EMI ITO - Half of the Twin Shobijin Fairies in Toho's Mothra Films

EMI ITO - Half of the Twin Shobijin Fairies in Toho's Mothra Films

 Japanese singer Emi Ito, who teamed with her twin sister, Yumi, as part of the pop duo The Peanuts and were featured opposite Toho monster moth, Mothra, in the 1960s, died in Japan on June 15, 2012.  She was 71.  She was born in Tokoname, Aichi, Japan, on April 1, 1941.  She and her sister began performing together in the late 1950s, appearing in the film "Kawaii Hana" (aka "Lovely Flowers").  They were also featured in the television variety series "Shabondama Holiday" in the early 1960s.  They became best known as stars of the Toho feature, "Mothra", the tiny Shobijin Fairies, whose kidnapping from Infant Island by an unscrupulous impressario leads to Mothra, first as a massive caterpillar and then an immense moth, to wreak destruction across the globe to rescue them.

  The sisters returned as Mothra's companions and translators, for the films "Godzilla vs. the Thing" (1964) and "Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster" (1964).  The Peanuts were also seen in the films "Yumi de Aimasho" (1962), "Watashi to Watashi" (1962), "Crazy Adventure" (1965), "Kureji Ogon Sakusen" (1967), and "Mexican Free-for-All" (1968).  The twins were also noted for recording Japanese versions of Western hits before they retired in 1975.  Emi was married to singer Kenji Sawada from 1975 until their divorce in 1987.  She is survived by her sister.