Miho Nakayama, the Japanese actress best known for her role in the 1995 film ‘Love Letter’, was found dead at her home in Tokyo’s Ebisu district.
The actress had been scheduled to perform a Christmas concert in Osaka on December 6, 2024, but canceled the show due to health issues. She was later found collapsed in her bathtub at home.
The first report of Nakayama’s death came from NHK, Japan’s national broadcaster. An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of death. Local media reported that an acquaintance found Nakayama in her bathtub after she failed to show up for work. Paramedics were called and confirmed her death at the scene.
Miho Nakayama was one of Japan’s biggest pop stars, rising to fame in the 1980s. Her collaboration with the band Wands on the 1992 single “Sekaijū no Dare Yori Kitto” marked one of her earliest No. 1 hits on the Oricon chart, solidifying her status in the music industry.
‘Love Letter’, a film centered on a grieving widow’s correspondence with a stranger, became a massive box office success and received critical acclaim both in Japan and internationally. Nakayama’s performance in the film earned her multiple best actress awards, highlighting her talent and the emotional depth she brought to the role.
Nakayama’s son is in the custody of her ex-husband, musician Hitonari Tsuji. The couple divorced in 2014, and Tsuji has since retained custody of their child.
