Meiko Kaji


Meiko Kaji is a Japanese actress and singer. She has appeared in about 100 films, with her most famous roles being outlaw characters in early 1970s films, such as the rebels of the Stray Cat Rock series, the assassin Lady Snowblood, and the murderous Nami Matsushima from the Female Prisoner 701: Scorpion series.

Life and career

Meiko Kaji was born Masako Ohta in the Kanda area of Tokyo and graduated from the Yakumo Academy high school in Meguro, Tokyo. She began to work in the film industry under her real name, Masako Ota, at Nikkatsu studio in 1965 after graduating from high school. In 1969 she appeared in Nihon Zankyoden, one of a series of films directed by Masahiro Makino, who recognized her acting ability and gave her the stage name of Meiko Kaji. From 1970 to 1971 she appeared in the Noraneko Rokku series of films about delinquent young people.
In 1971, Nikkatsu moved into the pink film business, and to avoid this, Kaji moved to Toei Company. There she made the ' series of films. In 1973 she took on the role of Yuki in the revenge-themed film Lady Snowblood, followed by a sequel, '. She went on to appear in several of Kinji Fukasaku's films, such as Yakuza Graveyard. In 1978, she starred in Sonezaki Shinjū, for which she earned nominations for Best Actress at five different awards shows, winning four of them.
Kaji has worked in television since the 1980s. In 1989 she portrayed Omasa, an informant, in the television drama Onihei Hankachō.
Kaji is also a singer. She sang the theme song to Lady Snowblood, "Shura no Hana", and the theme song of the series, "Urami Bushi". When both these songs were used in the 2003 Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill, there was a revival of interest in Kaji's music that encouraged her to resume her musical career. In 2009, she released a single, Onna wa yametai. In 2011, Kaji released her first new album in 31 years, Aitsu no suki-so-na burūsu with songs written by Ryudo Uzaki and Yoko Aki.
Kaji received acting offers from Hollywood but refused them all, saying she could not give a good performance in a language other than Japanese.
In May 2020, Kaji launched her very own channel on YouTube, as a way to both celebrate her work with fans all over the world, and as a way to give back to everyone who has supported her.

Filmography

Films

Singles

Albums

Awards and nominations

3rd Hochi Film Award