Reiko Ike was still in her late teens when she was "discovered" by Japan's Toei Studios (stories of her "discovery" are inconsistent, ranging from being scouted in a nightclub to being spotted as a model). Along with Miki Sugimoto she was Toei's top sex star throughout the 1970s, and the focus of the "sukeban" or female girl boss phenomenon of 1970s Japanese cinema. Beginning with "Girl Boss Guerilla" (Sukeban gerira (1972)), Ike made 12 films, almost all in the Pinky Violence/Yakuza Girl genre. Despite real-life trouble with the law--she was arrested once for drugs and once for illegal gambling--she worked throughout the decade, appearing in at least two of Kinji Fukasaku's "Battles Without Honor & Humanity" (Jingi naki tatakai (1973) series (1973-79). Her last film before disappearing from the public eye was "The Golden Dog" (Ôgon no inu (1979)).

The bulk of her work was for Toei in 1973, when she appeared in the films "Sex & Fury" (Furyô anego den: Inoshika Ochô (1973)), "Girl Boss" (Sukeban (1973)), "Terrifying Girls' High School: Lynch Law Classroom" Kyôfu joshikôkô: Bôkô rinchi kyôshitsu (1973)), "Criminal Woman: Killing Melody" (Zenka onna: Koroshi-bushi (1973)) and "Sex & Fury"'s sequel "Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture" (Yasagure anego den: Sôkatsu rinchi (1973)). This rush of films established her as a major sex icon in Japan and created a tabloid rivalry with fellow Toei contact player Miki Sugimoto, who was her co-star in several films.

The recent reissues of "Sex & Fury" and "Female Yakuza Tale"--along with the release of a Pinky Violence box set consisting of "Terrifying Girls School", "Criminal Woman" and "Girl Boss Guerilla"--has rekindled her cult following.