Japanese actor-singer Miho Nakayama was found dead at her home in Tokyo’s Ebisu district. They were scheduled to hold a Christmas concert in Osaka on December 6, 2024, but they canceled the event citing health concerns. She was later found collapsed in her bathtub. Miho was 54 years old.

Nakayama’s death was confirmed in a statement from his agency on Friday, December 6.

“We are shocked by this sudden incident,” the statement said, adding that the cause of his death has not been confirmed.

The investigation is ongoing to determine the cause. Local media revealed that an acquaintance found Nakayama in his bathtub after leaving work. Paramedics were called to the scene and he was confirmed dead.

Nakayama, a beloved teen idol in Japan during the 1980s, also had a distinguished acting career, with her most notable role being in Love Letter (1995). The film, about a grieving widow’s correspondence with a stranger, was a major box office success and received widespread critical acclaim, earning Nakayama several Best Actress awards.

She has a son, who is under the guardianship of her former husband, composer Hitonari Tsuji.