Meiko Kaji
梶 芽衣子
Born
Masako Ohta[1][2]

(1947-03-24) March 24, 1947
Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1965–present

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 series Stray Cat Rock, Wandering Ginza Butterfly, Female Prisoner 701: Scorpion and Lady 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.

Career

Acting career

Meiko Kaji was born Masako Ōta 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 at Nikkatsu studio in 1965 after graduating from high school.[1] Her first supporting film role was in 1968 in Retaliation. In 1969 she appeared in Nihon Zankyoden, one of a series of films directed by Masahiro Makino, who recognized her acting ability and provided her with the stage name of Meiko Kaji.[2] In 1970 she had a starring role in Blind Woman's Curse directed by Teruo Ishii, and from 1970 to 1971 she appeared in the Noraneko 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 the pink film business, which were more overtly sexual; and to avoid roles in such films, Kaji moved to the Toei Company.[1] There she starred in the four-part Female Convict 701: Scorpion series of women 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 the Wandering Ginza Butterfly yakuza/gangster series as Higuchi Nami.

In 1973 she starred in Lady Snowblood directed by Toshiya Fujita and distributed by Toho, a revenge film set in late 1800s Japan based on the manga 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, including Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill films.[4][5][6] A year later she reprised her role as Yuki in the sequel Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance in 1974. She went on to appear in several of Kinji Fukasaku's films, such as Yakuza Graveyard in 1976 and in 1978 starred in Sonezaki 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, including Under the Open Sky in 2020. Kaji also worked in television since the 1980s, in 1989 portraying the informant Omasa in the television drama Onihei Hankachō, the Shochiku–Fuji Television version starring kabuki actor Nakamura Kichiemon II. In 2022, she appeared in the 2022 Amazon Prime Video anthology series Modern 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 from Hollywood, but declined them, as she felt she could not give a good performance in a language other than Japanese.[8]

Music career

Kaji 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 both these songs were used in the 2003 Quentin Tarantino film Kill 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 by Ryudo Uzaki and Yoko Aki.

In May 2020, Kaji launched her own channel on YouTube, as a way to both celebrate her work with fans all over the world, and to give back to everyone who had supported her.

Filmography

Films

Television

  • Ōedo Sōsamō (1970–71), Konami
  • Ronin of the Wilderness (1972)
  • Sasagawa Saho Matatabi Shirizu – Kuresakatouge e no chisou (1972), Oshizu
  • Terauchi Kantarō Ikka (1974), Shizue Terauchi
  • Sorekara no Musashi (1981), Yuri-hime
  • Ōoku (1983)
  • Kaseifu wa mita! 2 (1984)
  • Aoi hitomi no seiraifu (1984)
  • Sutaa tanjō (1985)
  • Tantei Kamizu Kyōsuke no satsujin suiri 8: Izu Shimoda-kaigan ni akai satsui ga hashiru (1988), Shōko Hamano
  • Aoi sanmyaku '88 (1988), Umetaro
  • Onihei Hankachō(1989–2016), Omasa
  • Kenkaku Shōbai (1998–2010), Omon
  • Kaseifu ha mita! 21 (2003), Mayumi Hirao
  • Anata no tonari ni dare ka iru (2003), Shimako Matsumoto
  • Kenkaku Shobai Sukedachi (2004)
  • Onihei Hankacho Supesharu: Yamabukiya Okatsu (2005)
  • Nogaremono orin (2006)
  • Hasshū mawari kuwayama jūbei (2007)
  • Kenkyaku shobai: Haru no arashi (2008)
  • Kekkon shinai (2012)
  • Joiuchi: Hairyo zuma shimatsu (2013)
  • Taxi Driver no Suiri Nisschi 34 (2013)
  • Samurai Rebellion (2013)
  • Gokuaku Gambo (2014)
  • Joshu Seven (2017)
  • What Did You Eat Yesterday? (2019–23)[15]
  • Modern Love Tokyo (2022)[16]
  • YuYu Hakusho (2023), Genkai[17]

Discography

Singles

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 from Wandering Ginza Butterfly
Urami Bushi / Onna no Jumon 怨み節／女の呪文 December 1, 1972 Theme song from Female Convict 701: Scorpion
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 from Female Convict 701: Scorpion, B-side: theme song from Wandering 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
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 from Lady Snowblood
Jeans Blues / Ingabana ジーンズぶるうす／因果花 March 25, 1974 Theme song from Jinzu 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

Albums

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

Awards and nominations

3rd Hochi Film Award[18]

75th Mainichi Film Awards[19]

  • Won: Kinuyo Tanaka Award for her career

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 D., Chris (2005). "Meiko Kaji". Outlaw Masters of Japanese Film. London; New York: I.B. Tauris. p. 59. ISBN 1-84511-086-2.
  2. 1 2 Isoda, Tsutomu (August 31, 2008). Nihon Eiga Meisaku Kanzen Gaido: Shōwa No Autorō Hen Besuto 400 1960–1980 [Complete Guide to Classic Japanese Films: 400 Best Outlaw Films of the Showa Era 1960–1980] (in Japanese). ウルトラ・ヴァイヴ. p. 71. ISBN 978-4-401-75122-8.
  3. ↑ "Profile at Ameba.Jp", 梶芽衣子プロフィール, ameba.jp, retrieved February 9, 2012
  4. 1 2 James Balmont (2020). "Meiko Kaji: The original action hero of Japanese cinema". Love.
  5. ↑ Russ Fischer (2016). "Exploring The Hollow Rewards Of Revenge In Toshiya Fujita's Influential 'Lady Snowblood' Films". IndieWire.
  6. ↑ Katie Rife (2016). "A Tarantino-approved classic gets vibrant new life in The Complete Lady Snowblood". The A.V. Club.
  7. ↑ "Sonezaki Shinju (1978) Awards". IMDb. Retrieved December 19, 2008.
  8. ↑ Shinsuke Kasai (interviewer), Meiko Kaji (interviewee) (2012). Nihon Eiga Retorosupekutibu. Nihon Eiga Senmon Channeru.
  9. ↑ Shiina, Muneyuki (June 1, 2011). "Kaji Meiko Interview at Rooftop magazine" (in Japanese). Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  10. ↑ 梶芽衣子、３１年ぶりの切れ味　オリジナルアルバム発売, asahi.com, June 1, 2011. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
  11. ↑ Credits (booklet). Arrow Films. 2015. p. 3. AV007.
  12. ↑ "「無頼」より 大幹部". Nikkatsu. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  13. ↑ "すばらしき世界". eiga.com. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  14. ↑ "劇場版 きのう何食べた？". eiga.com. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  15. ↑ "きのう何食べた？ season2". The Television. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  16. ↑ "『モダンラブ・東京』新キャストに高良健吾、三浦透子ら 本予告＆キービジュアルも公開". Real Sound. September 21, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  17. ↑ "綾野剛・滝藤賢一が戸愚呂兄弟、稲垣吾郎は左京に「幽☆遊☆白書」新キャスト9名解禁". Natalie. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  18. ↑ 報知映画賞ヒストリー (in Japanese). Cinema Hochi. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
  19. ↑ "田中絹代賞の梶芽衣子「これだけ光栄に思った賞はありません」". Sponichi. Retrieved March 31, 2021.

Further reading

  • Rikke Schubart: Super Bitches and Action Babes: The Female Hero in Popular Cinema, 1970–2006 (McFarland & Company, USA 2007) ISBN 978-0-7864-2924-0: Contains a chapter on Meiko Kaji.
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