Prolific voice actress Emi Shinohara passed away on September 8, 2024, at the age of 61. She is survived by her husband, actor Hiroshi Watari. The news was announced by her agency, 81 Produce. Her illness was not made public.
Shinohara (real name Watanabe) was born August 8, 1963, in Nagano Prefecture. She made her debut in 1984’s DREAM HUNTER REM.
Her breakout role came in 1986 as B-ko in the wildly popular OVA series, PROJECT A-KO.
She is best remembered for her role as Sailor Jupiter in the decades-long franchise SAILOR MOON.
She was the Japanese voice of April O’Neil in original 1987 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES cartoon, as well the dubs of the early live action films.
As part of the CARDCAPTOR SAKURA franchise, she played Kaho Mizuki.
Emi has voiced the title character Naruto’s mother, Kushina Uzumaki, in NARUTO: SHIPPUDEN.
She also voiced many of the same roles, along with others, in numerous video games.
Recent roles include the part of Komi's aunt, Ryouko Komi, in Netflix’s KOMI CAN’T COMMUNICATE, and Motoko Izumi, mother to lead Yuu, in SHIKIMORI’S NOT JUST A CUTIE.
The legendary anime film, NINJA SCROLL, is currently touring America as part of a 30th anniversary celebration. Hear her voice the female lead, Kagero, and say “good bye” to this amazing talent.
IMDb lists a jaw-dropping 166 credits in her 40-year career. Other anime roles included work such as VAMPIRE PRINCESS MIYU (1988), DRAGON WARRIOR, A.D. POLICE FILES, CYBER CITY OEDO 808, DOOMED MEGALOPOLIS, TOKYO BABYLON, X, POKEMON, SABER MARIONETTE J AGAIN, BURN-UP EXCESS, PERFECT BLUE, DETECTIVE CONAN, THE BIG O, TENCHI MUYO! RYO-OHKI, NARUTO: SHIPPUDEN, CLAYMORE, GOLGO 13 (2008), A CERTAIN MAGICAL INDEX & RAILGUN, BanG DREAM.
