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Miho Nakayama, best known for her role in the internationally acclaimed Japanese filmLove Letter, has died at the age of 54. The actress and J-pop singer was found dead in a bathtub at her home in Tokyo on December 6. Nakayama had called off a show in Osaka citing health reasons before her untimely passing.
While investigations are ongoing about the cause of death, different media reports suggest that it might have been an accidental drowning or caused by an illness. Meanwhile, in her last Instagram post, the actress shared that she had been depressed for a few days.
Miho Nakayama’s Last Instagram Post Suggested That She Was Depressed
Miho Nakayamawas one of the popular actresses in the Japanese industry in the ’80s and ’90s and won several hearts with her beauty. Known as Miporin among her fans, the actress also ventured into music, releasing eight number-one singles in Japan over the years. Her discography includedCatch MeandYou’re My Only Shining Star.
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Nakayama performed shows for her fans and was supposed to appear in Osaka for a Christmas event when fans learned of her death. She was found unresponsive at her home by one of her team members. Paramedics confirmed her death at the scene. Her team released a statement on her website, which read (via The Independent):
We are deeply sorry to have to suddenly announce this to all the people involved who have always looked after her and to all the fans who have supported her, but this incident was so sudden that we, too, are shocked and saddened. We are currently investigating the cause of death and other details.
A day before her death, Nakayama posted a picture of a work by French artist Louise Bourgeois on her Instagram. She found the piece at a modern art exhibition in Tokyo and the inscription read:“I have been to hell and back. And let me tell you, it was wonderful.”
A post shared by MIHO NAKAYAMA (@miho_nakayama)
In the captions, Nakayama wrote that she had been depressed for the past few days. She wrote,“I was so depressed for a few days that I could only talk to the friend I went with”(translated by Daily Mail). Nakayama was a mother to a son, who she shared with her ex-husband, Hitonari Tsuji, who is a musician.
Police Reports Reveal Miho Nakayama’s Possible Cause of Death
Daily Mail reported that Miho Nakayama was found dead in her bathtub. According to the police, she was sitting upright and leaning forward in the bath. The local media reports suggested that the actress may have drowned, with other reports mentioning that it could have been an accident or as a result of an illness.
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Before her international fame with her role inLove Letter, Nakayama shot to fame in Japan with the 1985 series,Maido Osawagase Shimasu. She also appeared in projects likeA Sleeping Forest. She has appeared in 14 films, 24 TV films, and 34 TV series between 1985 and 2022.
For her role in the biographical filmTokyo Biyoriin 1998, she was nominated for Best Actress at the Japanese Academy Awards. In 2023, she launched her first nationwide tour in 24 years.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3017
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
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Miho Nakayama
