 10 eps
Fushoku no kōzō
Natori Fuyuko · 1 eps
Ronin of the Wastelands
Ofumi · 13 eps
Terauchi Kantarō Ikka
1 eps
The Man of Five Rings
1 eps
Sengoku Rock Hagure Kiba
Sae · 9 eps
Nogaremono Orin
Kosakatae · 1 eps
Kenkaku Shōbai
10 eps
Hanayome Ishou wa Dare ga Kiru
Akie Fujisaki · 1 eps
A Star is Born
1 eps
