Actress Yuri Nakamura dies at 44 after battle with rectal cancer

Actress Yuri Nakamura, known for her role in the Netflix series Romantics Anonymous, has died at the age of 44. Her agency, Alpha Agency, confirmed she passed away on September 1, 2026, following a battle with rectal cancer. The agency announced her death on September 14, stating she had fought the disease for years. Nakamura was first diagnosed with cancer approximately 13 years ago. At that time, she and the agency's president mutually agreed not to disclose her illness publicly to avoid causing worry to colleagues and industry partners. She achieved remission and continued her acting career while undergoing regular medical checkups. However, in January 2025, the cancer was discovered to have returned. While initial surgery was successful, doctors later found the disease had metastasized. The agency stated that a complete cure was considered difficult, so treatment focused on managing the cancer to help her live a longer, fulfilling life. Nakamura courageously continued medical treatments while maintaining her acting career. In August 2026, while preparing to return to active work, she suffered a severe intestinal obstruction.