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born March 24, 1947 is a Japanese actress and singer. Since the 1960s, she has appeared in over 100 film and television roles, most prominently in the 1970s with her most famous roles as outlaw characters, best known for her performances in the film series , Wandering Ginza Butterfly, 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.
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. There she starred in the four-part 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. A year later she reprised her role as Yuki in the sequel 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.
By the end of the 1970s, Kaji left major film roles following a combination of overwork amidst rampant production schedules and underpayment, 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.
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.
In October 2025, Kaji made her first public appearance in the United States at BeyondFest. In a panel moderated by Sean Baker, she reflected on her career, fans, and her legacy.[1]
Music career
Kaji is also a singer. She sang the theme song to Lady Snowblood, "Shura no Hana" (), and the theme song of the series, "Urami Bushi" (). When both these songs were used in the 2003 Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill, there was a revival of interest in Kaji's music that encouraged her to resume her musical career. 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 (), asahi.com, June 1, 2011. Retrieved June 3, 2011. with songs written by Ryudo Uzaki and Yoko Aki.
Filmography
Films
Television
Discography
Singles
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 . (Oricon number 6). シングル売上TOP2作品. Oricon News. 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 , 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 Oricon number 32 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 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
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
Further reading
(2026). 9780786429240, McFarland & Company. ISBN 9780786429240 Contains a chapter on Meiko Kaji.
External links
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