
Meiko Kaji
Actor · Born March 24, 1947 (79) · 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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Biography from TMDB.
- March 24, 1947 (79)
- Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
- Actor
- 18 on MovieCove · 154 credits in all
Known for
What are Meiko Kaji's films like?
Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.
Genres
Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 0 · Wry 1 · Earnest 14
Light 3 · Serious 2 · Dark 10
Grounded 3 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 6
Gentle 1 · Charged 5 · Intense 9
Steady 2 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 5
Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 0
Slow burn 1 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 4
Casual 3 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 1
Easy watch 1 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 7
Resolved 9 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 0
Roles they play
Usually the Hero: 9 of 13 analyzed roles.
Show the 13 rolesHide the roles
- Heroas Maya in Stray Cat Rock: Machine Animal (1970)
- Heroas C-ko in Stray Cat Rock: Wild Jumbo (1970)
- Heroas Kaji in Stray Cat Rock: Beat '71 (1971)
- Heroas Nami Matsushima (aka Matsu the Scorpion) in Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972)
- Heroas Matsu (Sasori) in Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972)
- Shapeshifteras Uehara Yasuko in Hiroshima Death Match (1973)
- Heroas Yuki Kashima (Shurayuki-hime) in Lady Snowblood (1973)
- Heroas Nami Matsushima (The Scorpion) in Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song (1973)
- Heroas Nami Matsushima (Sasori) in Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable (1973)
- Heroas Shurayuki-hime (Yuki Kashima) in Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance (1974)
- Mentoras Keiko Matsunaga in Yakuza Graveyard (1976)
- Shadowas Okiku in Kozure Ôkami: Meifumadô no shikakunin. Haha koishi Daigorô zesshô! (1989)
- Mentoras Genkai in Yu Yu Hakusho (2023)
Moods and endings
- Happy1
- Bittersweet4
- Tragic3
- Ambiguous8
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch Meiko Kaji's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 18 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).
- Lady Snowblood (1973) · actor · free
- Hiroshima Death Match (1973) · actor · free
- Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972) · actor · free
- Yakuza Graveyard (1976) · actor · free
- Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable (1973) · actor · free
- Kozure Ôkami: Meifumadô no shikakunin. Haha koishi Daigorô zesshô! (1989) · actor · free
- Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance (1974) · actor · free
- Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song (1973) · actor · free
Subscription and free streaming for Meiko Kaji's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.
Filmography
154 credits, 18 with a MovieCove page.

Romantics Anonymous(2025)
Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows
Yu Yu Hakusho(2023)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows
Modern Love Tokyo(2022)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows
Written Down (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

What Did You Eat Yesterday? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

Nezunoban (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

Under the Open Sky(2020)
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
The Voice of Sin(2020)
Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
My Neighbor's Masala (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

What Did You Eat Yesterday? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

The Inugami Clan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

Seven Ms. Prisoners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

Onihei Crime Files: The Final Kohen - Unryu Ken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

Onihei Crime Files: The Final Zenpen - Gonenme no Kyaku (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

Bad Girls of Japan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

Love or Duty: Samurai Rebellion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

Wonderful Single Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

Onihei Crime Files: A Bandit Wedding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

Onihei Crime Files: Conscience of a Worm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

Onihei Crime Files: Sutegoro Takahagi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

Onihei Crime Files: Bungoro Amabiki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)
The Silent Sword: Loyalty and Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

Onihei Crime Files: The Inside Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

The Lawyer of Shimane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

Kuwayama Jubei travels to eight provinces (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

Onihei Crime Files: Unibrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

Oh-Oku: The Women Of The Inner Palace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

Nogaremono Orin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

Onihei Crime Files Special: Bandits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

Samurai Justice: The Female Bodyguard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

Samurai Justice: A Duel at Takadanobara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

Onihei Crime Files Special: Okatsu from Yamabukiya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

Samurai Justice 2: Mother & Daughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

Samurai Justice: Assistance in a Duel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

Ooku Dai-isho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

There's Someone Watching (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

Zeno: Unlimited Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

Kenkaku Shōbai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

SMAP×SMAP (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

Onihei's Detective Records (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Hanayome wa 16-sai! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Magistrate Toyama: Conspiracy of a Beautiful Woman! Rampage in Kanhashu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

Bounty Hunter Muyonosuke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

Onihei Hankachō (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
The Blue Mountains '88 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

Detective Kyosuke Kozu's Murder Reasoning 8 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

Tree Without Leaves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
森村誠一サスペンス 異常の太陽 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
秘められた関係 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

Hanayome Ishou wa Dare ga Kiru (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

Ponytail Won't Look Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

A Star is Born (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

Life of St. Blue Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)
ミステリー「万引き夫人のとんでもない誤解」 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

Cold Current (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

There Was a War When I Was a Child (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

The Man of Five Rings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

The Wicked (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

Double Suicide of Sonezaki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

Fushoku no kōzō (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

Dazzling Cops (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

Flickering Flames (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

Yakuza Graveyard(1976)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
Lullaby of the Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

Between Women and Wives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

Takehisa Yumeji monogatari: koi suru (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

The Boss's Head(1975)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
Main Line to Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

The Homeless (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)
Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
Jeans Blues: No Future (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

Terauchi Kantarō Ikka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Lady Snowblood(1973)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
Yakuza of the Present (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

Sengoku Rock Hagure Kiba (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Hiroshima Death Match(1973)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
Wandering Ginza Butterfly: She-Cat Gambler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
Wandering Ginza Butterfly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

Ronin of the Wastelands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

Morning Fog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

Blood for Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

Onna no Iji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

The Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

Night Butterflies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

Secret Zone of Tokyo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

Stray Cat Rock: Beat '71(1971)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
Step on the Gas! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

Ōedo Sōsamō (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)
Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
Melody of Rebellion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

Blind Woman's Curse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

Stray Cat Rock: Delinquent Girl Boss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

Greatest Boss of Japan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

A Young Man's Stronghold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

Gambling Den Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)
A Gangster's Morals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

The Fearless Brotherhood Duet of Kanto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

The Cleanup (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

Vermillion Sword: Scabbard Code Sword Amidst the Swirling Cherry Blossoms (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

Gokudô Petenshi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

Gambler's Dilemma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

Chivalrous Pride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

The SAKURA Code (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

Tale of the Last Japanese Yakuza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

Mini-Skirt Lynchers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
Inu to Asachan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

Yabanjin no Nekutai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

Women of the Night - Woman of Seniority (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

Whirlwind Of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

Women's Police (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

Women of the Night - Butterfly Flower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

I Shall Not Forget (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

The Blazing Continent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

Lost Virgin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

若い川の流れ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

Retaliation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)
Dorobō Sodachi Dorobōi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

Monument to the Girl's Corps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

Confession of a girl: The Forbidden Fruit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

Outlaw: Gangster VIP 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

The Code of Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

My Sweetheart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

Aruhi watashi wa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

Burning Nature (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

A Warm Misty Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

The Man of Victory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

I'll Never Cry! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

The Stormy Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

No Greater Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

Kill or Be Killed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

Your Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

Goodbye Mr. Tears (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

Love and Desire in the Night Mist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

Till We Meet Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

I Love The Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

Blood Shed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

Youth A Go Go! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

Showdown in the Red Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

Adventure With Him (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

In Tears (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

The Rule for a Vagabond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

Seishun zenki: Aoi kajitsu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

Gambling is My Destiny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

Song of Farewell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)
Career shape
Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 154 titles from 1965 to 2025; peak year 2021.

Biggest box office
The Voice of Sin (2020)

Highest rated
Lady Snowblood (1973)

Most popular right now
Yu Yu Hakusho (2023)
Film career
Peak 2021 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 11 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.
- 1970Screen debut· Stray Cat Rock: Delinquent Girl Boss
- 1970First top-billed film· Blind Woman's Curse
- 1973Career best· Lady Snowblood
Billing
Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.
How do Meiko Kaji's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 81st percentile, the median of all 15; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 81st percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up10
- 50th to 74th4
- 25th to 49th4
Shape of the crowd
None of their 18 titles divides audiences: 12 are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved1
- Crowd Pleaser12
- Broadly Agreed4
- Mixed1
Reviewers score the acting 75/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 38. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Is Meiko Kaji's work okay for kids?
Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.
Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.
Who does Meiko Kaji work with?
People who share at least 2 of Meiko Kaji's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Toshiya Fujita shares the most, 4.
Directors
- Toshiya FujitaShared titles: Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance (1974), Lady Snowblood (1973), Stray Cat Rock: Beat '71 (1971), Stray Cat Rock: Wild Jumbo (1970)See all 4 shared titles with Toshiya Fujita

- Kinji FukasakuShared titles: Yakuza Graveyard (1976), The Boss's Head (1975), Hiroshima Death Match (1973)See all 3 shared titles with Kinji Fukasaku

- Shunya ItōShared titles: Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable (1973), Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972), Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972)See all 3 shared titles with Shunya Itō

- Yasuharu HasebeShared titles: Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song (1973), Stray Cat Rock: Machine Animal (1970)See all 2 shared titles with Yasuharu Hasebe

Writers
- Hirô MatsudaShared titles: Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song (1973), Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable (1973), Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972), Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972)See all 4 shared titles with Hirô Matsuda

- Tooru ShinoharaShared titles: Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song (1973), Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable (1973), Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972), Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972)See all 4 shared titles with Tooru Shinohara
- Kazuo KoikeShared titles: Kozure Ôkami: Meifumadô no shikakunin. Haha koishi Daigorô zesshô! (1989), Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance (1974), Lady Snowblood (1973)See all 3 shared titles with Kazuo Koike

- Fumio KônamiShared titles: Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song (1973), Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972), Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972)See all 3 shared titles with Fumio Kônami
Actors
- Hideo MurotaShared titles: Yakuza Graveyard (1976), Hiroshima Death Match (1973), Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972), Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972)See all 4 shared titles with Hideo Murota

- Akemi NegishiShared titles: Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song (1973), Lady Snowblood (1973), Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972)See all 3 shared titles with Akemi Negishi

- Takeo ChiiShared titles: Lady Snowblood (1973), Stray Cat Rock: Beat '71 (1971), Stray Cat Rock: Wild Jumbo (1970)See all 3 shared titles with Takeo Chii

- Yayoi WatanabeShared titles: Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song (1973), Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable (1973), Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972)See all 3 shared titles with Yayoi Watanabe

Composers and editors
- Toshiaki TsushimaShared titles: Yakuza Graveyard (1976), The Boss's Head (1975), Hiroshima Death Match (1973)See all 3 shared titles with Toshiaki Tsushima
- Osamu TanakaShared titles: Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable (1973), Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972), Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972)See all 3 shared titles with Osamu Tanaka
- Shunsuke KikuchiShared titles: Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable (1973), Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972), Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972)See all 3 shared titles with Shunsuke Kikuchi

- Mutsuo TanjiShared titles: Stray Cat Rock: Beat '71 (1971), Stray Cat Rock: Machine Animal (1970), Stray Cat Rock: Wild Jumbo (1970)See all 3 shared titles with Mutsuo Tanji
Producers
- Kineo YoshimineShared titles: Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable (1973), Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972), Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972)See all 3 shared titles with Kineo Yoshimine
- Kikumaru OkudaShared titles: Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance (1974), Lady Snowblood (1973)See all 2 shared titles with Kikumaru Okuda
- Robert J. WoodheadShared titles: Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance (1974), Lady Snowblood (1973)See all 2 shared titles with Robert J. Woodhead

- Hideo SasaiShared titles: Stray Cat Rock: Beat '71 (1971), Stray Cat Rock: Wild Jumbo (1970)See all 2 shared titles with Hideo Sasai


