Recently in Kaji Meiko Category

Female Prisoner 701 Scorpion
[Joshuu 701-go: Sasori ]

女囚７０１号　さそり

Genre: Babes (and Breasts) Behind Bars

review in one breath

Imprisoned for trying to kill a crooked cop, Matsushima Nami becomes prisoner 701 in a ruthless and sadistic prison where oodles of breast-baring and backstabbing abound. Though surviving the many plots on her life by fellow female inmates requires her constant vigilence, her sight is set on escaping in order to exact her consuming revenge.

By popular demand...

More Kaji Meiko lyrics!

After reviewing the very cool Kaji Meiko CD, which, by the way, is both highly addictive and soothing in that sexy kimono-clad, sword-wielding, gonna-cut-your-heart-out-and-leave-you-bleeding sort of way, I have received many requests to translate her lyrics.

Here, I have translated Kaji's Shura no Hana (Flower of Carnage). This song, like Urami Bashi, can be heard in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill.

By popular demand...

After reviewing the very cool Kaji Meiko CD, which, by the way, is both highly addictive and soothing in that sexy kimono-clad, sword-wielding, gonna-cut-your-heart-out-and-leave-you-bleeding sort of way, I have been inundated with requests to translate her lyrics.

So here I have translated perhaps the most (recently) famous of Kaji's tunes, Urami Bushi, the so-called "Grudge Song". (More lyric translations are soon forthcoming.)

The lesson I have learned from this exercise is the following: Gentlemen, if you EVER hear your significant other singing or even humming this tune, I seriously recommend to IMMEDIATELY EVACUATE the premises. You can thank me later.

Kaji Meiko's Audio CD
[Zenkyokushu]

梶芽衣子　全曲集

GODDESS ALERT!!!

As has been mentioned here and elsewhere, exemplar tough-girl actress Kaji Meiko (梶芽衣子) also had a budding singing career during the 1970s. Her voice graces several themes songs from well-known films of that era. And more recently, Quentin Tarantino used Kaji's original songs in his noir-samurai-tough-girl flick Kill Bill volumes 1 & 2.

Kaji produced a single audio CD, a "complete works" collection entitled Kaji Meiko Zenkyokushu [梶芽衣子　全曲集]) (and yes, zenkyokushu in fact means "complete collection of songs"!). The CD contains a total of twenty songs all of which Kaji sings, including the theme songs of the Scorpion and Lady Snowblood films (which Tarantino also used), films, I should add, in which Kaji plays the leading role.

Below I've added the titles of each of the songs as well as some scans of the sexy little booklet which accompanies the CD.

Female Convict Scorpion Grudge Song
[Joshuu sasori: 701-gô urami-bushi]

女囚さそり　７０１号怨み節

Genre: Tough Girl Meets Guy, Kicks MAJOR Buttock-age

review in one breath

On the run from the cops, Matsushima Nami, aka Scorpion, hides out in a strip joint while the search for her cools off (and the LESBO ACTION heats up!). Faced with yet more abuse and injustice, Sasori once again pulls out the steely knives and metes out her own brand of final justice. This is the fourth and final Scorpion film starring Kaji Meiko.

Female Convict Scorpion Beast Stable
[Joshuu sasori: Kemono-beya]

女囚さそり　けもの部屋

Genre: Doom, Gloom and Very Sharp Knives

review in one breath

Still wanted for murder, Matsushima Nami aka Scorpion hides herself in the seedy back-alleys and underground sewer tunnels of Tokyo. Through happenstance she is befriended by Yuki, whose pitiful existence soon has major repercussions for Nami, all of which involve ferocity, revenge and sharp pointy knives. This is the third and final of director Ito's original series, though many Sasori films by others will follow.

Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance
[Shurayukihime : Urami Renga]

修羅雪姫　怨み恋歌

Genre: Sword Mistress Revenge Tale

review in one breath

Kashima Yuki inevitably finds herself in prison following the vengeful murder spree making up this film's prequel. But at the very steps of the gallow, she is given an opportunity to take up her sword once again, this time to strike down an enemy of the government. However, the closer she comes to her target, the heavier her sword and task become. This is a decent follow-up to the exemplary prequel by the same director.

Female Convict Scorpion Jailhouse 41
[Joshuu sasori: Dai-41 zakkyo-bo]

女囚さそり　第４１雑居房

Genre: Visually Stylistic Escape and Revenge

review in one breath

Matsushima Nami aka Scorpion will use whatever opportunity is given her to exact revenge upon the sadistic prison warden Goda. But such opportunities come rarely and she soon finds herself fleeing the prison with a handful of women. Their trek is dangerous and brutal, and near its end is waiting the warden's police force eager to put these women in their place. This is a highly stylized story drawn in almost manga-like strokes. Matsu is definitely a COOL heroine.

Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter
[Nora-neko rokku: Sekkusu hanta]

野良猫ロック　セックスハンター

Genre: Nearly Hip Youth Sub-Culture Confusion

review in one breath

Mako and her female gang of Alleycats are still battling the wannabe bad-guys known as the Eagles, this time over the latter's desire to purge their town of "half-breed" war children. When the Eagles take things one step too far, they're faced with the molotv cocktail wielding wrath of Mako and the well-armed Kazuma, the dark-skinned hunk searching for his long lost sister Megumi.

Lady Snowblood
[Shurayukihime]

修羅雪姫

Genre: Excellent Sword Mistress Revenge Tale

review in one breath

This well drawn tale of revenge follows the quest of Kashima Yuki as she tracks down and annihilates those responsible for the destruction of her family. Through years of training and single-minded intent, she has become a ferocious fountain of vengeance merely waiting to be unleashed upon those whose crimes against her parents and sibling have gone unpunished.