Renowned voice actress Emi Shinohara, known for her iconic roles as Makoto Kino/Sailor Jupiter in Sailor Moon, Kaho Mizuki in Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, and Kushina Uzumaki in Naruto Shippuden passed away on September 8 at the age of 61. Her agency, 81 Produce, announced the sad news on September 10, sharing the following statement on their official website:

"Our actor Emi Shinohara (real name Emiko Watanabe) passed away on September 8, 2024, at the age of 61 after battling a long illness. We deeply appreciate the kindness shown to her during her lifetime and wish to express our sincere gratitude as we share this news."

Shinohara was born on August 8 1963 in Nagano Prefecture, had a storied career with roles in beloved series such as Naruto Shippuden (Kushina Uzumaki) and BanG Dream! (Kaori Toyama) just to name a few. Her passing adds to a heartbreaking trend within the voice acting community, as several notable voice actors, including Atsuko Tanaka, Taiki Matsuno, TARAKO, and Noriko Ohara, have also passed away. They will all be remembered for their significant contributions to the anime world.