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Japanese actor Miho Nakayama was found dead in a bathtub at his Tokyo home on Friday. She was 54.
Ms Nakayama achieved success as a singer in the 1980s and 1990s – the height of J-pop’s influence – but was best known for her role in the 1995 film Love Letter.
An acquaintance discovered Ms Nakayama on Friday after she failed to show up for work. They called medics, who confirmed her death at the scene, local media reported.
The cause of her death is under investigation.
Nakayama was originally scheduled to perform a Christmas show in Osaka on Friday, but she canceled her performance, citing ill health.
A statement on her website, published by her agency, confirmed her death on Friday.
“We are stunned by the suddenness of this event,” the statement said, adding that the cause of her death has not been confirmed.
Ms. Nakayama, who was one of Japan’s most popular teen idols in the 1980s, also enjoyed a distinguished career as an actress – most notably as the lead in Love Letter, a 1995 film about a grieving widow’s letters to a stranger.
The film became a huge hit at the box office and received critical acclaim both domestically and internationally. Ms. Nakayama’s performance earned her several Best Actress awards.
Ms. Nakayama leaves behind a son who is in the custody of her ex-husband, the musician Hitonari Tsuji.
