Kaji Meiko is a Japanese actress and Enka (Japanese popular music genre) singer, born on March 24, 1947 in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan.
After appearing in several juvenile girl gang and women in prison films, Kaji gained fame in her role as Yuki in Lady Snowblood.
The film was based on the manga by writer Kazuo Koike and artist Kazuo Kamimura.
Kazuo Koike also created the Crying Freeman and Lone Wolf and Cub mangas.
Lady Snowblood was one of the inspirations for Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill films.
The theme song to Lady Snowblood and the theme song of the Sasori series( Female Convict 701: Scorpion, another women in prison film) were both sung by Kaji, and were used in Tarantino's Kill Bill, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2.
Kaji also appeared in the sequel to Lady Snowblood, Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance.