Japanese Actress Miho Nakayama Passes Away Suddenly

Miho Nakayama, a beloved Japanese actress known for her role in the film 'Love Letter' (러브레터), has tragically passed away at the age of 54. Reports confirm that she was in communication with her agency staff until the morning of her death. According to Japanese media, Nakayama exchanged messages with her team until 7 AM on the day she died. When she failed to arrive at a scheduled meeting, staff members went to her home, where they discovered her unresponsive in the bathtub and subsequently called the police. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed.

On the night before her passing, Nakayama engaged with fans on her personal social media, sharing photos from a recent exhibition visit. She expressed her feelings, stating, "I’m sorry the photos aren’t great. I could only talk with my friend, and it left me feeling emotional for days. I struggle with photography, and even when I do well, I can’t capture the essence."

This post has become her last communication, prompting an outpouring of condolences from fans online. One fan remarked, "We lived in the same era, and that’s my happiness. You are a part of me, forever in my heart," while another referred to her as "my eternal idol."

On the day of her death, Nakayama was scheduled to perform at a Christmas concert in Osaka. Prior to the announcement of her passing, her agency had already informed the public that the concert was canceled due to health reasons.

Miho Nakayama was not only an actress but also a singer, gaining fame through her work in films directed by Shunji Iwai, including 'Love Letter' (러브레터). She appeared in various other films such as 'Tokyo Sora' (도쿄 맑음), 'Sayonara Itsuka' (사요나라 이츠카), 'Nabijam' (나비잠), and 'Last Letter' (라스트 레터), as well as the drama 'Sleeping Forest' (잠자는 숲). Throughout her music career, she sold over 17 million records, including singles and albums.

In 2002, she married novelist Hitonari Tsuji, known for works like 'Between Coolness and Passion' (냉정과 열정 사이) and 'Things That Come After Love' (사랑 후에 오는 것들), but the couple divorced in 2014 after 12 years of marriage.