Meiko Kaji
Known for: Acting
Born: March 24, 1947
Place of birth: 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.
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Filmography
126 movies · 28 TV shows, newest first
8.1
Romantics Anonymous
2025
7.5
Yu Yu Hakusho
2023
6.8
Modern Love Tokyo
2022
10.0
Written Down
2022
6.1
What Did You Eat Yesterday?
2021
NR
Nezunoban
2021
7.5
Under the Open Sky
2021
7.3
The Voice of Sin
2020
NR
My Neighbor's Masala
2020
7.1
What Did You Eat Yesterday?
2019
6.0
The Inugami Clan
2018
6.5
Seven Ms. Prisoners
2017
8.3
Onihei Crime Files: The Final Kohen - Unryu Ken
2016
8.2
Onihei Crime Files: The Final Zenpen - Gonenme no Kyaku
2016
NR
Bad Girls of Japan
2015
7.2
Love or Duty: Samurai Rebellion
2013
6.8
Wonderful Single Life
2012
NR
Onihei Crime Files: A Bandit Wedding
2011
8.0
Onihei Crime Files: Conscience of a Worm
2011
8.0
Onihei Crime Files: Sutegoro Takahagi
2010
8.0
Onihei Crime Files: Bungoro Amabiki
20098.5
The Silent Sword: Loyalty and Honor
2008
8.0
Onihei Crime Files: The Inside Woman
2008
7.0
The Lawyer of Shimane
2007
NR
Kuwayama Jubei travels to eight provinces
2007
8.0
Onihei Crime Files: Unibrow
2007
7.0
Oh-Oku: The Women Of The Inner Palace
2006
NR
Nogaremono Orin
2006
NR
Onihei Crime Files Special: Bandits
2006
NR
Samurai Justice: The Female Bodyguard
2006
NR
Samurai Justice: A Duel at Takadanobara
2005
NR
Onihei Crime Files Special: Okatsu from Yamabukiya
2005
NR
Samurai Justice 2: Mother & Daughter
2005
NR
Samurai Justice: Assistance in a Duel
2004
NR
Ooku Dai-isho
2004
NR
Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
2004
7.0
There's Someone Watching
2003
8.0
Zeno: Unlimited Love
1999
10.0
Kenkaku Shōbai
1998
8.5
SMAP×SMAP
1996
9.0
Onihei's Detective Records
1995NR
Hanayome wa 16-sai!
1995NR
Magistrate Toyama: Conspiracy of a Beautiful Woman! Rampage in Kanhashu
1990
NR
Bounty Hunter Muyonosuke
1990
7.8
Onihei Hankachō
1989
6.8
Lone Wolf & Child: Assassin on the Road to Hell
1989
4.5
The Blue Mountains '88
1988
NR
Detective Kyosuke Kozu's Murder Reasoning 8
1988
8.0
Tree Without Leaves
1986NR
森村誠一サスペンス 異常の太陽
1986NR
秘められた関係
1986
NR
Hanayome Ishou wa Dare ga Kiru
1986
NR
Ponytail Won't Look Back
1985
NR
A Star is Born
1985
NR
Life of St. Blue Eyes
1984NR
ミステリー「万引き夫人のとんでもない誤解」
1984
NR
Cold Current
1983
5.5
There Was a War When I Was a Child
1981
8.0
The Man of Five Rings
1981
6.7
The Wicked
1980
5.5
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
1980
6.3
Double Suicide of Sonezaki
1978
NR
Fushoku no kōzō
1977
NR
Dazzling Cops
1977
10.0
Flickering Flames
1977
6.6
Yakuza Graveyard
1976
6.4
Lullaby of the Earth
1976
7.0
Between Women and Wives
1976
8.0
Takehisa Yumeji monogatari: koi suru
1975
7.4
New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 2: Head of the Boss
1975
6.2
Main Line to Terror
1975
7.8
The Homeless
1974
6.4
Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance
1974
7.6
Jeans Blues: No Future
1974
NR
Terauchi Kantarō Ikka
1974
6.2
Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song
1973
7.5
Lady Snowblood
1973
7.0
Yakuza of the Present
1973
NR
Sengoku Rock Hagure Kiba
1973
6.8
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable
1973
7.3
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima
1973
7.1
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41
1972
7.9
Wandering Ginza Butterfly: She-Cat Gambler
1972
7.1
Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion
1972
6.7
Wandering Ginza Butterfly
1972
10.0
Ronin of the Wastelands
1972
NR
Morning Fog
1971
7.0
Blood for Blood
1971
9.0
The Killer
1971
7.0
Onna no Iji
1971
7.0
Night Butterflies
1971
NR
Secret Zone of Tokyo
1971
5.6
Stray Cat Rock: Beat '71
1971
6.3
Stray Cat Rock: Machine Animal
1970
8.5
Step on the Gas!
1970
10.0
Ōedo Sōsamō
1970
6.6
Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter
1970
5.7
Stray Cat Rock: Wild Jumbo
1970
6.5
Melody of Rebellion
1970
6.3
Blind Woman's Curse
1970
9.0
Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
1970
6.0
Stray Cat Rock: Delinquent Girl Boss
1970
NR
Greatest Boss of Japan
1970
10.0
A Young Man's Stronghold
1970
NR
Gambling Den Desire
1970NR
A Gangster's Morals
1970
NR
The Fearless Brotherhood Duet of Kanto
1970
10.0
The Cleanup
1969
NR
Vermillion Sword: Scabbard Code Sword Amidst the Swirling Cherry Blossoms
1969
10.0
Gokudô Petenshi
1969
NR
Gambler's Dilemma
1969
NR
Chivalrous Pride
1969
2.0
The SAKURA Code
1969
NR
Tale of the Last Japanese Yakuza
1969
10.0
Mini-Skirt Lynchers
1969NR
Inu to Asachan
1969
NR
Yabanjin no Nekutai
1969
NR
Women of the Night - Woman of Seniority
1969
NR
Whirlwind Of Love
1969
10.0
Women's Police
1969
NR
Women of the Night - Butterfly Flower
1969
7.0
I Shall Not Forget
1968
10.0
The Blazing Continent
1968
7.0
Lost Virgin
1968
NR
若い川の流れ
1968
5.9
Retaliation
1968NR
Dorobō Sodachi Dorobōi
1968
10.0
Monument to the Girl's Corps
1968
9.0
Confession of a girl: The Forbidden Fruit
1968
7.0
Outlaw: Gangster VIP 2
1968
7.0
The Code of Man
1968
NR
My Sweetheart
1967
NR
Aruhi watashi wa
1967
8.0
Burning Nature
1967
NR
A Warm Misty Night
1967
6.0
The Man of Victory
1967
NR
I'll Never Cry!
1966
9.0
The Stormy Man
1966
NR
No Greater Love
1966
NR
Kill or Be Killed
1966
NR
Your Life
1966
NR
Goodbye Mr. Tears
1966
NR
Till We Meet Again
1966
NR
Love and Desire in the Night Mist
1966
NR
I Love The Sun
1966
7.0
Blood Shed
1966
NR
Youth A Go Go!
1966
9.0
Showdown in the Red Valley
1965
NR
Adventure With Him
1965
NR
In Tears
1965
NR
The Rule for a Vagabond
1965
NR
Seishun zenki: Aoi kajitsu
1965
NR
Gambling is My Destiny
1965
NR
Song of Farewell
1965