Nicki Minaj has paid tribute to a fan who died after attending the rapper's concert in Japan last week.

Irish student Nicola Furlong was found dead in her Tokyo hotel room on May 25th just hours after she had watched the Starships hit-maker perform live at Zepp Toyko the previous evening.

The hip-hop star has taken to Twitter.com to express her sadness for Furlong, who was in Japan as an exchange student from Dublin City University and was expected to fly home in July.

Minaj writes, "Saddened to learn one of my precious fans; found tragically (dead) in Japan. My love & prayers are with the family of Nicola Furlong."

Police have arrested two American men in connection with Furlong's death.