Widely popular in Japan, she gained worldwide recognition for her portrayal of Tripitaka in the TV series Monkey, which is now considered a cult classic.

Raised in Naka-ku, Yokohama, while in junior college in 1976 she auditioned for the lead role in Nihon TV's drama Ai ga miemasu ka ("Can you see love?").

Chosen from 4,000 applicants, she dropped out of school to pursue an acting career, playing the part under her real name Masako Odate.

In 1977, she was chosen to represent Kanebo Cosmetics [jp], achieving great popularity after appearing topless as the "Kooky Face" girl in an ad for sunscreen.

However, this changed in 1982 after appearing as an ambitious and immoral woman in the TV drama Shousha and as the daughter of a yakuza leader in the movie Onimasa.

Masako's sister-in-law, Yoshiko Odate, an actress and former member of the popular 1970s pop group Candies died on April 21, 2011, of breast cancer.