Meiko Kaji

Meiko Kaji, born Masako Ōta on March 24, 1947, in Tokyo, embarked on her film career in 1965 with Nikkatsu studio, quickly making her mark with a supporting role in "Retaliation" (1968) and "Nihon Zankyoden" (1969). Her career took a significant turn with starring roles in the "Stray Cat Rock" series (1970-1971), portraying rebellious youths. To avoid being typecast in erotic films as Nikkatsu shifted its focus, Kaji moved to Toei Company, leading to iconic roles in the "Female Convict 701: Scorpion" series (1971) and "Wandering Ginza Butterfly" (1972).

Kaji's most acclaimed role came in 1973 as Yuki in "Lady Snowblood", a film that earned international fame and influenced Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" series. She continued her success with a sequel in 1974, and further notable performances in "Yakuza Graveyard" (1976) and "Sonezaki Shinjū" (1978), the latter earning her multiple Best Actress awards. Despite withdrawing from major roles in the late 1970s due to overwork, Kaji made occasional film and TV appearances into the 2010s, including "Under the Open Sky" (2020) and "Modern Love Tokyo" (2022).

Parallel to her acting, Kaji enjoyed a successful singing career, famously performing songs for her films, which saw a resurgence after being featured in "Kill Bill" (2003). In 2009, she released a single, and in 2011, a new album after 31 years. Embracing modern platforms, Kaji launched a YouTube channel in 2020, sharing her work globally. Despite international offers, she chose to focus on roles in her native language, cementing her status as a cultural icon in Japan.