Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu passes away in Japan

Taiwanese actress and singer Xu Xi Yuan, better known as Barbie Hsu, passed away at the age of 48 due to pneumonia caused by influenza. 

According to media reports from Taiwan, rumors of Xu Xi Yuan's passing began circulating online on the evening of February 2. On the morning of February 3, her younger sister, Xu Xidi, also known as Dee Hsu, confirmed the news through her manager, stating: 

Thank you everyone for your concern! During the [Chinese] New Year period, our whole family came to Japan for a trip. My dearest and kindest sister, Xi Yuan, unfortunately, left us due to influenza, which led to pneumonia.

I am grateful to have been her sister in this lifetime. We took care of each other and stayed by each other's side. I will forever be grateful to her, miss her!

Shan~ Have a good journey! Love you forever. Together remember forever."

Xu Xi Yuan (Barbie Hsu) was born on October 6, 1976, in Taipei, Taiwan. She was a well-known actress, singer, and television host, quite popular in China.

In 1993, at the age of 17, Barbie debuted as part of the girl group "ASOS" (Sisters of Shu) alongside her younger sister, Xu Xi Di. 

In 2001, she starred in the Taiwanese drama Meteor Garden, which became a sensation across Asia. Her performance earned her a nomination for the Best Actress award at the Golden Bell Awards, Taiwan's prestigious television awards.

Xu Xi Yuan's personal life also grabbed headlines. In 2010, she publicly announced her engagement to Chinese businessman Wang Xiao Fei. In March 2011, they held their wedding in Sanya, Hainan, and later the actress gave birth to a daughter and a son. Their divorce in 2021 drew widespread media interest. In 2022, it was reported that she married South Korean entertainer Koo Jun Yup.

Chinese media reports Hsu had a history of epilepsy and had been hospitalized multiple times due to seizures. 

In other news, Japan has experienced the most severe influenza epidemic on record during the winter of 2024-2025, with the number of infections three times higher than the previous flu season in 2023. 

According to Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, in January, the number of weekly flu cases in the last week of December 2024 set a historical record since ministry records began in 1999. From December 23 to 29, 2024, a total of 317,812 cases of the flu were reported. Medical institutions were stretched to their limits, and pharmaceutical companies were forced to suspend the supply of flu medicine.

Source: Xinhua Daily 

We express our deepest condolences to the friends and family of the deceased.