Meiko Kaji

Life and career

Meiko Kaji was born in the Kanda area of Tokyo and graduated from the Yakumo Academy high school in Meguro, Tokyo. She began 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 (Stray cat/Alleycat Rock) 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 Female Convict 701: Scorpion series of films. In 1973 she took on the role of Yuki in the revenge-themed film Lady Snowblood, followed by a sequel, Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance. She went on to appear in several of Kinji Fukasaku's films, such as Yakuza Graveyard (1976). 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 jidaigeki Onihei Hankachō (the Shochiku–Fuji Television version starring kabuki actor Nakamura Kichiemon II).

She is also a singer. She sang the theme song to Lady Snowblood, "Shura no Hana" (修羅の花), and the theme song of the Female Convict Scorpion series, "Urami Bushi" (怨み節). When these songs were both used in Kill Bill, it led to a revival of interest in her music. This encouraged her to resume her musical career. In 2009 she released a single, Onna wa yametai. In 2011 Kaji put out her first new album in 31 years, Aitsu no suki-so-na burūsu (あいつの好きそなブルース) with songs written by Ryudo Uzaki and Yoko Aki.

She also received acting offers from Hollywood, but refused them all, saying she could not give a good performance in a language other than Japanese.

Filmography

Films

• Retaliation (1968) (credited as Masako Ota)
• Blind Woman's Curse (June 1970, d. Teruo Ishii)
• Shinjuku Outlaw - Step on the gas (新宿アウトロー　ぶっ飛ばせ, Shinjuku autorō - Buttobase) (Oct. 1970)
• The Stray Cat Rock series (1970–71)
  • Stray Cat Rock: Delinquent Girl Boss
  • Stray Cat Rock: Wild Jumbo
  • Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter
  • Stray Cat Rock: Machine Animal
  • Alleycat Rock: Crazy Riders '71 (野良猫ロック　暴走集団’７１, Nora neko rokku: Bōsōshūdan '71) (Jan. 1971, d. Toshiya Fujita)
• The Sasori series (1972–73)
  • Female Convict 701: Scorpion
  • Female Convict Scorpion: Jailhouse 41
  • Female Convict Scorpion: Beast Stable
  • Female Convict Scorpion: Grudge Song
• The Gincho series (1972)
  • Wandering Ginza Butterfly
  • Wandering Ginza Butterfly 2: She-Cat Gambler
• Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Hiroshima Deathmatch (1973)
• Lady Snowblood (1973)
• Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance (1974)
• The Homeless (1974)
• New Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Boss's Head (1975)
• Lullaby of the Earth (大地の子守唄, Daichi no komoriuta) (June 1976, d. Yasuzo Masumura)
• Yakuza Graveyard (1976)
• Double Suicide of Sonezaki (1978)
• Tree Without Leaves (1986)

Television

• Sasagawa Saho Matatabi Shirizu - Kuresakatouge e no chisou (1972) - Oshizu
• Terauchi Kantarō Ikka (1974) TV series .... Shizue Terauchi
• Sorekara no Musashi (1981) TV series ... Yuri-hime
• Kaseifu wa mita! 2 (1984) (TV)
• Sutaa tanjō (1985) TV series
• Tantei Kamizu Kyōsuke no satsujin suiri 8: Izu Shimoda-kaigan ni akai satsui ga hashiru (1988) (TV) .... Shōko Hamano
• Aoi sanmyaku '88 (1988) .... Umetaro
• Onihei Hankachō (1989-2016)... Omasa
• Kenkaku Shōbai (1998) TV series
• Kaseifu ha mita! 21 (2003) (TV) .... Mayumi Hirao
• Anata no tonari ni dare ka iru (2003) TV series .... Shimako Matsumoto
• Nogaremono orin (2006) TV series
• Hasshū mawari kuwayama jūbei (2007) TV series

Discography

Singles

Albums

Awards and nominations

3rd Hochi Film Award

• Won: Best Actress for The Love Suicides at Sonezaki