Veteran Japanese actor Kirin Kiki died in Tokyo on September 15, according to news reports. She was 75 years old.

Although she had been diagnosed with cancer in 2004, her cause of death has not been announced yet.

She had been suffering from several ailments, including having an operation after breaking her leg in August and facing life-threatening complications due to weak bronchial tubes and cancer, according to the Japan Times.

Kiki was born Keiko Uchida in Tokyo in 1943, was the wife of Japanese rock star Yuya Uchida (who she separated from but remained legally married to), and was the mother-in-law of actor Masahiro Motoki.

Her extensive career dates back to the 1960s and she was a regular collaborator with acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda. She starred in many of his films, including Still Walking; I Wish; Like Father, Like Son; Our Little Sister; After the Storm; Mori, the Artists' Habitat; and Shoplifters.

The latter two will be screening at the 2018 Vancouver International Film Festival.

Mori, the Artist's Habitat screens on September 30 and October 7 while a special presentation of Shoplifters screens on September 30 and October 1.

Shoplifters won the prestigious Palme D'Or Award at the Cannes International Film Festival this year.