Meiko Kaji
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.
151 acting credits
Acting · 151
SMAP×SMAP
1996
Modern Love Tokyo
2022
Onihei Hankachō
1989
What Did You Eat Yesterday?
2019
Yu Yu Hakusho
2023
Romantics Anonymous
2025
Ponytail Won't Look Back
1985
Wonderful Single Life
2012
Ooku Dai-isho
2004
Ōedo Sōsamō
1970
Seven Ms. Prisoners
2017
Life of St. Blue Eyes
1984
The Man of Five Rings
1981
Fushoku no kōzō
1977
Onihei Crime Files: Bungoro Amabiki
2009
Ronin of the Wastelands
1972
Lady Snowblood
1973
Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion
1972
Kuwayama Jubei travels to eight provinces
2007
Kenkaku Shōbai
1998
Nogaremono Orin
2006
There's Someone Watching
2003
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41
1972
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima
1973
Under the Open Sky
2021
Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song
1973
Terauchi Kantarō Ikka
1974
The Voice of Sin
2020
Sengoku Rock Hagure Kiba
1973
Yakuza Graveyard
1976
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable
1973
Hanayome wa 16-sai!
1995
Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance
1974
Wandering Ginza Butterfly
1972
New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 2: Head of the Boss
1975
Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter
1970
Hanayome Ishou wa Dare ga Kiru
1986
Stray Cat Rock: Delinquent Girl Boss
1970
Stray Cat Rock: Machine Animal
1970
Oh-Oku: The Women Of The Inner Palace
2006
Stray Cat Rock: Beat '71
1971
What Did You Eat Yesterday?
2021
My Sweetheart
1967
Blind Woman's Curse
1970
Yakuza of the Present
1973
Lullaby of the Earth
1976
The Wicked
1980
The Homeless
1974
Melody of Rebellion
1970
Monument to the Girl's Corps
1968
Jeans Blues: No Future
1974
Retaliation
1968
Onihei Crime Files: Unibrow
2007
Samurai Justice: Assistance in a Duel
2004
Outlaw: Gangster VIP 2
1968
Aruhi watashi wa
1967
A Warm Misty Night
1967
Gambler's Dilemma
1969
Song of Farewell
1965
Main Line to Terror
1975
Burning Nature
1967
I'll Never Cry!
1966
Stray Cat Rock: Wild Jumbo
1970
The Cleanup
1969
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
1970
Onihei Crime Files: Conscience of a Worm
2011
Wandering Ginza Butterfly: She-Cat Gambler
1972
Gambling Den Desire
1970
Between Women and Wives
1976
The Blue Mountains '88
1988
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
1980
Onihei Crime Files Special: Bandits
2006
Blood for Blood
1971
The Stormy Man
1966
Onihei's Detective Records
1995
Samurai Justice: The Female Bodyguard
2006
The SAKURA Code
1969
Onihei Crime Files Special: Okatsu from Yamabukiya
2005
Lost Virgin
1968
The Lawyer of Shimane
2007
Tree Without Leaves
1986
Flickering Flames
1977
The Blazing Continent
1968
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
2004
Samurai Justice: A Duel at Takadanobara
2005
Women of the Night - Butterfly Flower
1969
Onihei Crime Files: The Inside Woman
2008
Your Life
1966
Onihei Crime Files: Sutegoro Takahagi
2010
秘められた関係
1986
The Inugami Clan
2018
若い川の流れ
1968
Onna no Iji
1971
Love or Duty: Samurai Rebellion
2013
Women's Police
1969
Greatest Boss of Japan
1970
Tale of the Last Japanese Yakuza
1969
Yabanjin no Nekutai
1969
Onihei Crime Files: A Bandit Wedding
2011
No Greater Love
1966
Women of the Night - Woman of Seniority
1969
The Rule for a Vagabond
1965
Kill or Be Killed
1966
There Was a War When I Was a Child
1981
Goodbye Mr. Tears
1966
Till We Meet Again
1966
ミステリー「万引き夫人のとんでもない誤解」
1984
Takehisa Yumeji monogatari: koi suru
1975
Cold Current
1983
Detective Kyosuke Kozu's Murder Reasoning 8
1988
Showdown in the Red Valley
1965
In Tears
1965
Zeno: Unlimited Love
1999
The Killer
1971
Seishun zenki: Aoi kajitsu
1965
Step on the Gas!
1970
Adventure With Him
1965
I Love The Sun
1966
The Code of Man
1968
Gambling is My Destiny
1965
Magistrate Toyama: Conspiracy of a Beautiful Woman! Rampage in Kanhashu
1990
Chivalrous Pride
1969
Bounty Hunter Muyonosuke
1990
Samurai Justice 2: Mother & Daughter
2005
Vermillion Sword: Scabbard Code Sword Amidst the Swirling Cherry Blossoms
1969
Whirlwind Of Love
1969
Dorobō Sodachi Dorobōi
1968
The Silent Sword: Loyalty and Honor
2008
Onihei Crime Files: The Final Zenpen - Gonenme no Kyaku
2016
Inu to Asachan
1969
Love and Desire in the Night Mist
1966
The Man of Victory
1967
I Shall Not Forget
1968
Dazzling Cops
1977
Mini-Skirt Lynchers
1969
Onihei Crime Files: The Final Kohen - Unryu Ken
2016
A Young Man's Stronghold
1970
Morning Fog
1971
Confession of a girl: The Forbidden Fruit
1968
Gokudô Petenshi
1969
Bad Girls of Japan
2015
Double Suicide of Sonezaki
1978
Blood Shed
1966
Nezunoban
2021
Night Butterflies
1971
Lone Wolf & Child: Assassin on the Road to Hell
1989
My Neighbor's Masala
2020
The Fearless Brotherhood Duet of Kanto
1970
Youth A Go Go!
1966
A Gangster's Morals
1970
Secret Zone of Tokyo
1971