Akemi Shinohara, also known by the stage names 篠原あけみ and Akemi Ishida, is a Japanese voice actor and stage actress born on March 26, 1963, in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. She is affiliated with the talent management firm Arts Vision. Shinohara's career is built upon a strong foundation in theater; she trained at the Theater Echo acting school and performed with several theatrical companies, including Gekidan Sugoroku and the group Opperetta, before transitioning fully into voice acting.

In her own words, Shinohara describes her vocal quality as clear and far-carrying despite her small stature, a trait that allows her to portray a wide range of characters, from young boys to elderly women. She is also recognized for her singing ability, honed through years of lessons, and her skill in calm, composed narration.

One of Shinohara's credited voice roles is as Barbalib, the intellectual and book-loving Barbapapa child, in the 1999 Japanese children's anime series Barbapapa Around the World. This series, a spin-off of the classic Barbapapa franchise, featured her alongside a cast that included Chafurin as Barbapapa and Keiko Han as Barbamama. Her career in anime spans from the late 1980s through the 2000s. She had roles in several prominent mecha and adventure series of the early 1990s, such as Nekketsu Saikyō Go-Saurer (1993), Yuusha Tokkyuu Might Gaine (1993), and Yuusha Keisatsu J-Decker (1994). Her other anime credits from this period include Iria: Zeiram the Animation (1994) and Saint Tail (1995). In 2005, she was part of the cast for the long-running and popular series Doraemon.

Beyond anime, Shinohara has remained active in theater and live performance. Her stage work includes numerous productions with groups like Wonder Niña and the Sweet Voice Sisters, continuing well into the 2020s. Throughout her career, she has frequently collaborated with a consistent group of fellow voice actors. Industry databases show repeated partnerships with actors such as Daiki Nakamura, Aya Hisakawa, Chafurin, and Yōko Matsuoka across various projects. This body of work, encompassing television animation, theater, and dubbing, represents her professional legacy in the Japanese entertainment industry.