Actress Kanako Fukaura passed away on Monday night at a Tokyo hospital. She was 48. Diagnosed with colon cancer five years ago, she was repeatedly hospitalized and had multiple surgeries. It was recently discovered that the cancer had spread to her lungs, and she was once again admitted to the hospital on August 4. According to her family, Fukaura had become comatose on Sunday.

Fukaura was born in Tokyo in 1960. While studying theater at Meiji University in 1980, she helped found the acting troupe Gekidan Daisan Erotica and became one of their leading actresses. She left the troupe in 1989 and appeared in many stage plays, television dramas, and films. Her early TV career included "Ienaki Ko," "Sweet Home," and "Nurse no Oshigoto." Her most recent works include last year's drama series "SP" and the Hideo Sakaki-directed movie "Boku no Obaachan," which is scheduled to open in theaters this December.