Yûko Takeuchi(1980-2020)

Born in Saitama just north of Tokyo in 1980, Takeuchi Yuko began acting with a role in Fuji TV's Cyborg in 1996. She has been in TV serials and movies without pause ever since and came to most people's attention through NHK's series Asuka serial of 1999. She was recognized by the Japanese Academy Awards for 2003's Yomigaeri, which explored resurrection. Takeuchi married Shido Nakamura in 2005 and obtained a divorce three years later. The two had co-starred in 2004's Ima, Ai Ni Yukimasu. She also won the Nikkan Sports Film Award for Best Actress for Saido Ka Ni Inu of 2007. She joined other celebrities when in 2011 she released a cook book called Takeuchi Marchais, Presenting 102 Delicious Warm-Hearted Recipes. She was found dead at her Tokyo home on 26.09.2020. This was a mere nine months after giving birth to her second child. Cause of death was suspected as suicide. She is represented by Stardust promotion.