On September 8, Emi Shinohara, the Japanese voice actress for Makoto Kino/Sailor Jupiter in the original Sailor Moon anime series, passed away at the age of 61. Following her passing, many people who worked with Shinohara came forward to pay their respects, including Sailor Moon voice actress Megumi Ogata and one of the anime series' directors, Kunihiko Ikuhara.
According to Shinohara's agency, 81 Produce, the popular actress passed away a month after being hospitalized for an unspecified illness. During her career, she starred in numerous popular series besides Sailor Moon, including CLAMP's Magic Knight Rayearth, Cardcaptor Sakura, Tenchi Muyo!, and Naruto Shippuden, among others. As detailed by Oricon, Ikuhara posted a heartwarming farewell message on social media, in which he reflected on his time working with Shinohara.
Sailor Jupiter plays an important role in the legacy of the original Sailor Moon anime series.
“…I’m just sad and lonely right now. I heard that you were happy with the flowers I sent you during last year’s performance, and I’m happy too. Thank you for playing Sailor Jupiter and giving us so many memories. May you rest in peace,” Ikuhara said. Megumi Ogata, who voices Haruka Tenoh aka Sailor Uranus, also posted a touching farewell message, recalling their time together. “…We laughed and said that people would misread our names because the kanji are the same, but you taught me so much,” Ogata said. “Sailor Moon, Rayearth… and I think it’s only natural that I’ll meet you again someday in the sequel to Cardcaptor Sakura. Your smile and kind voice are still contagious. I can’t believe it, Shino-san.”
Shinohara’s legacy is inextricably linked to one of the most globally recognized anime series of any genre or demographic. Since 1991, the heroic adventures of Usagi Tsukino and her fellow Sailor Guardians have captivated millions of readers and viewers around the world. The Sailor Moon anime celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022—a milestone that has led to countless celebratory events. These include the official opening of the Sailor Moon Museum, a pop-up cafe with adorable themed food, and numerous merchandise collaborations with popular brands like UniQlo, Premico, and Sanrio.
In 2014, Toei Animation rebooted the beloved 90s Sailor Moon adaptation with Sailor Moon Crystal, which more closely followed the storyline of Takeuchi's original manga. Sailor Moon Cosmos—the two-part film conclusion to the series—was released in Japanese theaters in June 2023. In August 2024, Netflix began streaming Seasons 1 and 2 to international audiences. Seasons 1–5 of the original Sailor Moon anime are available on Hulu. Naoko Takeuchi's Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon manga is available in English from Kodansha USA.
Source: X (formerly Twitter) via Oricon