Japanese actress Yuri Nakamura, who secretly fought with cancer for over a decade as she established herself in the film and television industries of Japan and South Korea, passed away at the age of 44.
According to her talent agency, Alpha Agency, Nakamura died from rectal cancer on Sept. 1, 2025.
“We express our deepest gratitude for the kindness shown to her during her lifetime,” her agency said in a statement that was translated into English.
The actress was diagnosed with cancer 13 years ago. However, Nakamura and the agency’s president decided to keep the diagnosis from the public. After a while, she entered remission after regular health checks and continued her work as an actor.
The disease recurred in January 2025. Nakamura underwent successful surgery; however, the cancer spread, and complete remission became difficult to achieve. The agency stated that she decided to focus on managing her condition and hopes to prolong her life. Her doctor advised her to keep working, and she followed his advice.
In July, she declared that she suffered an intestinal obstruction and thus decided not to participate in the forthcoming NHK drama titled “Dangerous,” where she was scheduled to star along with Riho Yoshioka, whose drama is due to air in January. Then in August, when she was preparing to return to work, she suffered another obstruction and was informed that she only had a few months to live. According to the agency, she remained serene and kept smiling at her family members and loved ones until her last days.
Nakamura’s funeral was conducted privately with her close family members, fellow actors, and agency staff. The service also thanked fans, colleagues, and staff for supporting the actor, whose 30s and 40s were largely marked by illness, despite the happiness she found during this period and the encounters she made.
Yuri Nakamura was born on March 15, 1982, in Neyagawa, Osaka Prefecture. She was a South Korean citizen of Zainichi Korean descent. Namely, Nakamura was part of the ethnic Korean community living in Japan for many generations. Her Korean name was Song Woori.
She debuted on the Japanese talent show “Asayan” in 1996 and began singing in 1998 with the pop duo Yurimari, which disbanded in 1999. After a three-year hiatus, she turned to acting in 2003.
Her breakthrough came when she played the lead in the family drama “Pacchigi! Love & Peace,” released in 2007, about a Zainichi Korean family living in Tokyo. Her performance won her the newcomer award at the Osaka Cinema Festival. Other movies she starred in include “Love Letter From Heaven,” “Like Father, Like Son,” “The 8 Year Engagement,” and “Fukushima 50.” She also appeared in TV shows such as “Tokyo Dogs” and “Good Doctor.”
In recent years, she gained international fame through Netflix. Nakamura appeared in the Japanese series “Beyond Goodbye” in 2024 and played psychologist Irene opposite Han Hyo Joo in “Romantics Anonymous,” whose first episode aired in October 2025. This drama gathered 103 million views on the streaming platform.
