Meiko Kaji
Born: 1947-03-24 in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
Known For: Acting
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
2025
2023
- Yu Yu Hakusho as Genkai
2022
- Modern Love Tokyo as Mako
- Written Down ... (Music)
2021
- Under the Open Sky as Shoji Atsuko
- What Did You Eat Yesterday? as Hisae Kakei
- Nezunoban as Kumiko
2020
- The Voice of Sin as Mayumi Sone
- My Neighbor's Masala
2019
- What Did You Eat Yesterday? as Hisae Kakei
2018
- The Inugami Clan as 宮川香琴
2017
- Seven Ms. Prisoners as Ryo Ichijo
2016
2015
2013
- Love or Duty: Samurai Rebellion as Suga Sasahara
2012
- Wonderful Single Life as Yoko Kirishima
2010
2009
- Onihei Crime Files: Bungoro Amabiki as Omasa
2007
- Kuwayama Jubei travels to eight provinces
- Onihei Crime Files: Unibrow as Omasa
- The Lawyer of Shimane as Ishizuka Yoko
2006
- Nogaremono Orin as Kosakatae
- Oh-Oku: The Women Of The Inner Palace as Narration
- Onihei Crime Files Special: Bandits as Omasa
- Samurai Justice: The Female Bodyguard
2005
2003
- There's Someone Watching as Shimako Matsumoto
1999
- Zeno: Unlimited Love as Gentarou's mother (voice)
1998
1996
- SMAP×SMAP as Bistro Guest
1990
1989
- Onihei Hankachō as おまさ
- Lone Wolf & Child: Assassin on the Road to Hell as Okiku
1988
1986
- Tree Without Leaves
- Hanayome Ishou wa Dare ga Kiru as Akie Fujisaki
- 秘められた関係
1985
- Ponytail Won't Look Back as Akiko
1984
- Life of St. Blue Eyes as Misa Fujita
- ミステリー「万引き夫人のとんでもない誤解」
1983
1980
- The Wicked as Chise Fujishima
- Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga as Yasuko Uehara
1978
- Double Suicide of Sonezaki as O-Hatsu
1977
- Fushoku no kōzō as Natori Fuyuko
- Flickering Flames
- Dazzling Cops as Misugi Rie
1976
- Yakuza Graveyard as Keiko Matsunaga
- Lullaby of the Earth as Young Lady
- Between Women and Wives as Eiko Maeda
1975
- New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 2: Head of the Boss as Misako
- Main Line to Terror as Fumiko
- Takehisa Yumeji monogatari: koi suru as Tamaki Kishi
1974
- Terauchi Kantarō Ikka
- Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance as Yuki Kashima
- Jeans Blues: No Future as Hijiriko
- The Homeless as Sakei
1973
- Lady Snowblood as Yuki Kashima
- Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima as Yasuko Uehara
- Sengoku Rock Hagure Kiba as Sae
- Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable as Nami Matsushima
- Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song as Nami Matsushima
- Yakuza of the Present as Katsuko Niki
1972
- Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion as Nami Matsushima
- Ronin of the Wastelands as Ofumi
- Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 as Nami Matsushima
- Wandering Ginza Butterfly as Nami
- Wandering Ginza Butterfly: She-Cat Gambler as Nami
1971
- The Killer
- Stray Cat Rock: Beat '71 as Furiko
- Onna no Iji as Rika
- Blood for Blood as Masae Yoshinaga
- Morning Fog
- Night Butterflies
- Secret Zone of Tokyo
1970
- Ōedo Sōsamō
- Stray Cat Rock: Delinquent Girl Boss as Mei
- Stray Cat Rock: Machine Animal as Maya
- Blind Woman's Curse as Akemi Tachibana
- Melody of Rebellion as Aki
- Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter as Mako
- Stray Cat Rock: Wild Jumbo as C-ko
- Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
- Step on the Gas! as Emiko
- Gambling Den Desire
- Greatest Boss of Japan
- The Fearless Brotherhood Duet of Kanto
- A Young Man's Stronghold
- A Gangster's Morals
1969
- Women of the Night - Butterfly Flower
- Gambler's Dilemma as Komiyama Maki
- Vermillion Sword: Scabbard Code Sword Amidst the Swirling Cherry Blossoms as Natsuko Inubushi
- The Cleanup
- Women's Police as Michiko Fukue
- Mini-Skirt Lynchers as Toshie Takami
- Yabanjin no Nekutai
- Chivalrous Pride
- Inu to Asachan
- Whirlwind Of Love
- The SAKURA Code
- Women of the Night - Woman of Seniority
- Tale of the Last Japanese Yakuza
- Gokudô Petenshi
1968
1966
- The Stormy Man as Hisako Teramoto
- Till We Meet Again
- I'll Never Cry!
- Your Life
- Kill or Be Killed
- Goodbye Mr. Tears
- No Greater Love
- Love and Desire in the Night Mist
- I Love The Sun
- Blood Shed as Osakae
- Youth A Go Go! as Yuko Muraki
1965
- The Rule for a Vagabond as Hanako
- In Tears
- Gambling is My Destiny
- Song of Farewell as Yumi
- Adventure With Him
- Seishun zenki: Aoi kajitsu
- Showdown in the Red Valley as Daughter Kimiko