Meiko Kaji | |
|---|---|
梶 芽衣子 | |
 Kaji in 2025 | |
| Born | (1947-03-24)March 24, 1947 (age 78) Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan |
| Occupations | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Height | 163 cm (5 ft 4 in) |
| Children | 1 |
Meiko Kaji (梶 芽衣子,Kaji Meiko; born March 24, 1947) is a Japanese actress and singer. Since the 1960s, she has appeared in over 100 film and television roles,[3] most prominently in the 1970s with her most famous roles as outlaw characters, best known for her performances in the film seriesStray Cat Rock,Wandering Ginza Butterfly,Female Prisoner 701: Scorpion andLady Snowblood. Kaji also performed as a singer, releasing records concurrently with her film career and beyond, even providing the official feature theme song tracks to a few of the films in which she also starred.
Meiko Kaji was bornMasako Ōta in theKanda area of Tokyo and graduated from the Yakumo Academy high school inMeguro, Tokyo. She began to work in the film industry under her real name atNikkatsu studio in 1965 after graduating from high school.[1] Her first supporting film role was in 1968 inRetaliation. In 1969 she appeared inNihon Zankyoden, one of a series of films directed byMasahiro Makino, who recognized her acting ability and provided her with the stage name of Meiko Kaji.[2] In 1970 she had a starring role inBlind Woman's Curse directed byTeruo Ishii, and from 1970 to 1971 she appeared in theNoraneko Rokku (Stray cat/Alleycat Rock) series of films about delinquent and rebellious young people and gangs, appearing in all five films in different character roles.
In 1971, Nikkatsu would move more towards production in thepink film business, which were more overtly sexual; and to avoid roles in such films, Kaji moved to theToei Company.[1] There she starred in the four-partFemale Prisoner 701: Scorpion series ofwomen in prison revenge films as Nami Matsushima/"Matsu the Scorpion", a woman sent to prison for seeking revenge and her attempts to escape, and in 1972 she first starred in theWandering Ginza Butterfly yakuza/gangster series as Higuchi Nami.
In 1973 she starred inLady Snowblood directed byToshiya Fujita and distributed byToho, a revenge film set in late 1800s Japan based on themanga of the same name, where she played the deadly assassin Yuki. It is considered by many critics to be her most famous role, particularly outside of Japan, and would later go on to inspire other media, includingQuentin Tarantino'sKill Bill films.[4][5][6] A year later she reprised her role as Yuki in the sequelLady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance in 1974. She went on to appear in several ofKinji Fukasaku's films, such asYakuza Graveyard in 1976 and in 1978 starred inSonezaki Shinjū, where she earned nominations for Best Actress at five different award shows, winning four of them.[7]
By the end of the 1970s, Kaji left major film roles following a combination of overwork amidst rampant production schedules and underpayment,[4] but had occasional film roles in the 1980s and 2010s, includingUnder the Open Sky in 2020. Kaji also worked in television since the 1980s, in 1989 portraying the informant Omasa in the television dramaOnihei Hankachō, theShochiku–Fuji Television version starringkabuki actorNakamura Kichiemon II. In 2022, she appeared in the 2022Amazon Prime Video anthology seriesModern Love Tokyo for the episode "Nursing My Son, and Some Grievances".
During her acting career Kaji received acting offers from non-Japanese film studios, including those fromHollywood, but declined them, as she felt she could not give a good performance in a language other than Japanese.[8]
Kaji is also a singer. She sang the theme song toLady Snowblood, "Shura no Hana" (修羅の花), and the theme song of theFemale Convict Scorpion series, "Urami Bushi" (怨み節). When both these songs were used in the 2003Quentin Tarantino filmKill Bill,[1] there was a revival of interest in Kaji's music that encouraged her to resume her musical career.[9] 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 (あいつの好きそなブルース)[10] with songs written byRyudo Uzaki andYoko Aki.
In May 2020, Kaji launched her own channel onYouTube, as a way to both celebrate her work with fans all over the world, and to give back to everyone who had supported her.
In October 2025, Kaji made her first public appearance in theUnited States at BeyondFest. In a panel moderated bySean Baker, she reflected on her career, fans, and her legacy.[1]
| Title (romaji) | Title (Japanese) | Released | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jingi Komoriuta / Koi ni inochi o | 仁義子守唄／恋に命を | July 5, 1970 | |
| Inochi no Namida / Kanashii Egao | 命の涙／悲しい笑顔 | March 5, 1971 | |
| Hamabe no Meruhen / Ai he no kitai | 浜辺のメルヘン／愛への期待 | July 5, 1971 | |
| Gincho Wataridori / Gincho Buruusu | 銀蝶渡り鳥／銀蝶ブルース | March 5, 1972 | Theme song fromWandering Ginza Butterfly |
| Urami Bushi / Onna no Jumon | 怨み節／女の呪文 | December 1, 1972 | Theme song fromFemale Convict 701: Scorpion. (Oricon number 6).[18] |
| Kaji Meiko No Miryoku | 梶芽衣子の魅力{A面「さそり」サントラ、B面「銀蝶」サントラ} | December 25, 1972 | A-side: theme song fromFemale Convict 701: Scorpion, B-side: theme song fromWandering Ginza Butterfly |
| Meiko no Fute-Bushi / Onna Hagure Uta | 芽衣子のふて節／おんなはぐれ唄 | April 15, 1973 | Oricon number 32[18] |
| Yadokari / Kakioki | やどかり／かきおき | September 1, 1973 | |
| Hagure-Bushi / Kiba no Ballad | はぐれ節／牙のバラード | July 10, 1973 | |
| Shura no Hana / Hoo Yare Ho... | 修羅の花／ほおやれほ･････ | December 25, 1973 | Theme song fromLady Snowblood |
| Jeans Blues / Ingabana | ジーンズぶるうす／因果花 | March 25, 1974 | Theme song fromJinzu burusu: Asu naki furaiha |
| Kono Atarashii Asa ni / Ame no Yoru Anata wa | この新しい朝に／雨の夜あなたは | November 25, 1974 | |
| Meinichi / Akane Kumo | 命日／あかね雲 | September 21, 1975 | |
| Hoshii Mono Wa / Imasara Nante Shikaranaide Kudasai | 欲しいものは／今更叱らないでください～恋文～ | February 21, 1977 | |
| Fukurokouji Sanbancho / Nokoribi | 袋小路三番町／残り火 | September 21, 1977 | |
| Akane Gumo / Motomachi Chanson | あかね雲／元町シャンソン | May 21, 1978 | |
| Banka / Hiyoke Megane | 晩夏／陽よけめがね | July 21, 1979 | |
| Shuki No Uta / Aa Ii Osake | 酒季の歌／ああ いいお酒 | May 21, 1980 | |
| Atsui Sake / Nagasaki wa Ajisai-Moyou no Aishu | 熱い酒／長崎はアジサイ模様の哀愁 | January 1980 | |
| Kawaita Hana / Kirisame Hotel | 乾いた華／霧雨ホテル | December 21, 1984 | |
| Fushigi Ne / Fune Ni Yurarete | 不思議ね／舟にゆられて | July 21, 1994 | |
| Onna Wo Yametai / Omoide-Biyori | 女をやめたい／思い出日和 | June 24, 2009 |
| Title (romaji) | Title (Japanese) | Released | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gincho Wataridori | 銀蝶渡り鳥 | July 1, 1972 | |
| Hajiki Shishu | はじき詩集 | June 1, 1973 | |
| Orijinaru Besuto 12: Yadokari | やどかり〈オリジナルベスト12〉 | October 25, 1973 | |
| Otoko Onna Kokoro No Aika | 男・女・こころの哀歌 | April 25, 1974 | |
| Golden Star Twin Deluxe | ゴールデンスター・ツイン・デラックス | May 25, 1974 | |
| Sareyo Sareyo Kanashimi No Shirabe | 去れよ、去れよ、悲しみの調べ | November 25, 1974 | |
| Kyou No Wagami Wa... | きょうの我が身は･････ | December 21, 1975 | |
| Akane Gumo | あかね雲 | August 21, 1978 | |
| Wakare Urami Namida Uta | 別れ 怨み 涙うた | November 21, 1979 | |
| Shuki No Uta | 酒季の歌 | October 28, 1980 | |
| Zenkyoku Shu | 全曲集 | 2004 | |
| Meiko Kaji – Best Collection | 梶芽衣子ベスト・コレクション | March 24, 2010 | |
| Aitsu No Suki Sona Burusu | あいつの好きそなブルース | May 25, 2011 |
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