Beloved actress and singer Miho Nakayama’s cause of death at 54 revealed

The beloved actress and singer was found dead at her home hours before she was expected to perform at a Christmas concert.

An award-winning Japanese actress and J-pop singer’s cause of death has been revealed one week on from her tragic passing.

Miho Nakayama – once dubbed Japan’s most beautiful woman – was discovered in the bathtub of her Tokyo home on December 6, just hours before she was set to perform in Osaka for a Christmas concert.

A statement on her official website said that star died “due to an unexpected accident”.

“The autopsy confirmed that there was no foul play involved. The cause of death was determined to be an unintentional accident that occurred while bathing,” it read.

“We are all deeply saddened by this sudden event and would like to express our sincere gratitude for the kind support and concern we have received.”

Miho Nakayama was found inside the bathtub at her home in Tokyo on December 6. Picture: Junko Kimura/Getty Images

According to local outlets, Nakayama had failed to turn up for work on December 6, and a concerned member of her entourage went to check up on her at her home. That’s when the staffer found her unresponsive.

Paramedics were called but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Nakayama was 54.

The star was set to take to the stage at the Miho Nakayama Christmas Concert in Billboard Live just hours before she was discovered dead.

Nakayama, seen here with Korean actor Kim Jae-wook, was dubbed Japan’s most beautiful woman. Picture: Woohae Cho/Getty Images

A statement published on her website by her agency confirmed her tragic death.

“We are stunned by the sudden occurrence of this event,” it read.

Nakayama was one of Japan’s most popular teen stars in the 80s and 90s and went on to enjoy a successful acting career. In 1995, she starred in the box office hit Love Letter.

In the film about a grieving widow’s letters with a stranger, he played the lead role. It was a massive success and garned critical acclaim, as well as earning her numerous awards.

The 1995 film Love Letter won Nakayama numerous awards.

One day before the death, Nakayama shared a chilling final social media post.

In her upload, Miho shared a photograph from a modern art exhibition in Tokyo she said she had attended in recent days.

It showed a work by French artist Louise Bourgeois that was a piece of material eerily embroidered with the words: “I have been to hell and back. And let me tell you, it was wonderful.”

Nakayama mentioned her mental health in the caption of the post.

“I was so depressed for a few days that I could only talk to the friend I went with,” she wrote.

The actress leaves behind a son, whom she shares with her musician ex-husband.