Japanese actress Yuri Nakamura dies at 44
SingTao · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
Japanese actress Yuri Nakamura died of rectal cancer on September 1 at the age of 44, according to a statement issued by her agency Alpha Agency on September 14. The agency said her funeral had already been held in private with family, fellow actors and staff, and revealed for the first time that she had been fighting cancer for about 13 years before a recurrence in January last year.
Key Points
- Alpha Agency said Nakamura died on September 1, and asked the public not to disturb her bereaved family or film around her home.
- The agency said she was first diagnosed about 13 years ago, kept the illness private, later returned to work, and continued regular check-ups.
- Her cancer recurred in January last year; surgery was successful, but doctors later confirmed the cancer had spread and could not be fully cured.
- In July this year, she withdrew from the NHK drama “Dangerous” after an intestinal obstruction, before her condition worsened sharply in August.
- Born in Osaka on March 15, 1982, Nakamura debuted through the audition show “ASAYAN”, later joined duo YURIMARI, and won acting awards in 2007.
Why It Matters
Nakamura’s death has drawn tributes across the Japanese and wider Asian entertainment industry, while the disclosure of her long private illness has also renewed attention on colorectal cancer awareness for Hong Kong readers. One of the cited reports paired the obituary with local medical guidance that early screening can improve outcomes and that colorectal cancer remains a major cause of cancer deaths in Hong Kong.