Actor
· Acting
Meiko Kaji
Born 1947-03-24
📍 Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
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 143
Romantics Anonymous
2025
Yu Yu Hakusho
as Genkai
2023
Modern Love Tokyo
as Mako
2022
What Did You Eat Yesterday?
as Hisae Kakei
2021
Nezunoban
as Kumiko
2021
Under the Open Sky
as Shoji Atsuko
2021
The Voice of Sin
as Mayumi Sone
2020
My Neighbor's Masala
2020
What Did You Eat Yesterday?
as Hisae Kakei
2019
The Inugami Clan
as 宮川香琴
2018
Seven Ms. Prisoners
as Ryo Ichijo
2017
Onihei Crime Files: The Final Kohen - Unryu Ken
2016
Onihei Crime Files: The Final Zenpen - Gonenme no Kyaku
2016
Bad Girls of Japan
2015
Love or Duty: Samurai Rebellion
as Suga Sasahara
2013
Wonderful Single Life
as Yoko Kirishima
2012
Onihei Crime Files: A Bandit Wedding
2011
Onihei Crime Files: Conscience of a Worm
as Omasa
2011
Onihei Crime Files: Sutegoro Takahagi
as Omasa
2010
Onihei Crime Files: Bungoro Amabiki
as Omasa
2009
Onihei Crime Files: The Inside Woman
as Omasa
2008
The Lawyer of Shimane
as Ishizuka Yoko
2007
Kuwayama Jubei travels to eight provinces
2007
Onihei Crime Files: Unibrow
as Omasa
2007
Oh-Oku: The Women Of The Inner Palace
as Narration
2006
Nogaremono Orin
as Kosakatae
2006
Onihei Crime Files Special: Bandits
as Omasa
2006
Samurai Justice: The Female Bodyguard
2006
Samurai Justice: A Duel at Takadanobara
2005
Onihei Crime Files Special: Okatsu from Yamabukiya
as Omasa
2005
Samurai Justice 2: Mother & Daughter
as Omoto
2005
Samurai Justice: Assistance in a Duel
as Omoto
2004
Ooku Dai-isho
2004
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
2004
There's Someone Watching
as Shimako Matsumoto
2003
Zeno: Unlimited Love
as Gentarou's mother (voice)
1999
Kenkaku Shōbai
1998
SMAP×SMAP
as Bistro Guest
1996
Onihei's Detective Records
1995
Bounty Hunter Muyonosuke
1990
Onihei Hankachō
as おまさ
1989
Lone Wolf & Child: Assassin on the Road to Hell
as Okiku
1989
The Blue Mountains '88
as Umetaro
1988
Detective Kyosuke Kozu's Murder Reasoning 8
1988
Tree Without Leaves
1986
Hanayome Ishou wa Dare ga Kiru
as Akie Fujisaki
1986
Ponytail Won't Look Back
as Akiko
1985
Life of St. Blue Eyes
as Misa Fujita
1984
Cold Current
1983
There Was a War When I Was a Child
1981
The Man of Five Rings
1981
The Wicked
as Chise Fujishima
1980
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
as Yasuko Uehara
1980
Double Suicide of Sonezaki
as O-Hatsu
1978
Fushoku no kōzō
as Natori Fuyuko
1977
Dazzling Cops
as Misugi Rie
1977
Flickering Flames
1977
Yakuza Graveyard
as Keiko Matsunaga
1976
Lullaby of the Earth
as Young Lady
1976
Between Women and Wives
as Eiko Maeda
1976
Takehisa Yumeji monogatari: koi suru
as Tamaki Kishi
1975
New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 2: Head of the Boss
as Misako
1975
Main Line to Terror
as Fumiko
1975
The Homeless
as Sakei
1974
Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance
as Yuki Kashima
1974
Jeans Blues: No Future
as Hijiriko
1974
Terauchi Kantarō Ikka
1974
Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song
as Nami Matsushima
1973
Lady Snowblood
as Yuki Kashima
1973
Yakuza of the Present
as Katsuko Niki
1973
Sengoku Rock Hagure Kiba
as Sae
1973
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable
as Nami Matsushima
1973
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima
as Yasuko Uehara
1973
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41
as Nami Matsushima
1972
Wandering Ginza Butterfly: She-Cat Gambler
as Nami
1972
Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion
as Nami Matsushima
1972
Wandering Ginza Butterfly
as Nami
1972
Ronin of the Wastelands
as Ofumi
1972
Morning Fog
1971
Blood for Blood
as Masae Yoshinaga
1971
The Killer
1971
Onna no Iji
as Rika
1971
Night Butterflies
1971
Secret Zone of Tokyo
1971
Stray Cat Rock: Beat '71
as Furiko
1971
Stray Cat Rock: Machine Animal
as Maya
1970
Step on the Gas!
as Emiko
1970
Ōedo Sōsamō
1970
Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter
as Mako
1970
Stray Cat Rock: Wild Jumbo
as C-ko
1970
Melody of Rebellion
as Aki
1970
Blind Woman's Curse
as Akemi Tachibana
1970
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
1970
Stray Cat Rock: Delinquent Girl Boss
as Mei
1970
Greatest Boss of Japan
1970
A Young Man's Stronghold
1970
Gambling Den Desire
1970
The Fearless Brotherhood Duet of Kanto
1970
The Cleanup
1969
Vermillion Sword: Scabbard Code Sword Amidst the Swirling Cherry Blossoms
as Natsuko Inubushi
1969
Gokudô Petenshi
1969
Gambler's Dilemma
as Komiyama Maki
1969
Chivalrous Pride
1969
The SAKURA Code
1969
Tale of the Last Japanese Yakuza
1969
Mini-Skirt Lynchers
as Toshie Takami
1969
Yabanjin no Nekutai
1969
Women of the Night - Woman of Seniority
1969
Whirlwind Of Love
1969
Women's Police
as Michiko Fukue
1969
Women of the Night - Butterfly Flower
1969
I Shall Not Forget
1968
The Blazing Continent
1968
Lost Virgin
as Eiko Hase
1968
若い川の流れ
1968
Retaliation
as Saeko
1968
Monument to the Girl's Corps
1968
Confession of a girl: The Forbidden Fruit
1968
Outlaw: Gangster VIP 2
as Keiko Asami
1968
The Code of Man
1968
My Sweetheart
1967
Aruhi watashi wa
1967
Burning Nature
1967
A Warm Misty Night
as Hiromi
1967
The Man of Victory
1967
I'll Never Cry!
1966
The Stormy Man
as Hisako Teramoto
1966
No Greater Love
1966
Kill or Be Killed
1966
Your Life
1966
Goodbye Mr. Tears
1966
Till We Meet Again
1966
Love and Desire in the Night Mist
1966
I Love The Sun
1966
Blood Shed
as Osakae
1966
Youth A Go Go!
as Yuko Muraki
1966
Showdown in the Red Valley
as Daughter Kimiko
1965
Adventure With Him
1965
In Tears
1965
The Rule for a Vagabond
as Hanako
1965
Seishun zenki: Aoi kajitsu
1965
Gambling is My Destiny
1965
Song of Farewell
as Yumi
1965