Masako Natsume was a Japanese model and actress from Tokyo.
She was born on December 17, 1957, in Shibuya, Tokyo, as Masako Odate, and was the only daughter of Sue and Kazu Odate.
Natsume was raised in Naka-ku, Yokohama, where she attended her studies up to junior college in 1976.
She auditioned for the lead role in Nihon TV’s drama Ai ga miemasu ka? in 1976 and was chosen from 4,000 applicants.
Natsume later dropped out of school to pursue an acting career, playing the part under her real name Masako Odate.
Her mother initially objected to her choice of career and requested that she not use the Odate family name if she gained further work.
In 1977, she changed her name to Natsume.
Natsume gained worldwide recognition for her portrayal of Tripitaka in the TV series Monkey, which is now considered a cult classic.
Masako Natsume cause of death
Natsume died at the age of 27 in 1985 after a brief battle with acute leukemia.
The model and actress was buried in Hōfu, Yamaguchi under the name Masako Nishiyama, per Discover Walks.
Acute leukemia
Acute leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.
It is characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal white blood cells, which crowd out healthy blood cells and make it difficult for the body to function properly.
There are two main types of acute leukemia: acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of cancer in children, but it can also affect adults.
It starts from young white blood cells called lymphocytes in the bone marrow.
The abnormal cells build up in the bone marrow and spill out into the blood, and can spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, central nervous system and testicles.
The word “acute” in ALL refers to the fact that the disease progresses rapidly and creates immature blood cells, rather than mature ones.
Symptoms of ALL include weakness or feeling tired, fever or night sweats, easy bruising or bleeding, petechiae, shortness of breath, weight loss or loss of appetite, pain in the bones or stomach, pain or feeling of fullness below the ribs, and swollen lymph nodes.
In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the bone marrow makes too many myeloid cells, which are a type of white blood cell.
These cells are abnormal and cannot fight infection very well. They also crowd out the healthy cells, which can lead to infection, anemia and easy bleeding.
AML mostly affects cells that aren’t fully developed, leaving these cells unable to carry out their normal functions.
It can be a difficult disease to treat, and researchers are studying new approaches to AML therapy in clinical trials.
Symptoms of AML include fatigue, shortness of breath, pale skin, frequent infections, easy bruising or bleeding and pain or a feeling of fullness below the ribs.
Masako Natsume career
Natsume gained worldwide recognition for her portrayal of Tripitaka in the TV series Monkey, which is now considered a cult classic.
In 1976, while in junior college, she auditioned for the lead role in Nihon TV’s drama Ai ga miemasu ka (“Can you see love?”).
Chosen from 4,000 applicants, she dropped out of school to pursue an acting career, playing the part under her real name Masako Odate.
Masako made her stage debut with the Tokyo-Takarazuka Theater Company in 1980 in the play “Kikaishi Naporeon No Taishoku”.
She appeared in several TV shows and movies, including Onimasa (1982), Time and Tide (1983), and The Catch (1983).
Her mother, Sue Odate, wrote a book about her life titled “Futari no Masako,” which was later adapted into a documentary titled “Himawari – Masako Natsume 27 – sai no Shougai to Haha no Ai”.
Natsume picture books and calendars are still popular in Japan today.
In 1997, Canon produced a television commercial for a copy machine, featuring her photocopied images, which offered 100 free compilations of the images in a book.
Canon received 230,000 applications.
