Meiko Kaji was born March 24th, 1947 in Tokyo, Japan. She was uncontested queen of the cinema of Japanese exploitation of the Seventies with classic films like Lady Snowblood and Female Scorpion series. Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill has helped expose a new generation of fans onto Meiko Kaji and her films most notably the film Lady Snowblood.
Her film career began in 1965 while working for the Nikkatsu corporation one Japan's oldest and most prestige's studio's. In 1967 she co-starred with Sonny Chiba in Ginsho Nagaremono: Mesuneko Bakushi. She first gained attention for series of ALLEYCAT ROCK'N'ROLL films and she would star in a total of 5 Allycat films. 1971 would see Meiko star in Blind Woman's Curse of Teruo Ishii and when Nikkatsu restructures and concentrates its activity around the production of erotic films with small budgets Meiko KAJI would leave Nikkatsu for Toei.
Her first film with Toei Female Convict Scorpion # 701 would spawn another successful series of films and Meiko would stay on for the next three sequals. After making Female Prisoner Scorpion: Grudge Song Meiko's next film would be the one that she is most known for Lady Snowblood. She would finish the 1970's strong with Lady Snowblood Love Song of Vengeance and Fukasaku's Yakuza Graveyard. Meiko Kaji has worked off and on the last 25 years, but she will always be remembered for the films she made in the 1970's when she was the queen of Japanese exploitation.
Hana yo Kirei to, Odaterare,
Saite Mitanara, Sugu Chirasareru.
Baka-na, Baka-na,
Baka-na On'na no... Urami-bushi.
Sadame Kanashi to, Ariramete,
Naki-wo Misereba, Mata Nakasareru.
On'na, On'na,
On'na Namida no... Urami-bushi.
Nikui, Kuyashii, Yurusenai.
Kesu ni Kesenai, Wasure-rarenai.
Tsukinu, Tsukinu,
Tsukinu On'na no... Urami-bushi.
Yume yo Miren to, Warawarete,
Samete-misemasu, Mada Same-kirenu.
On'na, on'na,
On'na-gokoro no... Urami-bushi.
Makka-na Bara nya, Toge ga Aru.
Sashitaka-naiga Sasazu'nya-okanu.
Mo'eru, Mo'eru,
Mo'eru On'na-no... Urami-bushi.
Shinde Hanami ga, Sakuja Nashi,
Urami Hito-suji, Ikite-yuku.
On'na, On'na,
On'na Inochi no... Urami-bushi.