Meiko Kaji
Meiko Kaji | |
|---|---|
| Native name | 梶 芽衣子 |
| Born | Masako Ohta[1][2] (1947-03-24) March 24, 1947 Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan |
| Occupation | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1965-present |
Meiko Kaji (梶 芽衣子, Kaji Meiko, born March 24, 1947) is a Japanese actress and singer. She has appeared in about 100 films,[3] with her most famous roles being outlaw characters in early 1970s films, such as the rebels of the Stray Cat Rock series, the assassin Lady Snowblood, and the murderous Sasori from the Female Convict 701: Scorpion series.
Contents
1 Life and career
2 Filmography
2.1 Films
2.2 Television
3 Discography
3.1 Singles
3.2 Albums
4 Awards and nominations
5 References
6 Further reading
7 External links
Life and career
Meiko Kaji was born in the Kanda area of Tokyo and graduated from the Yakumo Academy high school in Meguro, Tokyo. She began work in the film industry under her real name, Masako Ota, at Nikkatsu studio in 1965 after graduating from high school.[1] In 1969 she appeared in Nihon Zankyoden, one of a series of films directed by Masahiro Makino, who recognized her acting ability and gave her the stage name of Meiko Kaji.[2] From 1970 to 1971 she appeared in the Noraneko Rokku (Stray cat/Alleycat Rock) series of films about delinquent young people.
In 1971, Nikkatsu moved into the pink film business, and to avoid this, Kaji moved to Toei Company.[1] There she made the Female Convict 701: Scorpion series of films. In 1973 she took on the role of Yuki in the revenge-themed film Lady Snowblood, followed by a sequel, Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance. She went on to appear in several of Kinji Fukasaku's films, such as Yakuza Graveyard (1976). In 1978, she starred in Sonezaki Shinjū, for which she earned nominations for Best Actress at five different awards shows, winning four of them.[4]
Kaji has worked in television since the 1980s. In 1989 she portrayed Omasa, an informant, in the television jidaigeki Onihei Hankachō (the Shochiku–Fuji Television version starring kabuki actor Nakamura Kichiemon II).
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 these songs were both used in Kill Bill,[1] it led to a revival of interest in her music which encouraged her to resume her musical career.[5] In 2009 she released a single, Onna wa yametai. In 2011 Kaji put out 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)[6] with songs written by Ryudo Uzaki and Yoko Aki.
Kaji received acting offers from Hollywood but refused them all, saying she could not give a good performance in a language other than Japanese.[7]
Filmography
Films
Retaliation (1968) (credited as Masako Ota)[8]
Blind Woman's Curse (June 1970, d. Teruo Ishii)
Shinjuku outlaw: Step On the Gas (新宿アウトロー ぶっ飛ばせ, Shinjuku autorō - Buttobase) (Oct. 1970)- The Stray Cat Rock series (1970–71)
- Stray Cat Rock: Delinquent Girl Boss
- Stray Cat Rock: Wild Jumbo
- Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter
- Stray Cat Rock: Machine Animal
Alleycat Rock: Crazy Riders '71 (野良猫ロック 暴走集団’７１, Nora neko rokku: Bōsōshūdan '71) (Jan. 1971, d. Toshiya Fujita)
- The Sasori series (1972–73)
- Female Prisoner 701: Scorpion
- Female Convict Scorpion: Jailhouse 41
- Female Convict Scorpion: Beast Stable
- Female Prisoner Scorpion: 701's Grudge Song
- The Gincho series (1972)
- Wandering Ginza Butterfly
- Wandering Ginza Butterfly 2: She-Cat Gambler
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima (1973)
Lady Snowblood (1973)
Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance (1974)
The Homeless (1974)
New Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Boss's Head (1975)
Lullaby of the Earth (大地の子守唄, Daichi no komoriuta) (June 1976, d. Yasuzo Masumura)
Yakuza Graveyard (1976)
Double Suicide of Sonezaki (1978)
Tree Without Leaves (1986)
Television
Sasagawa Saho Matatabi Shirizu - Kuresakatouge e no chisou (1972) - Oshizu
Terauchi Kantarō Ikka (1974) TV series .... Shizue Terauchi
Sorekara no Musashi (1981) TV series ... Yuri-hime
Kaseifu wa mita! 2 (1984) (TV)
Sutaa tanjō (1985) TV series
Tantei Kamizu Kyōsuke no satsujin suiri 8: Izu Shimoda-kaigan ni akai satsui ga hashiru (1988) (TV) .... Shōko Hamano
Aoi sanmyaku '88 (1988) .... Umetaro
Onihei Hankachō (1989-2016)... Omasa
Kenkaku Shōbai (1998) TV series
Kaseifu ha mita! 21 (2003) (TV) .... Mayumi Hirao
Anata no tonari ni dare ka iru (2003) TV series .... Shimako Matsumoto
Nogaremono orin (2006) TV series
Hasshū mawari kuwayama jūbei (2007) TV series
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 (film) |
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 | |
Kyo 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[9]
Won: Best Actress for The Love Suicides at Sonezaki
References
^ abcd D., Chris (2005). "Meiko Kaji". Outlaw Masters of Japanese Film. London ; New York: I.B. Tauris. p. 59. ISBN 1-84511-086-2..mw-parser-output cite.citationfont-style:inherit.mw-parser-output qquotes:"""""""'""'".mw-parser-output code.cs1-codecolor:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registrationcolor:#555.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration spanborder-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-errordisplay:none;font-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-errorfont-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-formatfont-size:95%.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-leftpadding-left:0.2em.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-rightpadding-right:0.2em
^ ab Isoda, Tsutomu (31 August 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). p. 71. ISBN 978-4-401-75122-8.
^ "Profile at Ameba.Jp", 梶芽衣子プロフィール, ameba.jp, retrieved February 9, 2012
^ "Sonezaki Shinju (1978) Awards". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved December 19, 2008.
^ Shiina, Muneyuki (1 June 2011). "Kaji Meiko Interview at Rooftop magazine" (in Japanese). Retrieved 16 February 2012.
^ 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, 1 June 2011. Accessed 3 June 2011.
^ Shinsuke Kasai (interviewer), Meiko Kaji (interviewee) (2012). Nihon Eiga Retorosupekutibu. Nihon Eiga Senmon Channeru.
^ Credits (booklet). Arrow Films. 2015. p. 3. AV007.
^ 報知映画賞ヒストリー (in Japanese). Cinema Hochi. Archived from the original on 2009-01-31. Retrieved 2010-01-26.
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.
External links
Meiko Kaji on IMDb
Schubart, Rikke. "Meiko Kaji: "Woman walking at the brink of life and death"". medievidenskab. Archived from the original on 2007-07-02. Retrieved 2007-07-06. External link in|work=(help)
Yahoo Japan Profile (in Japanese)
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