Former talento Yukiko Shimizu was found dead on Tuesday afternoon at a cemetery in Shizuoka after apparently committing suicide. She was 49.

Shimizu was discovered by a cemetery staff member at around 1:30pm. She had collapsed in front of the tombstone of her father, who had died when she was 8 years old. Shimizu appeared to have killed herself by placing her head inside a black plastic bag containing a mixture of chemicals, including detergent and hydrogen sulfide. Her belongings, which identified her as Yukiko Shimizu, included a pair of suicide notes.

Shimizu's mother (80) was also nearby in a wheelchair. She is said to have been vaguely conscious. By the time an ambulance arrived, Shimizu's body was already experiencing rigor mortis, suggesting that she had been dead since about 5:00pm on Monday. Her mother was taken to a hospital, though her condition is reportedly fine.

The suicide is presumed to have been brought about by Shimizu's fatigue from tending to her mother, who has been fighting diabetes and kidney disease for the past 30 years, combined with failing eyesight. In 2006, Shimizu quit from her agency to devote herself to taking care of her mother. She completely retired from show business in 2007 and had started making ends meet with a part-time job at a clothing company.

First discovered on the '70s audition program "Star Tanjou!," Shimizu was perhaps best known for her debut single "Ogenki Desu Ka" in 1977. She was also part of the "Kin-chan Family," a group of celebrities led by comedian Kenichi Hagimoto (67).