Japanese Star Miho Nakayama Dies at 54, Shocking Fans and Industry

The Japanese entertainment industry and fans around the world are mourning the death of a popular theatre actress and singer, Miho Nakayama, aged 54. An acquaintance found her lying unconscious in her Tokyo house on Friday when she didn’t turn up for a show. That confirmed her death at the scene although the cause of death is still unknown. Nakayama was a popular singer and actress of the 1980s and 1990s and had already achieved her biggest success starring in the 1995 film ‘Love Letter.’

Nakayama became a star in the early 1980s when she was among the prominent teen idols in Japan. Her successful breakthrough was the several music hits during the period now referred to as the golden age of J-pop, and she was soon to realize herself as being one of the few all-around entertainment artists capable of navigating the transition between music and acting. The best film she acted in was “Love Letter” Not only was the film a huge box office hit, but it also brought her several Best Actress awards making her one of the most famous personalities in the Japanese entertainment world.

The artist had recently called off a Christmas show in Osaka due to some health issues, and thus news of her death left fans even more intrigued. Her agency issued a statement stating their surprise and confirming the same but they have not given the cause of the death. Nakayama is also a single mother with a son who is in the care of her former husband, musician Hitonari Tsuji, to close one of the most impressive careers of Japanese performers.