Miho Nakayama (54 years old), eternal super idol, “shining for 40 years,” “I just wanted to cry” all over Japan

The untimely death of a superstar

The sudden parting made me just want to cry.

On the evening of December 6, the whole archipelago was shaken by the news of the death of Miho Nakayama, an actor and singer. Actor and singer Miho Nakayama passed away at her home in Tokyo. She was 54 years old, and her 40th anniversary was coming up next year.

Ms. Nakayama was found in the bathtub of her apartment, face submerged in water. Her office announced that the cause of death was an accident in the bathtub.

A woman in her 70s who lived near Nakayama’s home told FRIDAY, “I think it was after 12 noon.

I think it was after 12 noon when a fire truck and an ambulance came with sirens blaring, and about five minutes later someone was carried out on a stretcher. I didn’t know Miho Nakayama lived there.

Another woman living nearby had seen Nakayama before her death.

There is a Life and a Meidi-ya in the neighborhood, and Ms. Nakayama was shopping at the more commonplace Life. She was wearing a cap, but she didn’t seem to be in disguise. I was impressed that she was standing in line at the cash register looking the same beautiful figure we see on TV.

Her sister, Shinobu Nakayama (51), who rushed to her sister’s side, bowed her head to the press, including a FRIDAY reporter, with tears streaming down her face.

She said, “It happened so suddenly that there is nothing I can tell you now. …… I’m sure I will be able to speak to you again. I am sorry it is so late. ……”

She will serve as a pallbearer. The superstar’s untimely death was reported around the world – and the world.

Thoughts of the “Nurturing Parents

Mr. Nakayama made his acting debut in 1985 with “Every time I’m sorry” (TBS). In the same year, he made his debut as a singer with “C” and won the Best New Artist Award at that year’s “Japan Record Award”. He continued to show his talent as an artist, recording million-seller hits with both “Surely More Than Anyone in the World” in 1992 and “Just Want to Cry” in 1994. On the day of his death, he was scheduled to hold a Christmas concert in Osaka. A source at the record company revealed, “Next year will be the 40th anniversary of her debut.

Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of her debut, and she had a number of large-scale concerts and photo shoots lined up for this milestone year. Ms. Nakayama was full of motivation and actively participated in meetings. We had never heard that he was in poor health, so we were all stunned by the news of his death. ……

One such person was Akira Fukuzumi, 75, formerly of King Records, who discovered Mr. Nakayama’s talent and served as his first music director.

I heard about his death on the TV news. I couldn’t believe my ears. I immediately called my colleagues at King Records and said, ‘Oh my God,’ and was at a loss.
I met her for the first time through an acquaintance before her debut. She didn’t talk much, but she had a beautiful mouth when she sang and a wonderful voice. I remember I desperately tried to convince my boss that she was very talented and that we should definitely give her a debut. The last time I saw her was in April of this year. I went to see their concert in Mihara City, Hiroshima Prefecture. She was full of energy, just as she was when she ran through the golden age of idols in the ’80s. When I went to greet her backstage after the show, she told me with a twinkle in her eye that she still has “many things she wants to do,” such as appearing in dramas and announcing new songs. Recently, every time I see him, he asks me, “Are you feeling okay? and he calls out to me. ……
I would have been happy if there had been a scene where I passed away and Nakayama shed tears at my funeral. …… The order is reversed.”

Yoshiro Takenaka, 69, former managing director of King Records, who was in charge of publicity from the time of her debut, reveals that she was a different type of idol from the average idol.

He said, “Ordinary idols are full of energy from the moment they greet you, but Miho seemed quiet and reserved. When she made her CD debut, she must have been quite busy with the filming of the movie “Be Bop High School” and a series of TV dramas, but Miho never showed any signs of weakness. I think she was very determined to work in the entertainment industry.

Noboru Uesugi, 52, the first vocalist of “WANDS,” with whom Miho collaborated on the mega-hit “Surely More Than Anyone in the World,” which established her as a top artist, looked back on her career and said, “The word ‘star’ suited her.

Mr. Nakayama was a very popular star since I was a student. I felt like I was working with someone I admired. I had the opportunity to sing with her in various places, and she was always the same Miho Nakayama that you think of. I could sense that from her backside.
At the time, I had stage fright and was not sure if I would be able to answer the interviewer’s questions well. So I once asked her to help me. Then, Miho answered all the questions for me. She was very reliable.
When I came across the news of her death, I could not catch up with understanding for a while. I was stunned for a while, wondering what was going on. It was as if I was gradually coming to understand that Miho had passed away. She had been at the forefront as an expressive artist since her teens. I hope she can take a good rest now. Above all, I want to say, ‘Thank you for singing with me. ……

For 40 years since her debut, the eternal super idol has shone with dazzling light. The whole of Japan is still unable to accept her death.

From the December 27, 2024 issue of FRIDAY