Miho Nakayama, 1970 – 2024

Japanese pop singer and actress Miho Nakayama, 54, died at her home on Dec. 6, after a period of poor health. She cut her first record in 1985, and became a teen pop idol, recording 22 albums and eight No. 1 singles. Nakayama continued writing and recording songs, as well as touring, up till her death. As an actress, she had her first big hit with 1985’s Be-Bop High School, and went on to appear in more than 50 TV shows and movies, with leading roles in several series and TV-movies. Her sister, Shinobu Nakayama, is also a singer.