Kobayashi shocked the country in September with her blog titled "Kokoro" - or heart -- after concealing her illness from the public for about two years. She was later named in the 2016 edition of the BBC's 100 Women list of inspirational and influential female figures. "I decided to say goodbye to myself who hid behind (cancer)," Kobayashi, a mother of two, wrote in her first post. The Mainichi Shimbun said on its front page that her blog, which attracted media attention with every update, became a social phenomenon. A tearful Ichikawa told the news conference: "She passed away just saying,'I love you.'"

Source: The Nation Bangkok June 24, 2017 06:45 UTC