An actor died after being pierced in the abdomen by a prop samurai sword during rehearsals for a play in a Tokyo studio, police said.

Daigo Kashino, 33, was using the 73-cm-long samurai sword during the rehearsal session Monday with other actors at the studio in Taito Ward. The police received a report around 11:50 a.m. that the sword had pierced his abdomen.

Kashino was rushed to a hospital where he was later confirmed dead. The sword was a prop, the police said.

An autopsy will be conducted to confirm the cause of death.