Emi Shinohara, the voice of Naruto’s mother Kushina Uzumaki in the popular anime series that ran from 2002 to 2007, passed away at the age of 61 on September 8, her talent management agency announced on Tuesday.
“Shinohara Emi (real name Watanabe Emiko), an actor affiliated with our company, passed away on September 8, 2024, at the age of 61, while undergoing medical treatment. We would like to express our deepest gratitude for the kindness shown to us during her lifetime,” the agency wrote on its official website.
The agency did not reveal details regarding the medical treatment that Shinohara was undergoing.
Shinohara is survived by her husband, actor-singer Hiroshi Watari. On Tuesday, Watari took to X to share his feelings after the passing of his wife.
“I don't usually post many photos of us together, but this time I made an exception. My wife, Emi Shinohara, passed away on September 8th. There have been a lot of swallowtail butterflies flying around me lately. I feel like it's some kind of messenger. Looking back, it was a fun 26 years. Thank you. Rest in peace. Thank you to everyone who supported us,” he wrote alongside a picture of them together.
Shinohara made her debut as a voice actress in 1986, with one of her early roles being B-Ko Daitokuji in Project A-ko. She became a prominent figure in the world of classic anime, lending her voice to several iconic characters in the 2000s. Shinohara is well-known for voicing Kushina Uzumaki in Naruto and Sailor Jupiter in Sailor Moon.
She has also voiced Presea in Magic Knight Rayearth, Kaho Mizuki in Cardcaptor Sakura, Charlotte Elbourne in Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust and Ophelia in Claymore. Her latest voice roles include Ryoko Komi from Komi Can’t Communicate and Makoto Izumi from Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie.
Besides voice acting, Shinohara sang Starlight ni Kiss Shite (Give a Kiss to the Starlight) and Honoo no Sogekimono (The Flame Sniper) for Sailor Moon. She has also starred in live-action series like Kamen Rider Kiva the Movie: King of the Castle in the Demon World and voiced various video game characters like Sayori Yukizuki in Snow Portable.
