Authorities are probing the passing of Japanese actress and vocalist Miho Nakayama after she was discovered unresponsive in her bathtub at her residence in Tokyo.
The 54-year-old, often regarded as Japan’s most gorgeous woman during her prime in the 1980s and 1990s, shared a concerning post on Instagram mere hours prior to her passing.
The post features a work by French artist Louise Bourgeois—a piece of fabric adorned with the phrase, “I have journeyed through hell and emerged. And let me tell you, it was magnificent.”
In the caption of her final post, the actress mentioned, “I experienced such profound sadness for a few days that I could only communicate with the friend I accompanied.”
Shortly after the post went live, Miho was discovered sitting upright and leaning forward in the bath, with the Metropolitan Police Department indicating that there is a chance she may have drowned, according to local news outlets.
Authorities have also speculated that her passing might have been accidental or due to a health condition, according to various reports.
Ms. Nakayama, affectionately referred to as “Miporin” by her admirers, is renowned for her role in the acclaimed 1995 film Love Letter, which received international recognition and earned her multiple best actress accolades.
She captivated audiences as the lead in numerous beloved TV dramas and as a J-pop singer.
Devoted fans continued to attend her performances, and she was scheduled to appear today, Dec. 6, at a Christmas gathering in Osaka. The event was canceled before the news of her passing was announced, with declining health cited as the reason.
When she missed work, a colleague from her team visited Miho Nakayama’s residence and found her unresponsive. They summoned emergency services who confirmed her passing at the scene, according to local news reports.
A statement released by her agency on her website verified her passing this morning.
“We are shocked by the unexpected nature of this occurrence,” it stated, adding that her cause of death remains unconfirmed.
Fans who were eagerly anticipating her concert were deeply affected when news of her passing broke.
Ms. Nakayama is survived by a son, whom she shares with her musician ex-husband Hitonari Tsuji, who has custody of him.