Japanese-Korean actress Yuri Nakamura has passed away after battling rectal cancer.
Yuri’s agency, Alpha Agency, announced on Monday, September 14, 2026, that the Japan-born actress, whose real name was Yuri Song, died on September 1.
Her funeral was held privately, with only close family members, friends, fellow agency actors, and staff in attendance.
The statement read: "Yuri Nakamura has passed away due to rectal cancer.
"We wish to express our gratitude for the kindness shown to her during her lifetime and respectfully announce her passing.
"We would like to inform you that the funeral has already been held, attended only by close family members, our agency's actors, and staff."
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According to the Mayo Clinic, rectal cancer is a type of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the rectum.
The rectum is the last several inches of the large intestine. It begins at the end of the final segment of the colon and ends where it reaches the short, narrow passage known as the anus.
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YURI NAKAMURA’S LONG-TIME CANCER BATTLE
Alpha Agency also revealed that Yuri was diagnosed with cancer 13 years ago.
At the time, Yuri and the agency’s president discussed and agreed not to disclose her illness to avoid causing unnecessary worry among her fans.
The singer-actress subsequently achieved remission and continued her career.
However, cancer was detected again in January 2025. Although she underwent surgery, metastasis was later discovered.
Her agency said, "At that point, it was difficult to aim for a complete cure or remission, so the decision was made to continue treatment to manage the cancer while focusing on helping her live a longer, fulfilling life."
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In August, while Yuri was striving to recover and return to work, she developed another intestinal obstruction and was suddenly told that she had very little time left to live.
“She remained calm and never lost her beautiful, kind smile, and was able to cherish her final moments surrounded by her family and those close to her,” wrote Alpha Agency.
WHO IS YURI NAKAMURA?
Yuri was born in Osaka, Japan, in 1982, to a Korean mother from Seoul, South Korea, and a father who was a third-generation Korean resident of Japan.
She entered show business at 16, making her debut as a singer after passing an audition for the Japanese TV program ASAYAN.
She later formed the female duo YuriMari with Mari Izawa. The duo disbanded in 1999, after which Yuri pursued acting.
Her breakthrough role came in the 2007 film Pacchigi! Love & Peace, where she portrayed a Zainichi Korean character.
"Zainichi" means residing in Japan.
Her performance earned her a Zenkoku Eiren Award for Best Actress and the Newcomer Award at the 3rd Osaka Cinema Festival.
She subsequently appeared in numerous films and television dramas, including Love Letter from Heaven (2007), Like Father, Like Son (2013), After the Storm (2016), and The 8-Year Engagement (2017).
She recently starred in the Japanese Netflix series Romantics Anonymous (2025), which also featured Japanese stars Shun Oguri and Jin Akanishi, as well as South Korean actress Han Hyo Joo.