Japanese singer-actress Miho Nakayama, known for romance film Love Letter, dies at 54
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
An acquaintance found Miho Nakayama collapsed in the bathroom of her home around noon on Dec 6.
PHOTO: _MIHO_NAKAYAMA_/INSTAGRAM
Follow topic:
TOKYO – Japanese singer-actress Miho Nakayama was found dead at her residence in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, on Dec 6. She was 54.
According to the police, an acquaintance found her collapsed in the bathroom of her home around noon and called for emergency services.
Paramedics confirmed her death at the scene. The cause of death is still under investigation.
Nakayama was slated to hold a Christmas concert in Osaka on the evening of her death. But earlier in the day, her official website announced the cancellation of the concert as the star was feeling unwell.
The site later confirmed the news of her death in another post by her management agency Big Apple, which said it was shocked and saddened by the sudden tragedy.
Nakayama, a Tokyo native, made her debut as an actress in January 1985 and as a singer in June that year with her single C.
A huge star in her youth, she appeared in many TV dramas and films, including Japanese director Shunji Iwai’s romance film Love Letter (1995) and the series Love 2000 (2000) opposite Taiwan-born Japanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro.
She also released hit songs, including Sekaijyu No Dare Yori Kitto (1992), which translates to Surely More Than Anyone In The World. It became a Cantopop hit for Andy Hui and Sammi Cheng.
Miho Nakayama in a scene from the film Love Letter (1995).
PHOTO: CATHAY ORGANISATION
The 2000 J-drama Love 2000 starred Miho Nakayama and Takeshi Kaneshiro.
PHOTO: FUJI TV
She married Japanese writer-composer Hitonari Tsuji, 65, in 2002 and they share a 20-year-old son. The family resided in Paris until the couple’s divorce in 2014, after which Nakayama returned to Japan.
On Dec 5, she shared what would be her final post on Instagram about her visit to an exhibition featuring French-American artist Louise Bourgeois’ works at Mori Art Museum in Roppongi, Tokyo.
News of Nakayama’s death shocked the Japanese entertainment industry, as celebrities such as actor Naoto Takenaka, singer Show Wesugi and screenwriter Eriko Kitagawa paid tribute to her.
Director Iwai, 61, wrote in English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean on social media platform X: “We had promised to make a pilgrimage to snow-covered Otaru together in 2025 – for your 40th debut anniversary and the 30th anniversary of Love Letter. And then this news of your sudden passing.
“With so many emotions swirling inside – frustration, deep regret... I am yet unable to give formal words of remembrance... Tonight, though only in spirit, I wish to be by your side.”
Japanese actress Tao Tsuchiya, who played Nakayama’s daughter in the TV drama W’s Tragedy (2019), wrote on Instagram: “We worked together on a production with a sad theme, but the waiting time was filled with smiles and I have only warm memories of her. She was always concerned about me and would ask after me even after the show.”
Sharing a photo of the sky, the 29-year-old added: “She is such a beautiful person. I feel like she’s still singing somewhere in the beautiful sky.” THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
