The Codex

Koakuma

Touhou Project/Koakuma



Koakuma (小悪魔, literally "Little Devil") is an unnamed devil residing within the Scarlet Devil Mansion. She first appears as the Stage 4 midboss in Embodiment of Scarlet Devil.

Koakuma
“ Please be quiet. I can't hear the whisper of the books. „
~ Koakuma's Fortune
Origin
Origin Touhou Koumakyou (Scarlet Devil Land) ~ the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil
Creator ZUN
First Appearance Touhou 06: Embodiment of the Scarlet Devil
Voiced by Fan Series Actors: Nozomi Kasuqa, Kanna Amasawa, Minori Ozawa, Nichika Omori, Machico, Sachika Misawa, Natsumi Murakami, Saya Aizawa, Yae Sakura, Saya Hitomi, Yuri Komagata, Ayaka Ohnishi
Characteristics
Species Devil
Gender Female
Pronouns She/Her
Sexuality Unknown
Age Unknown
Birthday Unknown
Height Unknown
Weight Unknown
Ethnicity Unknown
Status Alive
Alignment Lawful Neutral
Archetype Familiar
Occupation Library Assistant
Time Period Non-linear
Language Japanese
Combat Style Magical Combat
Homeworld Gensokyo
Relationships
Affiliations Scarlet Devil Mansion: (Remilia Scarlet, Flandre Scarlet, Patchouli Knowledge, Sakuya Izayoi, Hong Meiling, Fairy Maids), Reimu Hakurei, Marisa Kirisame
Enemies Reimu Hakurei (Formerly), Marisa Kirisame (Formerly)

Background

This dropdown contains the synopsis of Koakuma’s story. Read at your own risk as you may be spoiled otherwise!

Origin
ZUN has stated that when creating the nameless midbosses in The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil, he considered them too minor to warrant names due to their status as midbosses[1]. He regarded them simply as enemies meant to drop power-ups rather than significant characters, but was surprised by the community's enthusiasm in elevating them to full character status. Following this, he began putting more effort into midboss-only characters in subsequent games, citing Lily White and Tewi Inaba as examples[2].

Embodiment of Scarlet Devil

 
Koakuma's sprite in Embodiment of Scarlet Devil

“ Eastern Scarlet Devil Land ~ the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil

- 0 -
Every day in Gensokyo was more noisy than expected. Any mysterious visitor would be confused with a ghost of summertime.

All of that equates to just a normal summer. The outskirts were enveloped in scarlet illusion.

- 1 -
In the eastern mountains, far from any human habitation, is where the isolated Hakurei Shrine lies.

This mountain was never occupied by humans, and even now no one ever goes there. Thus the place was called Gensokyo. And even now, as usual, non-human creatures and just a few humans lived freely with pride.

People blindly accepted the advance of culture, and aggressively tried to eliminate any of the darker parts of their lifestyles. In truth, that was a comfortable environment for the creatures living in the dusk. They did not have to get involved with humans.

And one summer day, without a sound, a turbulent, mysterious mist began to envelop Gensokyo. It was almost as if Gensokyo itself was loathing the light of day.

- 2 -
The shrine maiden of the Hakurei Shrine, Reimu Hakurei was living a mostly peaceful life. At this shrine, seldom visited by those come to pray, she was sometimes bored, sometimes not bored, and generally living in a carefree manner.

On that day, Reimu was just a little less bored than usual.

Reimu: "Geez, what is all this? If we're not getting any light, then the weather is not going to clear up at all."

At the rate it was moving, the mist would reach past the shrine and descend to where humans lived. Gensokyo interfering with its peoples' lives would most likely cause Gensokyo to be eliminated by the hands of humans, too.

Reimu: "Well, finding the cause of all this is a shrine maiden's job (isn't it?). For some reason, that lake back there is pretty suspicious, so let's go there!"

With her body surrounded by the mysterious mist, The sharp-witted girl, relying on her senses, set off in the direction of the lake.

- 3 -
As one of the few residents of the forest, the normal girl Marisa Kirisame normally flew through the sky.

When she realized that she couldn't see any of the lake all of a sudden due to the mist, the normal-witted girl thought that there might be something happening on the island floating in the lake.

Marisa: "Well, humans usually create communities close to water, after all."

Monsters wouldn't be able to live without water, either. That was her very human-like way of thinking.

Marisa: "It looks like she'll be doing something pretty soon, so why don't I go take a look?"

The girl set off as if there might just be something valuable to find. Or, rather, she actually went looking for it.

- 4 -
The lake was entirely covered by the mysterious mist. This mysterious energy was so strong that a normal human would only survive for about 30 minutes, but less ordinary humans too would have about thirty minutes.

The center of the mist barely receives any light during the day, and filters out moonlight as well. From within the mist, a full moon looks hazy and several times larger.

If we suppose the mist is the work of a human, one could say that the human must have eaten belladonna flower.

In the very center of it all is an island, rejected by mankind simply because they could not live there. On that island is a mansion; one of few windows.

Inside the mansion that knows neither day nor night, "she" was there.

„
~ Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Prologue English Translation


“ 東方紅魔郷　～ the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil.

- 0 -
幻想郷は、予想以上に騒がしい日々をおくっていた。 　謎の来訪者に、夏の亡霊も戸惑ってるかの様に見えた。

そんな全てが普通な夏。 　辺境は紅色の幻想に包まれた。 - 1 -
ここは東の国の人里離れた山の中。 　博麗（はくれい）神社は、そんな辺境にあった。

　この山は、元々は人間は棲んでいない、今も多くは決して足を踏み入 　れない場所で、人々には幻想郷と呼ばれていた。 　幻想郷は、今も相変わらず人間以外の生き物と、ほんの少しの人間が 　自由に闊歩していたのだった。

人々は文明開化に盲信した、人間は生活から闇の部分を積極的に排除 　しようとしていた。 　実はそれは、宵闇に棲む生き物にとっても、人間との干渉もなくお互 　いに気楽な環境だったのだった。

そして、ある夏の日、音も無く、不穏な妖霧が幻想郷を包み始めたの 　である。 　それは、まるで幻想郷が日の光を嫌っているように見えたのだった。

- 2 -
　博麗神社の巫女、博麗霊夢（はくれいれいむ）はおおよそ平穏な日々 　を送っていた。 　滅多に参拝客が訪れないこの神社は、退屈だったり退屈じゃなかった 　りして、楽しく暮らしているようである。

　そんな夏の日、霊夢は少しばかり退屈以外していた。

　　霊夢「もー、なんなのかしら、 　　　　　日が当たらないと天気が晴れないじゃない」

　このままでは、霧は神社を越え、人里に下りていってしまう。 　幻想郷が人々の生活に干渉してしまうことは、幻想郷も人の手によっ 　て排除されてしまうだろう。

　　霊夢「こうなったら、原因を突き止めるのが巫女の仕事（なのか？） 　　　　　なんとなく、あっちの裏の湖が怪しいから、出かけてみよう！」

あたりは一面の妖霧。 　勘の鋭い少女は、直感を頼りに湖の方向へ出発した。

- 3 -
数少ない森の住人である普通の少女、霧雨 魔理沙（きりさめまりさ）は、 　普通に空を飛んでいた。

　いつのまにか、霧で湖の全体が見渡せなくなっていたことに気づくと、 　勘の普通な少女は、湖に浮かぶ島に何かがあるのでは？と思ったのだった。

　　魔理沙「普通、人間だって水のあるところに集落を造るしな」

　化け物も水がないと生きてけないのだろうと、実に人間らしい考え方である。

　　魔理沙「そろそろ、あいつが動き出しそうだから、ちょっと見に行くか」

　少女は、何かめぼしい物が無いか探しに行くかのように出発した。 　むしろ探しに行ったのだった。 - 4 -
　湖は、一面妖霧に包まれていた。 　普通の人間は３０分はもつ程度の妖気だったが、普通じゃない人もやはり 　３０分程度はもつようだった。

　妖霧の中心地は、昼は常にぼんやり明るく、夜は月明かりでぼんやり明る 　かった。 　霧の中から見る満月はぼやけて数倍ににも膨れて見えるのだった。

　もしこの霧が人間の仕業だとすると、ベラドンナの花でもかじった人間で 　あることは容易に想像できる。

　中心地には島があり、そこには人気を嫌った、とてもじゃないけど人間の 　住めないようなところに、窓の少ない洋館が存在した。

　昼も夜も無い館に、「彼女」は、いた。

„
~ Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Prologue Japanese

Reimu or Marisa first passes through a dimly lit library, where Koakuma ambushes her. Koakuma is quickly defeated in the encounter.

Foul Detective Satori
In chapter 2, Koakuma is seen assisting with work in the Scarlet Devil Mansion's library.

Whispered Oracle of Hakurei Shrine
Reimu Hakurei writes a fortune slip concerning Koakuma as part of cleaning up after an incident.

Name Meaning

Koakuma was not given an official name upon the release of Embodiment of Scarlet Devil, and ZUN confirmed early on that she lacks one. The fanbase commonly refers to her as Koakuma (小悪魔), meaning "Little Devil" or "Imp". ZUN used this term in a fan response while again stating she remained unnamed, though he noted having rough sketches for a face sprite and plans to give her spell cards. Official works such as Strange Creators of Outer World Who's Who of Humans & Youkai in Gensokyo have since referred to her by this nickname while reiterating that her actual name is unknown.

Appearance

General Description: Koakuma is a winged figure with red hair. Her design has been interpreted differently between her original sprite and later official works.

Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Sprite:

  • Facial Features: Red hair. A small pair of black, bat-like wings are positioned on the sides of her head.
  • Clothing/Outfit: A black dress with white sleeves.

Later Official Works:

  • Facial Features: Red hair.
  • Physical Traits: A second pair of larger, black bat-like wings on her back, in addition to the smaller wings on her head.
  • Clothing/Outfit: A black dress with white sleeves.

Special Features: Koakuma's hair length is ambiguous. ZUN has stated he does not remember whether her original sprite depicted long or short hair, and noted that the image coming to his mind when thinking of the character matches her common depiction in fan art[3].

Personality

  • Capricious and Mischievous: Koakuma has a capricious, mischievous personality. She does not think of consequences, similar in many ways to Daiyousei.

Goals

  • Stop Reimu and Marisa (Failed).

Relationships

Patchouli Knowledge

As a library assistant in the mansion, this means she helps tend to it while Patchouli reads the books there.

Sakuya Izayoi

Koakuma is simply a fellow employee of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, with no indicated relationship beyond that.

Remilia Scarlet

As it is Remilia's mansion, she is a fellow employee of it.

Daiyousei & Lily White

Official art of Who's Who shows Koakuma, Lily White, and Daiyousei all sharing tea together.

General Information

Name: Unknown (Noted by ZUN that neither Koakuma or Daiyousei have a name[4], with him noting that Koakuma is just what she's called for the sake of convenience[5])

Other Names: Koakuma[1]

Titles: Demon Working in a Dusty Library[6]

Origin: Touhou Koumakyou (Scarlet Devil Land) ~ the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil

Overall Series: Touhou Project

First Appearance: Touhou 06: Embodiment of the Scarlet Devil

Latest Appearance: Foul Detective Satori

Company: Team Shanghai Alice

Creator: ZUN

Actor: The following voice acted roles are all from fan-made series not apart of any canonical Touhou works.

Gender: Female

Sexuality: Unknown

Pronouns: She/Her

Handedness: Right-Handed

Age: Unknown

Birthday: Unknown

Time Period: The world of Gensokyo itself is in a non-linear time period

Timeline: Main Timeline

Homeworld: Gensokyo

Residence: Scarlet Devil Mansion[7]

Story Role: Stage 4 Midboss

Legacy: Unknown Legacy

Influence: No Influence

Language: Japanese

Ethnicity: Unknown

Religion: N/A

Classification: Devil, Demon

Species: Devil

State of Being: Regular

Physiology: Devil Physiology

In-Universe Creator: Likely Patchouli Knowledge (Noted by ZUN that Koakuma is something like Patchouli's familiar and is a being of magic similar to Patchouli[8])

Occupation: Library Assistant

Combat Style: Magical Combat

Affiliations: Scarlet Devil Mansion: (Remilia Scarlet, Flandre Scarlet, Patchouli Knowledge, Sakuya Izayoi, Hong Meiling, Fairy Maids), Reimu Hakurei, Marisa Kirisame

Enemies: Reimu Hakurei (Formerly), Marisa Kirisame (Formerly)

Height: Unknown

Weight: Unknown

Status: Alive

Alignment: Lawful Neutral (Noted by ZUN that the reason Koakuma attacked the intruders is because she saw them as a suspicious intruder in the mansion[5])

Threat Level: Street Threat

Potential

  • Type(s) of Potential: Fixed Potential
  • Level of Potential: Fixed
  • Description: Hasn't had any real statements to showcase anything beyond the standard potential.
  • Limitations: Standard limitations.

Archetype: Familiar

Codex Statistics

Grade: B (Koakuma is noted to be rather small in terms of strength when it comes to other devils[1])

Tier: At least 9-C, Far Higher with Spiritual Power

Cardinality: Finite

Dimensionality: 3-D

Power Source: Magic

Attack Potency: At least Bone level (Koakuma is noted to be rather small in terms of strength when it comes to other devils[1], though she should still carry their immense strength which should make her at the very least be on the same level as other standard Youkai physically; Youkais can easily kill humans[9], with it being noted that if it came to open conflict between humans and youkai, they would probably wipe out the village in the blink of an eye[10]. Along with this, there's implication that Patchouli summoned her to take out the intruders[5]), Far Higher with Spiritual Power (Noted how even Yumemi Okazaki's scientific magic truly pales in comparison with the real thing[11], which Yumemi noted to not make light of the power of her science as she could blow up the planet at any moment[12]). Can ignore covnentional durability with Magic (Magic exists outside of the Grand Unified Theory[13], a theory with any model that merges electromagnetic, weak, and strong forces into a single force at high energies, unifying gravity with the electronuclear interaction, providing a more comprehensive theory of everything. Yumemi explains that on her world, all power can be explained by the Grand Unified Theory, however she posits an existence of a power not covered by the Theory: the power of magic[14]. Yumemi also explains that in the world of Gensokyo, magic unifies everything[15]. Magic is noted by Yumemi to have close ties with religion[16]. The second layer of reality is spirit and magic, while the first layer is where all things within the laws of physics presides, putting attacks with magic outside of the conventional laws of physics[17])

Durability: At least Bone level, Far Higher with Spiritual Power. Her existence as a non-human makes them difficult to kill (It's noted that one cannot defeat spirits or devilish powers without a weapon with an unnatural amount of spiritual power such as the Yin-Yang Orb[18])

Striking Strength: At least Bone Class

Lifting Strength: At least Superhuman

Travel Speed: Superhuman (Can keep up with other characters flight speeds, where they can reach across long distances due to being able to fly[19])

Attack Speed: Superhuman (Capable of tagging Reimu Hakurei with their attacks[20]). Magic Attacks lack a defined speed (Magic exists outside of the Grand Unified Theory[21], a theory with any model that merges electromagnetic, weak, and strong forces into a single force at high energies, unifying gravity with the electronuclear interaction, providing a more comprehensive theory of everything. Yumemi explains that on her world, all power can be explained by the Grand Unified Theory, however she posits an existence of a power not covered by the Theory: the power of magic[22]. Yumemi also explains that in the world of Gensokyo, magic unifies everything[23]. Magic is noted by Yumemi to have close ties with religion[24])

Reaction Speed: Superhuman

Stamina: Superhuman (Able to shoot out a multitude of attacks[25] and use a lot of magic without tiring[26])

Range: Standard Melee. At least Tens of Meters with Attacks (Can shoot out large energy spheres that cover the entire screen in all directions[27]. Can sporadically shoot out multiple missile-shaped bullets across the screen[28])

Intelligence: Genius Intelligence (Koakuma is capable of finding the needed book instantly[6])

Knowledge

Powers and Techniques






Equipment

Nothing notable

Notable Techniques

Main Attack

Koakuma shoots out dozens of large energy spheres while having glyphs that shoot out multiple missile-shaped projectiles.

Other

Standard Tactics: Koakuma will fly around and shoot out magic.

Weaknesses

Note

Special Notes

  • Many spell card images and descriptions along with translations are heavily helped by the Touhou Wiki.

Explanations

Canoncity of Touhou Project

The Touhou Project franchise canoncity mainly falls under any media worked on by ZUN are official and canon to the overall lineup.

There are various aspects constantly debated about within the canon:

PC-98

Media like PC-98, has been noted by ZUN to be ignored as one can ignore derivative works[89]. He has also said that anything prior to Embodiment of Scarlet Devil can for the most part be ignored and one can think of Embodiment of Scarlet Devil as the starting from a clean slate and starting a new series[90], he's also referred to Highly Responsive to Prayers as a study product[91]. With this in mind, one would assume that PC-98 is thus non-canon to the Windows continuity of games.

However, ZUN has also directly stated PC-98 games are the same world as the Windows Games, stating that any contradictions that exist from PC-98 can be ignored from the retcon in Windows Era[92]. While one argues ZUN noting the works are derivative works to be ignored and Embodiment of the Scarlet Devil should be seen as the starting point, these statements are moreso telling a fan to not worry about having to play PC-98 games or learn more about their stories.

It's also been noted in Embodiment of Scarlet Devil's おまけ.txt that the game chronologically is not too far from the previous title, which would be Mystic Square, the PC-98 title[93]. ZUN has also directly brought back characters from PC-98 games, noting he wanted to bring back characters from before Embodiment of Scarlet Devil and notes any of the other older characters that don't appear have probably retired by now and are warmly watching over things from various places nowadays[94]. When asked where Mima from PC-98 has gone, ZUN notes that he doesn't bring them back due to making things complicated and having potentially angry fans ask where she has been the entire time, he has also noted that there's not much use for characters like Genji as Reimu can fly now and also notes he is not dead[95]. ZUN has also made mention to Genji probably living in the lake in the back of the shrine[96]. In Touhou Sangetsusei ~ Strange and Bright Nature Deity, Reimu and Marisa were talking about glowing moss with Reimu saying it would be nice to transfer it to the pond in the back of the Hakurei Shrine and Marisa saying that she could make it grow there on the turtles' back, referencing Genji[97].

In Touhou 07 Perfect Cherry Blossom, when Alice meets Reimu, she tells her long time no see, noting that they've met before calling her "old friend"[98]. In Yuuka's mode in Touhou Project - Phantasmagoria of Flower View, Reimu directly references defeating Yuuka back in PC-98[99]. If Yuuka defeats Marisa in the same game, she will note that Marisa has grown up quite a bit, when the last time she's seen her has been in PC-98[100].

Seeing as ZUN himself has directly said both PC-98 and Windows are in the same world and that characters directly acknowledged PC-98 events and reference characters from it, PC-98 is completely canon and any contradictions PC-98 have can be ignored.

Side Games Time Placements

Touhou 7.5 - Immaterial and Missing Power takes place between Perfect Cherry Blossom and Imperishable Night[101].

Multiple Playable Routes

In the series, there are multiple playable character routes, including some where the characters fight Reimu herself and defeat her, calling question into what route is canon. ZUN has elaborated that canonically, anytime Reimu and the gang are defeated, they challenge again however many times they want, but on the youkai side, they do not challenge again after being defeated and are not attached to the results of winning or losing[102].

In terms of how playable routes have went, some examples of canonically noted routes:

With some of these examples, it is normally assumed that in some way Reimu has some part in resolving every incident and other routes are dubiously canon depending on what transpired.

Spell Card Rules

There are many cases of weaker humans beating stronger Yokai or vice versa within the Touhou series, this has been elaborated on in Reimu's profile on Perfect Memento in Strict Sense. Reimu introduced the spell card rules as the youkai had no way to defeat the Hakurei shrine maiden, making many youkai feel that their meaning to exist have dissapeared[71]. The rules incoporate the following:

  • Spell cards are techniques specially-named by the individual, and they must be declared upon use.
  • The number of each party's spell cards must be determined in advance of a duel.
  • The first party to have all of their spell cards beaten must admit defeat.
  • The victor is entitled only to what was agreed upon before the duel. If they're not interested in what their opponent has to offer, they can refuse a duel.
  • Winners should generally allow losers a rematch.
  • Always prepare for the unexpected.

The original draft held these rules[106]:

  • Combatants will give names and meanings to the duel for the benefit of beauty.
  • Combatants will declare the number of named duels before beginning.
  • Combatants may not repeat attacks by relying on stamina.
  • Combatants may not deliver attacks that do not have meaning. The meaning itself becomes the attack's power.
  • In the case that a combatant loses a named duel, that combatant will admit defeat, even if he or she has strength remaining. No combatant may kill a human, even upon victory.
  • Combatants will write the duel's name on paper in the format of a contract. By doing so, the above-mentioned rules become absolute. These papers will be called spell cards.

These rules allows for duels that feel almost like sport rather then a match, and have allowed for weaker fighters to challenge stronger ones, due to this though, it also has become possible for youkai to freely defeat Reimu without worrying about the consequences.

Due to them being written into cards and essentially affecting the ability and power of an attack, the spell cards are likely the thing binding attacks to specific properties.

Parallel Worlds

Parallel Worlds is a topic brought up at some points in the Touhou Project franchise, they are worlds called "Probability Worlds" by Yumemi, stating that those and parallel worlds are one and the same[107]. This essentially means that parallel worlds in Touhou are based on the concept of probability. Yumemi and Chiyuri use a "Probability Space Hypervessel" in order to travel to alternate worlds and time periods[108], further showcasing that probabiliy serves an importance.

Magical vs. Physical Strength

There[109] are[110] multiple[111] occasions[112] of[113]characters[114] commenting[115] on[116] humans like[117] Reimu[118] being strong[119]. Despite this Reimu showcases physical strength that isn't superhuman, such as the fact that she cannot cut a bamboo stick while Fujiwara direclty does in front of her.

This is due to the difference between magical and physical strength.

In works like Symposium of Post-mysticism, Yuugi Hoshiguma's profile has Suika directly state that Yuugi is weaker then her in magical powers, but stronger than her physically[120], lining a clear difference between magical and physical strength.

While one can be physically stronger then another, such as how Onis are physically the strongest, magic users are still able to keep up with them due to using a different form of attack.

An example can be found with Yuugi herself, when Reimu fights against her in Subterranean Animism[121], with her acknolwedging her strength[122], something Yuugi only does to those who are truly strong[120]. This establishes even with spellcard rules, Yuugi considers Reimu a strong fighter. Reimu herself is very clearly not at an oni's physical strength, as she cannot do the things they can, however, her magical strength allows her to keep up with them.

To defend against magical based properties requires Non-Standard Defenses as it is acknowledged as not being something of standard physicality.

The Three Layers of Reality

In Chapter 27 of Curiosities of Lotus Asia, Reimu proceeds to explain how reality works to Rinnosuke and Marisa, where she explains in-depth the three layers of reality.

This conversation started from discussing the mechanism of fortune, where Rinnosuke attempted to posit that the future is predetermined and that Reimu's luck was her being able to calculate in an instant the predetermined future, however Reimu had a different explanation requiring her to lecture on the mechanisms of probability[123], in her explanation, the world is made up of three layers: the physical layer that moves in accuracy with the laws of physics, the second layer that moves with the spirit, and the third layer of memory which is the recollection of events that lies within all things[17]. The memory layer rejects the loop of the physical and mental layers, the two layers the youkai conceive of the world which is why they believe history repeats itself and the future is predetermined. Since it's only possible to add to the memory layer, it's possible to completely recreate the past.

While the physical layer follows the laws of physics, the mental layer interprets the outcomes and the memory layer alters the probability, essentially creating the future, since it's impossible for memories to raech the same state as a point in the past, the future is not predetermined, thus when Reimu is able to predict how the dice will fall, she's not predicting the fall of the dice, the dice members the fact that she predicted how the dice would fall, thus due to this, Reimu entering the memory of the die-face greatly skews the results in Reimu's favor, where the results side with Reimu[124].

Thus the memory layer is essentially the most important layer that rejects the notion of loops from the previous two layers.

Dream vs. Reality

In the Touhou Project series, it is made very apparent that dream and reality are in truth one and the same.

In Changeability of Strange Dream, Maribel Hearn has a conversation with Renko Usami about how she is bringing objects out of her dreams[125], which Maribel posits that truth exists within subjectivity, if one can see the same sights over and over again then that's the kind of place it is as such dreams are nothing like the antonym of reality[126], where much longer ago people did not draw a distinction between dreams and reality[127], with Maribel reiterating that dreams and reality are the same[128].

In Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom it is shown that the Dream World is a separate plane[129], that in games like Antinomy of Common Flower are shown to have influence[130] on reality[131].

In the Urban Legends in Limbo finale, Sumireko notes that she is able to travel between the human world and Gensokyo whenver she sleeps, where her dream self enters Gensokyo[132] making her innately unable to be interacted with[133].

Trivia

  • Rumia holds the distinction of being the first official Windows-era boss in the Touhou Project.
  • While Play, Doujin! localizes her name as "Lumia" in their translations, ZUN himself and the broader Touhou doujin community consistently use "Rumia."
  • Rumia's non-spell card attacks and her spell card Moon Sign "Moonlight Ray" share similarities with the attack patterns of Sara, the first stage boss from Mystic Square.
  • During her conversation with Rumia in Embodiment of Scarlet Devil, Marisa references the phrase "人類は十進法を採用しました" ("Mankind adopted the decimal system"). This line originates from MORI Hiroshi's novel 誰もいなくなった　～ Thirty Little Indians (Then There Were None ~ Thirty Little Indians), part of まどろみ消去 ～Missing under the Mistletoe (Slumber Erasing ~ Missing under the Mistletoe).

近づいて、フカシとヨーコが手を振ると、西之園萌絵は、 両手を顔の横で広げてみせた。 人類は十進法を採用しました、というジェスチャではない。

(Coming closer, Fukashi and Yōko waved their hands, then Moe Nishinosono spread her hands next to her face. This wasn't the gesture of mankind adopting the decimal system.)

The author included this line to clarify that she did not spread her arms to form the shape of the character 十, but rather extended all ten fingers as if she had counted to ten.

  • The sigil for Rumia featured in The Grimoire of Marisa depicts a mistletoe.
  • Rumia was among the characters ZUN initially intended to include in Touhou Hisoutensoku. However, she was ultimately cut from the final roster.
  • An unused enemy sprite exists within the files of Embodiment of Scarlet Devil that bears a resemblance to Rumia, though it features a different hat in place of her ribbon and performs a distinct animation. Little is known about this sprite, but it appears to be an early iteration of Rumia's design.
 

Trivia

  • In one of the sprite sheets for Embodiment of Scarlet Devil, Koakuma appears among the Extra Stage sprites. This occurs because the same image was repurposed from the Stage 4 sprites, with a color overlay applied to the entire sheet.
 
  • Koakuma is one of the few Windows-era characters who does not appear as a background character in Hopeless Masquerade.
  • Koakuma, Daiyousei, Kasen's arm, Mizuchi, and Miyoi are currently the only Touhou characters to have official titles but no associated profiles or music themes.

Gallery

  •  

    Koakuma's cameo in Strange and Bright Nature Deity Chapter 14

  •  

    Koakuma's fortune slip in Whispered Oracle of Hakurei Shrine

Misconceptions

Characters Have Flown Through Outerspace

One example of this is believed to be in Touhou 02's Stage 3 Scarlet Dream ~ Scarlet Dream where it displays stars and a space-like effect in the background[134], however this is actually the World of Fantasies, the world that lies between Makai and the human world, with Genji confirming this is definetely not outerspace as Reimu can breathe just fine there[135].

All Characters are Children

This is an argument that spawns from how small the characters look in different works, though this is moreso due to the "moe" artstyle Touhou tries to capture, in many of the manga characters look far older.

Majority of characters in the series are outright shown to drink alcohol on a daily basis[136], where one needs to be at least 20 years old under Japanese law to drink, where Japanese law requires no underaged characters to be shown drinking. This is even acknowledged in the series itself with a note saying alcohol is only for those over 20 years old[137]. Thus if a character is ever seen drinking alcohol in the series, they are an adult.

The only direct non-adults in the series are Sumireko Usami, Chiyuri Kitashirakawa, and Hieda no Akyuu in her first appearance.

Youkai Control the world through both the mental and physical layer

This statement comes from a fan translation that says this in Curiosities of Lotus Asia[138].

While the statement seems clear cut, there is another translation used instead that makes more sense with the sentence.

It instead notes that most youkai concieve of the world through these two layers, which is why they believe the future is pre-determined and history repeats itself[139]. This falls in line with the earlier disucssion of Rinnosuke claiming that he believes the future to be predetermined and Reimu needing to explain to him why that's not the case[123].

Battle Records

0 - 2 - 0

None.

None.

References

Expand here.
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Strange Creators of Outer World Who's Who of Humans & Youkai in Gensokyo Page 18-19 "Daiyousei is called "Daiyousei" because she's "a great fairy among the other fairies", while Koakuma is called "Koakuma" because's she's "roughly the same size as Daiyousei, but she's rather small (in terms of strength) when compared to other devils". When I first developed "Embodiment of Scarlet Devil", I felt that midbosses were basically small fries by definition and thus didn't need names, but people kept asking me about their names, so when I developed "Perfect Cherry Blossom", I went with the name "Lilywhite" from the very beginning."
  2. ↑ Strange Creators of Outer World Who's Who of Humans & Youkai in Gensokyo Page 24-25 "Tewi comes from the fact that when I released "Embodiment of Scarlet Devil", everyone was so starved for characters that they pounced on the midbosses that I hadn't really put any thought into. So in order to prevent that from happening again, I felt I had to put more effort into it this time. Koakuma and Daiyousei were basically just "enemies that drop power-ups and aren't fighter jets." I did put some thought into Lily from "Perfect Cherry Blossom", but I did more than that for Tewi. There are both moon rabbits and Earth rabbits, so since the moon rabbits are connected to Japanese mythology through the Lunar Capital, I connected the Earth rabbits to the White Hare of Inaba. As for Reisen, I just felt like giving her crumpled ears so I did. The uniform is to give the impression that she doesn't have a consistent personality."
  3. ↑ 「あつまれ！東方ステーション2025 in ところざわサクラタウン」公開生放送＆ライブステージ
  4. ↑ ZUN's reply to messages on the former Gensou Bulletin Board 1 "Q. [EoSD] Who are the mid-bosses in stage two and four?
    A. Actually, I had prepared rough sketches of their face graphics, but that was the only things I made for them.
    If I had the time, I was planning these two to have spell cards, but I didn't have the time, so...
    Neither of them has a name, though. (^^;"
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Strange Creators of Outer World Who's Who of Humans & Youkai in Gensokyo Page 18-19 "She has no actual name, but she's called "Koakuma" for the sake of convenience. She first appeared as a midboss launching attacks in Embodiment of Scarlet Devil. From the perspective of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, the heroine is but an arbitrary intruder, so Koakuma felt she had no choice but to attack the suspicious intruder. She was spotted in the library, but it's unclear whether or not Patchouli was the one that summoned her."
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Whispered Oracle of Hakurei Shrine Page 21 "No. 5
    Prospective Fortune
    Demon Working in a Dusty Library
    Koakuma (Name Unknown)
    Capable of finding the needed book instantly
    Please be quiet. I can't hear the whisper of the books.
    Fortune: The hard work you put in every day will only show everyday results. But even so, you will grow from it.
    Studies: Now is the time to study. If you work hard every day, you'll achieve mastery.
    Finding Work: Anything related to education is auspicious.
    Business: Now is not the time to be concerned with making profits. You should be studying hard for the sake of your future.
    Love: You'll have success at flirting.
    Health: Poor. Failure to get enough exercise will damage your health.
    Career Advancement: You'll be blessed with a great boss, but getting promoted will be difficult.
    People: If you try to please everybody, you'll fail.
    Hobbies: Only reading books. Stories where people die are auspicious."
  7. ↑ Strange Creators of Outer World Who's Who of Humans & Youkai in Gensokyo Page 18-19 "Character Data: Koakuma
    Species: Devil
    Place of Activity: Scarlet Devil Mansion
    Main Ability: Unknown
    Appearances: "Embodiment of Scarlet Devil," etc."
  8. ↑ "Like Daiyousei, she is an unnamed midboss. There are many fairies who live and work in the Scarlet Devil Mansion, and she is similar to them.
    She's called by the nickname Koakuma (Little Devil), but she is a being of magic similar to Patchouli, and she is something like Patchouli's familiar. The nickname may come from her personality."
  9. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 48
  10. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 48
  11. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Reimu Ending
  12. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Kotohime Ending
  13. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  14. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  15. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Rikako vs. Chiyuri
  16. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Reimu Ending
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Curiosities of Lotus Asia Chapter 27 Mechanism of Fortune "That's how Reimu makes tea for three people 淹 (い) Yes, I handed it to him happily. After saying this, Reimu brewed tea for the three of us and gladly served it.
    It would be fun to hear why Reimu has such good intuition. I forgot to let the tea cool and brought it to my mouth./We looked forward to hearing the reason behind the quality of Reimu's intuition. I brought the tea to my lips, forgetting to cool it.
    "...Huh. Reimu's initial conditions became exactly the same Saiko (Dice) So you're saying that the same eyes don't necessarily appear?" "... Ah. So what you're saying is that even if the initial conditions of the dice are the same, it's possible to get different results?"/"Of course it will. That alone doesn't determine the outcome." "Of course, I am. Those aren't the only things deciding the outcome."
    The story of Reimu was not a difficult one, but it contained a shocking truth./Reimu's tale wasn't a difficult one, but there was a shocking truth contained therein.
    Reimu 曰 (Iwa) He says that the world is made up of three layers./According to her, the world is made up of three layers.
    First, there are the physical laws of living things, tools, etc 則 (Not yet) is a layer of moving physics. This layer is where objects fall towards the ground and river water flows./First is the physical layer that moves in accuracy with the laws of physics, including all living things, objects, etc. It is on this layer that an object falls towards the ground, and that the water of the river flows.
    The second is the movement of the mind and the layers of psychology such as magic and sorcery. Meeting assholes and getting offended, or having a party and getting rid of your rut is this demographic. Most monsters see the world solely through this layer of physics and psychology, so history repeats itself and the future is planned 戯れ (ざ) 言 (Goto) It is said that he says./The second layer is one that moves with the spirit, which includes things such as magic and sorcery, the mental layer. One's mood turning sour when meeting an unhappy person, and releasing all your stress and cares during a party lie here. Since most youkai conceive of the world just through these physical and mental layers, they Ridiculously say that history repeats itself and the future is predetermined.
    However, according to Reimu, the third layer of the world forms the loop of the world 拒 (Koba) Moo-y. The third layer is the layer of memory where all things remember events. The layers of memory increase but do not decrease, so we cannot be in exactly the same state as in the past. If it becomes the same as in the past, then the memory of it becoming the same is contradictory because it leaves you with nowhere to go. The layers of memory are only increasing./But according to Reimu, there is a third layer that rejects loops. The third layer is the layer of memory, which is the recollection of events that lies within all things. Since it's only possible to add to the memory layer, it's possible to completely recreate the past. If something were to happen that already occurred in the past, then there would be a contradiction because that would simply that memory was lost, which is impossible. The memory layer always continues to build up."
  18. ↑ Touhou Project - Highly Responsive to Prayers/Eastern Wondrous Tale Game Manual Touhou Reiiden Backstory: " * Yin-Yang Orb ... Hakurei Shrine's Greatest Treasure
    A mysterious orb with an unnatural amount of spiritual power. Perhaps a soul dwells within? It appears as though it could be alive. Normally you cannot defeat spirits or devilish powers without a weapon such as this."
  19. ↑ Touhou 02: Eastern Wonderland
  20. ↑ Touhou 01: Highly Responsive to Prayers Stage 5
  21. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  22. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  23. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Rikako vs. Chiyuri
  24. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Reimu Ending
  25. ↑ Touhou 06: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Stage 4
  26. ↑ Touhou 06: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Stage 4
  27. ↑ Touhou 06: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Stage 4
  28. ↑ Touhou 06: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Stage 4
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red Pages 24-25 Eirin "A New Dream Medicine for Modern Gensokyo
    Good news for the stressed contemporary youkai
    Gensokyo's master of medicine, Eirin Yagokoro ([self-proclaimed] human) has developed a new dream medicine for modern troubled people that lets one "enjoy sweet dreams".
    The name of this new drug is Butterfly Dream Pill. It takes its name from the dream it induces, where one becomes a butterfly and enjoys oneself. A few doses of the red pill before bed will prevent nightmares and create an enjoyable dream for a good night's sleep. Yagokoro explains the specifics of what led to the development of this medicine:"See, in Gensokyo, everyone are either youkai or demons or ghosts or such, so they're all fit and robust. There isn't really much of a demand for medicine for physical illnesses. These kind of beings are comprised mostly of spirit. Therefore, if they need any sort of care it would be for their mentality. The origin of the dream medicine was sparked by this realization."
    The Dream World is another self, says Yagokoro. If the dream is too enjoyable, there's a chance that the real world and the Dream World may switch places, so one must be careful of overdosing.
    "The medicine itself has existed since ancient times. In the past, there were many humans who took the medicine and could not return from the Dream World. In this new formula, I've weakened the potency and reduced the side effects."
    However, there are people who say that good things happen in nightmares as well. For those people who enjoy a little thrill in their dreams, the 'Butterfly Dream Pill Nightmare Type' is also available. This one is a black pill, and when taken, causes nightmares to occur."
  30. ↑ Touhou Project - Highly Responsive to Prayers/Eastern Wondrous Tale Game Manual Touhou Reiiden Backstory:"The real truth is that Reimu Hakurei is actually quite the optimist. Acting on her whims as always, she figured she'd go and enter one of the gates. After a while, she realized that only the Hakurei Shrine's greatest treasure, the Yin-Yang Orb, was effective against these non-human creatures.
    Reimu "Well, whatever. Things will turn out just fine as long as I use the yin-yang orb skillfully!"
    What sort of fate awaits this shrine maiden?"
  31. ↑ Touhou Project - Highly Responsive to Prayers/Eastern Wondrous Tale Game Manual Touhou Reiiden Backstory: "2. Character Introductions
    * Main Character ... Reimu Hakurei
    The shrine maiden of the Hakurei Shrine. She possesses an innate spiritual power but lacks the discipline to develop it. She wields the powerful Yin-Yang Orb, but without skill, often flailing it about wildly. Despite that, she is still a force to be reckoned with due to her natural power. Reimu has trained herself to attack with ofuda, her spirit power, and martial arts. These all proved useless against her enemies this time, though, so she's a bit worried. Currently, she is the only person at the shrine."
  32. ↑ Touhou Project - Highly Responsive to Prayers/Eastern Wondrous Tale Game Manual Touhou Reiiden Backstory: " * Yin-Yang Orb ... Hakurei Shrine's Greatest Treasure
    A mysterious orb with an unnatural amount of spiritual power. Perhaps a soul dwells within? It appears as though it could be alive. Normally you cannot defeat spirits or devilish powers without a weapon such as this."
  33. ↑ Dr. Latency's Freak Report Story #10 Pure Furies ~ Whereabouts of the Heart "Pure Furies" ""When they see me, the youkai living there will attack."
    "What...? ...Actually, you kind of have a habit of getting attacked by monsters, Merry."
    "Well, I'm used to it by now. I suppose it is only natural that they'd realize I'm a foreign presence. Like I see youkai as fluctuations, perhaps they see me as a phantom-like being."
  34. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  35. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  36. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Rikako vs. Chiyuri
  37. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Reimu Ending
  38. ↑ Touhou 10.5 Scarlet Weather Rhapsody Patchouli Story Stage 1
  39. ↑ Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character Extra Stage
  40. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  41. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  42. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  43. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Kana vs Chiyuri
  44. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Reimu Ending
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 Touhou Project - Highly Responsive to Prayers/Eastern Wondrous Tale Game Manual Touhou Reiiden Rules of the Game:"*Special Abilities
    Left + Right + Z Key
    or
    X+Z　2 times ... Spirit attack, a.k.a. bomb.
    You can only bomb as many times as indicated by the spirit attack counter in the upper part of the screen. You will gain a bomb when you collect a bomb item or die.
    When you perform this attack Reimu will become invincible and furthermore, enemy bullets will be destroyed. During regular stages, bombing will cause many of the panels to flip over. Bosses will not take damage from bombs but the temporary invincibility allows you to use this as an emergency dodge. When you have 0 lives left, bosses *will* take damage."
  46. ↑ Touhou Project - Story of Eastern Wonderland 封魔録.txt Controls "●Ｘkey　　　Uses a spiritual attack.
    Commonly known as the bomb. Allows invincibility for a short period."
  47. ↑ Touhou Project - Highly Responsive to Prayers/Eastern Wondrous Tale Game Manual Touhou Reiiden Rules of the Game:"Every 5 stages a boss will appear. Only the power of the Yin-Yang Orb can deal damage. (If you have 0 lives remaining your spirit attack can also do damage.)
    Bosses have various types of attacks but you can repel white bullets with your exorcism or somersault or the start of an ofuda burst. Also, if you hit a bullet directly with an ofuda you can destroy it.
    You cannot destroy lasers and missiles. When you're cornered simply accept that you will have to bomb. Otherwise it may be time to give up. Fire, exploding bullets and the like are also not destroyable."
  48. ↑ Touhou 02: Story of Eastern Wonderland
  49. ↑ Touhou Project - Lotus Land Story Manual Bonuses and extends "＊３．Bomb bonus
    Using a bomb will cause all items on screen to be attracted towards the player.
    At this time, collected items will have their value doubled.
    When using a bomb, go to the top of the screen as much as possible for higher scores."
  50. ↑ Touhou 05: Mystic Square
  51. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Final Stage
  52. ↑ Touhou 14.5: Urban Legend in Limbo Reimu Story Ending
  53. ↑ Touhou 01: Highly Responsive to Prayers
  54. ↑ Touhou 02: Story of Eastern Wonderland
  55. ↑ Touhou 04: Lotus Land Story
  56. ↑ Touhou 01: Highly Responsive to Prayers
  57. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 25
  58. ↑ Symposium of Post-mysticism Part 3 The Past and Present of the Tengu Pages 62-72 "［Tengu Then and Now ］/The Past and Present of the Tengu
    Byakuren
    Tengu are said to live in the mountains and cause various strange happenings. At first, it was probably just a human being./Tengu live in mountains and cause various strange occurrences. At first, they were beings that only did harm to humans.
    Miko
    Falling stones, kidnapping babies, threatening them with eerie sounds.../Like dropping rocks on them, stealing their babies, frightening them with eerie noises...
    Byakuren
    When Buddhism was introduced and Shugendo began, Tengu became the object of mountain worship. They are spirit-like beings who help or hinder the Shugendo mountain ascetics who practice holed up in the mountains. Yamabushi (*1), who practiced strict training, were indistinguishable from Tengu from the perspective of ordinary people, and gradually came to be identified with them. For this reason, Tengu today probably dress like mountain ascetics./But once Buddhism spread through the country and Shugendou started, tengu become objects of mountain worship. They were like spirits that both helped and hidered the mountain-dwelling Yamabushi who were training there. From the ordinary person's perspective, the Yamabushi (*1) underlying intense training were no different from the tengu, and gradually they came to be considered one and the same. Because of that, today's tengu still have a Yamabushi-like appearance.
    Marisa
    You're detailed./You sure know a lot about this.
    Byakuren
    I'm a specialist when it comes to Yokai studies. Excellent Shugendo practitioners were sometimes called immortals, so of course there were Tengu who became immortals./Because I specialize in knowledge of youkai. Since the great mountain ascetics were sometimes called hermits, I believe that there were also tengu who have become hermits.
    Marisa
    It's true that even today's Tengu seem to have some who look like hermits./Yeah, there definitely seem to be some hermit-like tengu out there, too.
    Byakuren
    By the way, it seems that it was only during the Edo period that the tall-nosed Tengu that humans often imagine became established. It is thought to come from an image of the mask that Yamabushi wore during training and festivals./Incidentally, the common image of long-nosed tengu seems to have been established around the time of the Edo Period (1603–1868). I believe the image comes from the masks that the monsters would wear while training and performing rituals.
    Miko
    I wonder if high-nosed Tengu are even in Gensokyo?　 I see a lot of Karasu Tengu./Does Gensokyo have any long-nosed tengu too? It feels like I only see crow tengu.
    Kanako
    Karasu Tengu is a newspaper reporter and delivery man, so that's all he comes down to the base of the mountain, but there are actually a lot of other Tengu deep in the mountains, right?　 It seems that Hanataka Tengu is a clerk and rarely comes out./The crow tengu are the newspaper reporters and deliverers, so they're the only ones who come down to the foothills, but there are actually lots of other tengu deep in the mountains. The long-nosed tengu are clerks, so it seems they don't get out much.
    Miko
    That's a strange story too./That's odd.
    Kanako
    Huh?　 What is it?/What's odd?
    Miko
    What is the image of Sarutahiko (*2) that underlies the image of a tall-nosed Tengu?　 Sarutahiko is the god of guidance, and for that matter, he is identified with Dosojin (*3), so don't he have to come out and work?/Isn't the image of the long-nosed tengu based on Sarutahiko(*2)? Sarutahiko is a god of guidance, making him the same as a god of travelers(*3), so shouldn't they be working outside?
    Byakuren
    That's true../That certainly is odd...
    Kanako
    Apparently Hanataka Tengu's latest job is mainly making maps, right?　 Ideally, you would build a system that can guide you without you having to show up. He said GPS (*4) or something./I've heard that their recent jobs have entailed making maps. They've been talking about their vision of eventually creating a guidance system where they don't even have to go outside. They call it GPS(*4) or something.
    Miko
    It's Sarutahiko, who is sideways (laughs)./What lazy Sarutahiko (laugh).
    Byakuren
    Well, it's not Sarutahiko himself, but simply a Tengu being identified with Sarutahiko and imitating him, so that may be the case./Well, they aren't Sarutahiko themselves, perhaps they are just considered the same since they are imitating him.
    Kanako
    Apologize to the real Sarutahiko./They should apologize to the real Sarutahiko.
    Marisa
    So, does that mean that Tengu has been given so many different images that he has become what he is today?/So the tengu ended up with the appearance they have now because of all those images of them?
    Byakuren
    Yes... well, that was the case until the Edo period. But right now, it may be a little different from a collection of different images./Yes... Wait, no, they were until the Edo Period. However, I would say they are a bit different now.
    Marisa
    Hou./Huh...
    Byakuren
    In the past, Tengu would help train mountain ascetics and sometimes appear as leaders at festivals and other events. This will be forgotten along with the superstition of folk tales due to the expansion of civilization, the decline of Shugendo due to its irreligion, and a human heart that no longer fears darkness. Tengu who were active alongside humans gradually became less visible. This put the existence of the monsters in jeopardy. Not just Tengu, but all monsters.../The tengu of the past used to help out the mountain monks with their training, and would sometimes also take a leadership role during festivals. But then, because of the Westernization of Japan, folklore became superstition, shugendou gave way to secularism, and they were forgotten about along with humanity's fear of the dark. The tengu who were working together with humans starting appearing less and less. For this reason, the existence of these youkai was endangered. And not just tengu, but all youkai...
    Miko
    To save the day, Gensokyo became an isolated world./And in order to deal with that crisis, Gensokyo became an isolated world.
    Byakuren
    Well, since I wasn't there at the time, I don't know how I got there (*5), but... Gensokyo took on its current form and was freed from the curse of the human imagination, and finally the monsters gained true freedom. Originally unable to define their form, they began to evolve in their own way. It is unclear what changes have occurred, but originally Tengu were monsters with strict hierarchical relationships, which is why they have come to build the society we see today./That's right. I wasn't here at the time so I don't know how this came about(*5), but when Gensokyo entered its current state, youkai were liberated from the spell of human imagination and obtained true freedom. Since they originally lost a stable form, they started to develop their own characteristics. I do not fully understand the kind of changes they have made, but because the tengu were youkai that had followed strict hierarchical rules, they were able to build the kind of society they have now.
    Marisa
    It's so good that it will. In other words, when combined, does this mean that yokai of the past were influenced by human imagination and changed their appearance, while yokai of today have changed independently?/I get it. To put it all together, the forms of youkai in the old days had been influenced by human imagination, and youkai nowdays can change on their own. Does that sound right?
    Byakuren
    I think so. That's why there is so much diversity in the monsters today./I believe so. That is why there is so much variety among youkai presentedly."
  59. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  60. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Kana vs Chiyuri
  61. ↑ Touhou 8: Imperishable Night Stage 5
  62. ↑ Touhou 8: Imperishable Night Stage 5
  63. ↑ Dr. Latency's Freak Report Story #09 The Sea Where One's Home Planet Reflects "Unstained See" "I saw a forest rich with diversity. I saw a proud, holy mountain, shut off to creatures who preferred the lower ground. I saw a deep lake covered in an arcane mist.
    Those sights weren't just beautiful, but natural too. They were all hidden in the invisible gaps of the quantum world.
    By the way, just what would happen if one went to a brane dominated by particles with different properties?
    Merry remembered, and her face contorted in terror."
  64. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  65. ↑ Dr. Latency's Freak Report Story #07 The Shining Needle Castle Sinking in the Air "Gravitino World" "Apparently, the "worlds beyond" didn't just have living things, but all manner of strange objects that defied common sense.
    "I saw a castle floating in the sky once, too. Upside-down, at that."
    "If the gravitons have a different structure, the world's properties would be different, too. That might've been the kind of brane you saw."
    "It felt mysterious and nostalgic. And I really liked the wooden tenshu."
    "Wait, tenshu? Since you said castle, I thought you meant like Cinderella's."
    "If I had to say which it resembled, it was more like Matsumoto."
    Merry had been enjoying her talk about the mysterious world, but she shivered when she briefly remembered something else. It seemed that not all of her memories were fun ones."
  66. ↑ Touhou 04: Lotus Land Story Stage 1
  67. ↑ Dr. Latency's Freak Report Story #04 September Pumpkin "Parallel Communication" "Is it possible to see different things in the same place?
    Merry said that she'd recently started to see multiple worlds at the same time. According to her, all people are seeing slightly different worlds. Particularly interesting was that despite this, they can apparently still communicate with each other.
    Merry started to tell a mysterious story. It was about a strange world that only some humans could see.
    Not only was it extremely small, but our common sense didn't apply there. A bizarre world where elementary particles flew across boundaries of both time and space.
    "...By 'only some humans,' do you mean physicists?"
    "Correct. Good on you, Renko.
    But, did you know that there are actually strange creatures lurking in that senseless world?""
  68. ↑ Touhou 13.5 Hopeless Masquerade
  69. ↑ Gensou Narratpograph Chapter 1, Page 35 "Reimu: (rolling) — Success. I smack her upside the head with my purification rod. I won't let you do the same thing twice! (laugh)
    GM: Very well. Chen has finally been defeated, and exploded like the
    Stage 2 boss she is.
    Reimu: Exploded. (laugh)
    GM (Chen): "Hnngh! It went so well the first time. I didn't expect the shrine maiden!""
  70. ↑ Touhou 06: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Stage 4
  71. ↑ 71.0 71.1 Touhou Project - Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Reimu Profile "スペルカードルール Spell Card Rules
    いかなる妖怪でも博麗の巫女を倒す訳にはいかず、妖怪の存在意義が消えようとしていたが、彼女は画期的な手段を持ってその問題を解決する。 Without a way for any youkai to defeat the Hakurei shrine maiden, many youkai felt that their meaning to exist had disappeared, but by taking some ground-breaking measures she solved this problem.
    それはスペルカードルールの導入である。 That is, the introduction of the spell card rules.
    スペルカードルールは、お互い技を見せ合い、その美しさで競う決闘ルールである。 The spell card rules are dueling rules that allow both parties to show off their skills in a beautiful competition.
    大雑把に言うと、 The major points are:
    *スペルカードとは、自分の得意技に名前を付けた物で、使う時は宣言してから使う必要がある。 *Spell cards are techniques specially-named by the individual, and they must be declared upon use.
    *お互いカードの枚数は予め決闘前に提示しなければならない。 *The number of each party's spell cards must be determined in advance of a duel.
    *手持ちのカードが全て破られると負けを認めなければいけない。 *The first party to have all of their spell cards beaten must admit defeat.
    *勝者は決闘前に決めた報酬以外は受け取らない。相手が提示した報酬が気に入らなければ断れる。 *The victor is entitled only to what was agreed upon before the duel. If they're not interested in what their opponent has to offer, they can refuse a duel.
    *勝者は敗者の再戦の希望を、積極的に受ける様にする。 *Winners should generally allow losers a rematch.
    *不慮の事故は覚悟しておく。 *Always prepare for the unexpected.
    といった内容のもので、これによりスポーツ感覚に近い決闘が出来る。 Following these rules allows for duels that feel almost like sport.
    そのルールの導入により、比較的力の弱い人間も妖怪に勝負を挑む事が可能となった。 With the introduction of these rules, it became possible for even relatively weak humans to challenge youkai.
    それと同時に気軽に巫女を倒す事も出来て、反対に妖怪も有る程度無茶出来る様になった。 At the same time, it became possible for youkai to freely defeat the shrine maiden without worrying about the consequences."
  72. ↑ Touhou 12.3 Hisoutensoku Mechanics
  73. ↑ Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Spell Practice, Last Word, No. 215 "Fantasy Nature"
  74. ↑ Touhou 06: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Stage 4
  75. ↑ ZUN's reply to messages on the former Gensou Bulletin Board 2 2003/03 "Q: In EoSD, who is the person Patchouli called "the person who likes to play around with time and space"?
    A: That is of course referring to Sakuya. Sakuya controls duration of time, not single moments of time. In the former case of "duration of time", you can't separate it from space. Because of that, manipulating time also means manipulating space, and vice-versa."
  76. ↑ Touhou 06: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Stage 4
  77. ↑ Touhou 06: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Stage 4
  78. ↑ Touhou 06: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Stage 4
  79. ↑ Touhou 06: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Stage 4
  80. ↑ Touhou Project - Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Manual "The shrine maiden of the Hakurei Shrine, Reimu Hakurei was living a mostly peaceful life.
    At this shrine, seldom visited by those come to pray, she was sometimes bored, sometimes not bored, and generally living in a carefree manner.
    On that day, Reimu was just a little less bored than usual.
    Reimu: "Geez, what is all this? If we're not getting any light, then the weather is not going to clear up at all."
    At the rate it was moving, the mist would reach past the shrine and descend to where humans lived.
    Gensokyo interfering with its peoples' lives would most likely cause Gensokyo to be eliminated by the hands of humans, too.
    Reimu: "Well, finding the cause of all this is a shrine maiden's job (isn't it?). For some reason, that lake back there is pretty suspicious, so let's go there!"
    With her body surrounded by the mysterious mist, The sharp-witted girl, relying on her senses, set off in the direction of the lake."
  81. ↑ Touhou Project - Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Manual "The lake was entirely covered by the mysterious mist.
    This mysterious energy was so strong that a normal human would only survive for about 30 minutes, but less ordinary humans too would have about thirty minutes.
    The center of the mist barely receives any light during the day, and filters out moonlight as well.
    From within the mist, a full moon looks hazy and several times larger.
    If we suppose the mist is the work of a human, one could say that the human must have eaten belladonna flower.
    In the very center of it all is an island, rejected by mankind simply because they could not live there. On that island is a mansion; one of few windows.
    Inside the mansion that knows neither day nor night, "she" was there.
  82. ↑ Touhou 04: Lotus Land Story Stage 1
  83. ↑ Immaterial and Missing Power Tutorial
  84. ↑ Touhou 17.5: Sunken Fossil World Reimu Story Tutorial
  85. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria Dim. Dream Rikako Ending
  86. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria Dim. Dream Rikako Ending
  87. ↑ Gensou Narratograph Chapter 1 Pages 104 - 108 "GM: Ahh, I had a great time! Thank you all for playing!
    All: Thank you!
    ZUN: I had fun. Lots of fun. (laugh)
    GM: Really!? Just hearing that makes me really happy.
    Player A: Yeah, it was great!
    GM: Thank you very much! So, we're about to get into the post-game!
    In reality, we're also supposed to do things like reset or advance your characters and stuff like that, but since the time limit's pressing down on us, I'd just like everyone to take a turn and share their thoughts about today's game, anything like that.
    Player B: Alright. Man, what should we talk about? (laugh)
    GM: (laugh) ...Well, suppose I'll start. First off, I'll say it again, but thank you, everyone.
    All: Thank you for the game!
    GM: In particular, it was really nice of ZUN to agree to play with us, and I loved watching him play Reimu.
    ZUN: No, no, it's nothing. (laugh)
    GM: It really made me feel, "So this is what Reimu's like!" Very strongly so.
    ZUN: Well, you know. Reimu's a character with no mercy towards youkai. Whether they're bad, or even haven't done anything, she'll hit them without a second thought. (laugh)
    GM: Yes, well... It was fun to watch. Player A, who played Cirno, has the longest history with tabletop RPGs here, so you could really call them a veteran, but they turned out to be a big help filling in the details of the story here.
    Player A: Yaaay. I'm glad you think so.
    GM: Aya was very cool in the Showdown Phase. In addition, they did a great job roleplaying and commenting on things in the scenes, and made me chuckle a lot of times.
    Player B: Hahaha. You're right, I did roll pretty well back there.
    GM: Also, speaking as the GM, excitable Sanae was a lot of fun to play!
    ZUN: You could tell from the start she was going to fail (laugh). The way she acted.
    GM: If that's what you thought, then it worked as intended (laugh). — So, moving on. Player A, if you would!
    Player A: Okaaay! Everyone, thank you so much! Everyone was really cute... I noticed I was grinning the whole time. (laugh)
    All: Thank you!
    Player A: I felt a lot of love for the source material in all of Aya's lines. Writing an extra, and the regular edition too, I really felt like "Man, being a reporter is a lot of work."
    Player B: That's great to hear.
    Player A: And Reimu was really awesome too. Really felt like this was "ZUN's Reimu". Saying what she wants, doing what she wants, being really rough on Cirno too, it was great to see. Compared to everyone else here, I don't know the source material nearly as well, so it might not have been a very Cirno-like Cirno, but I still had lots of fun messing around as her for a day. Thank you very much!
    GM: I think it was good you amped up her fairy-ness! — Well, next up, Player B. If you would.
    Player B: Riiight! Good work, everyone! Man... First off, Cirno was really cute. I thought her level of energy and clever use of her ability were really Cirno-like, actually. She was fun to watch.
    Player A: Hehehe. Alright!
    Player B: Also, the mental image of Sanae explaining the ski resort with a smug look on her face really stuck in my head. It was such a good smug face, I don't even know if it would come across in a photo. (laugh)
    ZUN: It was a good smug face. Sanae also has a habit of getting carried away, after all. (laugh)
    GM: I'm glad to hear you say that. (laugh)
    Player B: I feel like Aya really wants to write articles that make people chuckle, so the idea of being able to turn Sanae's smug photo against her was really funny. My main goal as Aya was to write some entertaining articles, so I'm glad I got a lot of chances for that. I think I managed to roleplay an Aya Shameimaru that matches what's in my head.
    ZUN: It was very Aya-like. (laugh)
    Player B: Thank you very much! — And, of course, I felt a really strong "canon Reimu" too, and was really moved. How direct she was with everyone, and her small hitbox, simply felt like her.
    ZUN: Yeah, exactly (laugh). That's what Reimu's like.
    Player B: Maaan, I'm still not over it. — Seriously, thank you!
    GM: Thank you very much. ...So, finally. Can I ask ZUN as well?
    ZUN: Of course. Man, it was fun (laugh). First off, Cirno. Watching "Charismatic" Cirno run around like that, I definitely thought, "Is that what Cirno's like?" ...but despite that, it was great, and I felt like I saw a new Cirno today. I felt like this game's own kind of Touhou-ness, own kind of playstyle and relationships between characters really got to shine. It was really good.
    Player A: Thank you very much!
    ZUN: Aya is a character who's easy to make a bit too righteous, but this one definitely wasn't. Her only looking for the bad sides of people is, if I had to say, more faithful to how I write her. Really Aya-like. It was great.
    Player B: Hehehe. That's just how Aya is, huh. Doesn't really think about anybody else, you could say.
    ZUN: Yeah, exactly. That's how she is (laugh). ...Also, the first thing that really surprised me was with that cat in the Human Village. I just threw "It was Chen, right?" out there as a bit of a joke, but then the GM picked that up and ran with it. I really thought "Wow! These are actually connected like that!?" It made me think that might be what's really good about these kinds of games.
    GM: I was a bit worried about that part, but I'm glad it worked out.
    ZUN: To be honest, I was kind of messing with you when I said that. (laugh)
    GM: Messing with me!?
    ZUN: (laugh) — Well, last, about the Reimu I played. I was kind of embarrassed in parts, and don't really know if you can call what I did roleplay. But in the final danmaku battle, watching the bullets fly past me even without doing anything, I really felt invincible for a moment, and like Reimu's character really ended up shining through somehow. I know the dice rolls are random and stuff, but it's interesting how you can see it like that.
    GM: Yeah, that's true. Of course, the numbers you get when rolling dice are just products of chance, but I think being able to sense meaning in them is one of the great things about tabletop RPGs. And since they're random, they end up going differently every time. (laugh)
    ZUN: True, true. I kinda wanna do this again sometime.
    GM: If you think so, that really makes me feel like it was worth making.
    ...But, well, until we get another chance, I think this is it for now. Good work today, everyone!
    All: Good work today!
    ..."
  88. ↑ Touhou Project - Highly Responsive to Prayers/Eastern Wondrous Tale Game Manual Touhou Reiiden Backstory: " * Yin-Yang Orb ... Hakurei Shrine's Greatest Treasure
    A mysterious orb with an unnatural amount of spiritual power. Perhaps a soul dwells within? It appears as though it could be alive. Normally you cannot defeat spirits or devilish powers without a weapon such as this."
  89. ↑ ZUN's Email "> • Are Yuki and Mai really dead?
    > I know we're dealing with a PC-98 game, but were Yuki and Mai from Mystic Square really killed?
    > Looking in particular in the conversation when Lady Mima and Yuki are left... (sweat)
    > Or is this also a type of joke, like Lady Remilia's statement that "Sakuya is dead" in EoSD?
    Basically, they're whatever-works types, so they might not be dead. I generally have no comment regarding the PC-98 games. Please ignore them just as one can ignore derivative works. :-)"
  90. ↑ ZUN's reply to messages on the former Gensou Bulletin Board "Ｑ．「幻想郷」旧作を知らないのですが、霊夢とアリスの過去になにが・・・？
    Ａ．基本的に、ストーリーに関係するキャラは全て紅魔郷以降になります。
    一応、紅魔郷から全体の設定を一掃したので、新シリーズみたいなもんだと
    思っていただけると(^^;

    Q: I don't know anything about the old games in Gensokyo, but did Reimu and Alice have something going on in the past?
    A: Generally, the story related to the characters will all be from Embodiment of Scarlet Devil and later. For now, you can just think of EoSD starting from a clean slate, and starting a new series. (^^;"
  91. ↑ Meiji University talkshow "Dawn of Touhou" "Q: Why was Highly Responsive to Prayers an Arkanoid-clone, not a shmup?
    ZUN: "Because it was a study product.""
  92. ↑ ZUN's AWA Q&A Panel Touhou Wiki Translation:
    "Q: Are the PC-98 games considered canon compared to the Windows series?
    ZUN: It's the same world. There are a few contradictions in the story when putting the PC-98 and Windows games side by side, but I would take reference from the latest games to consider what is canon."

    Word of the Nerd ZUN AWA Panel: Recap Translation:"Q: Are the PC-98 games considered canon compared to the Windows series?
    ZUN: There are a few contradictions in the story when putting the PC-98 and Windows games side by side, but I would take reference from the latest games to consider what is canon."

    Rukasarisari Tumblr Translation:"Q: Are the PC-98 games separate canonically from the Windows series?
    A: It’s the same world, and ZUN realizes there are contradictions. He then tells us to refer to the most recent games <for canon>."
  93. ↑ Embodiment of the Scarlet Devil おまけ.txt "So without any advice, here are the character backstories.
    ○Eternal Shrine Maiden
    Reimu Hakurei
    Ability: Able to Fly, and to Manipulate Natural Spirits.
    The protagonist.
    Chronologically this title is not too far from the previous title, thus her age stays the same as before.
    Unintentionally, she is a shrine maiden. Or rather, she is a shrine maiden only because the Touhou series has become the "Shrine Maiden Shooting Game" series. It feels like the cart has been placed before the horse to me.
    This time, her outfit is not overly intricate like typical shrine maiden clothing, but has become quite simple and only remotely resembles that of a shrine maiden. Is she really a shrine maiden?
    She's more like "You red & white girl!" in my opinion."
  94. ↑ Touhou Project - Strange Creators of Outer World Who's Who of Humans & Youkai in Gensokyo Yuuka Kazami "I basically just wanted to bring back a character from the old works (*from before "Embodiment of Scarlet Devil"). Her current appearance is based on the one from "Seihou Project", made by my juniors. Back then, based on the personal criteria I had for a "strong boss", I figured it would be better if she weren't being too serious the first time you fought her. Then, when she woke up all the way, she would have a "serious mode." I wonder if I could've gotten away with bringing back more older characters at the time, too... although they wouldn't mesh that well with the current setting. I'd say those old characters have probably retired by now, and are warmly watching over things from various places nowadays."
  95. ↑ ZUN's Gensou Denshou Lecture Gensou Denshou After Report "Questioner: Where has Ms. Mima gone to?
    ※Mima is a character introduced in Touhou Project's PC-98 games (Story of Eastern Wonderland, Mystic Square, etc).

    ZUN: The past is being brought up too huh? Bringing them back would make things complicated, and people will ask "Where have they been this entire time?!" I'd rather bring out new characters than go back to past characters. But, I also kinda wanna bring them back too. I won't say they'll never be brought back... that's kinda how I feel, see?

    Questioner:Even Genjii?
    ※Genjii is a character introduced in Touhou Project's PC-98 games. He assisted Reimu by allowing her to ride on him since she could not fly at the time.

    ZUN:Well Reimu is able to fly now. Either way, the idea of a turtle hermit... why did I do that? I feel like a Nimbus Cloud would have been a better idea (lol). Normally speaking, since turtles live a very long time, (Genjii) is most likely not dead. That is the impression I get."
  96. ↑ Meiji University talkshow "Dawn of Touhou" "Q: Where's Genjii now?
    ZUN: "Probably living in the lake at the back of the shrine... at least he's not consumed.""
  97. ↑ Touhou Sangetsusei ~ Strange and Bright Nature Deity Chapter 12
  98. ↑ Touhou Project - Perfect Cherry Blossom Stage 03 Reimu "Reimu: It's really cold out tonight...
    And I can't see a thing."

    Alice: Is your level of spring insufficient even to push away this cold?"

    Reimu: Well, that might be true.

    Alice: Long time no see.

    Reimu: We've only just met.

    Alice: No, that's not what I meant.

    Reimu: Long time no visibility?

    Alice: Don't you remember me? Well, either way is fine though.

    Reimu: Setting that aside, what did you mean by "level of spring"?

    Alice: I was referring to the springtime in your head.

    Reimu: I hope mine's not too high. Still, why has this winter been so long?

    Alice: There's someone who's gathering the spring.

    Reimu: And you have nothing to do with it?

    Alice: Of course not.

    Reimu: Bye.

    Alice: Hey!

    Alice: And we've only just met after so long, old friend. Have you only brought me your life as a gift?

    Reimu: And why am I being called "old friend" by this seven-colored magical moron?

    Alice: In the end, shrine maidens are two colors.
    Your power is only twenty-eight-point-five-seven-one-four percent as powerful as mine.
  99. ↑ Touhou Project - Phantasmagoria of Flower View Yuuka Story Episode 6 - Wonderful Shrine Maiden of Paradise: Reimu Hakurei "Yuuka: Flowers and ghosts and..., hmm. Speaking of which, this happened once before didn't it? How many decades ago was it? It's been so ordinary since then, I can't remember.

    Reimu: Ah, there you are!

    Reimu: You're the culprit, aren't you?

    Yuuka: Do you think that ignoring the events back then, would bring everything back to normal?

    Reimu: Everything went back to normal when I defeated you back then!"
  100. ↑ Touhou Project - Phantasmagoria of Flower View Yuuka vs Marisa Yuuka Victory Quote "Yuuka: Ah, you're still alive?
    You've grown up quite a bit."
  101. ↑ Touhou Project - Immaterial and Missing Power Omake Afterword "Greetings, from one's whose ratio of saying "nice to meet you" is decreasing steadily even in real life, ZUN.
    But this time there may be more people to who I am saying "nice to meet you" than for Imperishable Night.
    This time it's Touhou Suimusou (IaMP), Touhou Project Volume Number 7.5.
    Though I get the feeling "What's with 7.5 being released after 8", this isn't the numbering order of release, but rather the order of canon.
    The plot of this game happens between Perfect Cherry Blossom (Winter to Spring) and the time of Imperishable Night (Early Autumn).
    Eventually, the "game of the summer" started to feel more like a game coming in winter, right?"
  102. ↑ ZUN's reply to messages on the former Gensou Bulletin Board "Q: "Gensokyo" In "Embodiment of Scarlet Devil," wasn't it a serious affair for the strange mist to go down to the human village?
    A: Ahh, that it is a little misunderstanding.
    The motive of the turmoil, so to speak, is the motive of the youkai side who caused the turmoil.
    Since it can't be helped, even when Reimu and the gang are defeated, they challenge again however many times they want; but on the youkai side, they do not challenge again after being defeated and are not attached to the results of winning or losing..., to say it clearly it is assuredly an inconsequential thing^^;
    Mr.anonymous's post was precise so I shall cite it:
    Sorry for butting in. However, in my thinking, as for what shall happen when the mist given out by Remilia goes to the human village, in the first place, I have not conceived that the mist would go to the human village. So in other words, there was no bad intention. The reason for giving out the mist is also, "that" (haha so Reimu also went towards the extent of giving a warning, "it can't be helped" (although it is violent, eh?"
  103. ↑ Touhou Project - Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Reimu Profile
  104. ↑ Touhou Project - Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Reimu Profile
  105. ↑ Touhou Project - Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Reimu Profile
  106. ↑ Touhou Project - Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Unresolved Materials Draft of Spell Card Rules
  107. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Kana vs Chiyuri
  108. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  109. ↑ Touhou 05: Mystic Square Good Ending #1
  110. ↑ Touhou 6: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Stage 5
  111. ↑ Touhou 07: Perfect Cherry Blossom Extra Stage
  112. ↑ Touhou 8: Imperishable Night Extra Stage
  113. ↑ Meiji University talkshow "Dawn of Touhou" "Q: Who's the strongest in Gensokyo?
    ZUN: "Absolutely, ...isn't it Reimu? Although it seems obvious.""
  114. ↑ Touhou 15: Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom Stage 2
  115. ↑ Touhou 15: Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom Stage 4
  116. ↑ Touhou 16: Hidden Star in Four Seasons Stage 6
  117. ↑ Touhou 17: Wily Beast and Weakest Creature Extra Stage
  118. ↑ Touhou 18: Unconnected Marketeers Stage 2
  119. ↑ Touhou 18: Unconnected Marketeers Stage 3
  120. ↑ 120.0 120.1 Symposium of Post-mysticism Yuugi Hoshiguma Profile Pages 120-122 "The Spoken-of Unexplainable Phenomena
    Yuugi Hoshiguma
    Ability: The ability to wield unexplainable phenomena
    Threat level: Very High
    Human friendship level: Unknown
    Main place of activity: Former Hell
    An oni who silences crying children. While it's unknown where all the oni went, it's been confirmed that at least one lives in Former Hell. It's quite likely that there are other oni living in Former Hell as well. While oni have a strong sense of camaraderie, they have an even stronger sense of independence so it seems she doesn't know where the others live.
    It is said that she possesses unbelievably supernatural strength. According to fellow oni Suika Ibuki, "She's weaker than me in magical powers, but might be stronger than me physically."(*1) Although this is just a rumor, it is said that her superhuman strength is of the level where her footsteps alone are enough to make nearby buildings collapse.
    The sake dish she carries is said to be called the Hoshiguma Dish, an oni masterwork that increases the quality of any sake poured into it(*2). Its compatibility with the Ibuki Gourd carried by Suika Ibuki is extremely high.
    Currently, it seems she has cut off all contact with humans. Moreover, she tries to limit contact with the youkai on the surface as much as possible. For these reasons, there is little information on her.
    Regarding her personality, she is firm of character and straightforward. She likes the strong, the brave and the honest, while conversely shows no mercy towards the weak, the cowardly and the sly."
  121. ↑ Touhou 11: Subterranean Animism Stage 2
  122. ↑ Touhou 11: Subterranean Animism Stage 2
  123. ↑ 123.0 123.1 Curiosities of Lotus Asia Chapter 27 Mechanism of Fortune ""It's okay. 暫 (Shibara) Once I get there, this ghost story will die down. That's the future we have planned."/"It'll be fine. The phantoms will settle down after a while. The future is predetermined like that."
    Spiritual dreams Mysterious question (Kegen) He looked at me with a strange expression./Reimu gave me a dubious expression.
    "Rinnosuke says the same thing as vampires and monsters."/"The vampires and youkai say the same thing you do."
    It is said that ghosts have appeared on the streets, but this store 出 (﹅) る (﹅) There are few things. Ghosts are noisy to begin with 処 (place) It's easy to get together in. The ghost itself 儚Haka ({{{2}}}) Perhaps it's because they seem to be disappearing at any moment, but it's easy to feel their own presence 賑 (Nigi) Gather in a small place. They will likely gather in crowded places, just like humans did when they were alive./Phantoms will appear in public places, but they don't show up at my store often. To begin with, phantoms tend to gather easily wherever there is a lot of commotion. This is because of a phantom's transient nature, where they may vanish at any moment, so they gather at a lively place where it is easier for them to really feel their own existence. It is likely just as when they were human, preferring to be in crowds to people.
    "They say the future is planned, but that doesn't make sense. Some people seem to make their daily lives based solely on luck," Marisa said after having a spiritual dream./"There's no way the future is pre-defined. Some people's lives are supported just by luck, y'know." Marisa said, looking at Reimu.
    "Well, it's just luck 勘 (Kan) But even a hunch is a hunch that has some basis."/"Well, rather than 'just by luck' it's 'intuition', and that intuition is an intuition with a proper foundation."
    She looked like she couldn't believe Marisa./Marisa's expression said that she didn't believe her.
    "At the banquet ち (﹅) ん (﹅) ち (﹅) ろ (﹅) り (﹅) ん (﹅) Even when I did it, it wasn't a contest 賽 (Sai) You'll catch the eye of. What kind of basis do you have for that."/"Whenever we play Chinchirorin at parties, ya always call the face of the die to the point where there's no longer any competition. How can ya say there's a foundation for that?"
    Chinchirorin? Ah, Saiko (Dice) It's a simple game where you just have to look at the eyes of. Gambling at banquets is like the world of the yakuza./Chinchirorin? Ah, the simple game played with dice. Feasts and gambling, it's like the world of crime.
    "Marisa, I think the reason Reimu is able to ensure the dice are cast is because he is instantly calculating the planned future."/"Marisa, I believe the reason why Reimu can guess the outcome of dice rolls must be because she can calculate in an instant the predetermined future."
    I shared my thoughts on the mechanism by which the eye of the dice is determined. Reimu must probably be able to calculate the result intuitively by looking at Saiko's initial state. That's the kind of luck that exists in the world./I told them my idea, about the mechanism by which the outcome of dice was set. Perhaps after seeing the initial conditions Reimu can calculate the result of the dice by her intuition. Within this world good luck is that sort of thing.
    "Rinnosuke, that's completely different. You can't do that kind of calculation just by looking at the dice. Calculating people only think about probability. And even if you do the math, it won't turn out the way it does."/"That's not it at all, Mr. Rinnosuke. No matter how you slice it you couldn't do that kind of calculation just by looking at the dice. Calculating people only think with probabilities. Besides, even if they did calculate that the result won't go exactly as they thought."
    "Why do you think that? It's true that there's no way to calculate it, but if you could calculate it, you could read the future."/"Why do you think so? While I suppose you couldn't do that, wouldn't it still let you tell the future if you could?"
    Reimu looked shocked./Reimu looked shocked.
    "I seem to understand luck a few levels better, so I'll teach you today. The mechanism of probability. Also, the future is not planned..."/"Since it seems I have a deeper understanding of fortune, today I'll be doing the lecturing on the mechanism of probability. And while I'm at it I'll also show that the future is not predetermined…"
  124. ↑ Curiosities of Lotus Asia Chapter 27 Mechanism of Fortune "The layers of physics act on the laws of physics, the layers of psychology act on the interpretation of results, and the layers of memory act on the manipulation of probability, interacting to create the future. Since memories cannot be the same as a single point in the past, there are no plans for the future./The physical layer follows the laws of physics, the mental layer interprets the outcomes and the memory layer alters probability, mutually creating the future. Since it's impossible for memories to reach the same state as a point in the past, the future is not predetermined.
    For example, suppose you roll the dice once and get a 1. Even if you drop the dice again under the exact same conditions, the fact that one came out 賽 (﹅) 子 (﹅) が (﹅) 覚 (﹅) え (﹅) て (﹅) い (﹅) る (﹅) The above are not necessarily the same probability./So take a die rolling a one as an example. If you were to throw it again with the same initial conditions as before, since the die members the previous outcome it won't necessarily be the same probability.
    Just as I was about to hear and understand, I thought, "So how can you say you can read the dice?" Marisa asked./I followed her explanation up to that point, but then Marisa asked "So how are ya able to predict how the dice will fall?"
    I was distracted by Reimu's idea of a new world, but Marisa remained calm. If you can read the dice, not only will you be able to stand it and not lose, but you may also be able to achieve the same level of luck as Reimu./While I was entranced by Reimu's new illustration of the world, Marisa was unfazed. I didn't think she wanted to know just to beat Reimu at Chinchirorin, but to use that idea to become as lucky as Reimu.
    "I'm not really reading the next die. 私 (﹅) が (﹅) 賽 (﹅) の (﹅) 目 (﹅) を (﹅) 予 (﹅) 想 (﹅) し (﹅) た (﹅) That's what Saiko remembers."/"I'm not "predicting" the fall of the dice at all. The dice members the fact that 'I predicted how the dice would fall'."
    Just by having a lucky card called Reimu in your memory at the dice, the result will be great and you will be on the Reimu side 偏 (Katayo) It is said to be a ru. 結 (﹅) 果 (﹅) が (﹅) 霊 (﹅) 夢 (﹅) に (﹅) 付 (﹅) い (﹅) て (﹅) く (﹅) る (﹅) Apparently./According to this, by the lucky card called Reimu entering the memory of the die-face the result greatly skews in Reimu's favorite. Apparently, 'the results side with Reimu'.
    "Well, then such knowledge is of no use to anyone except those with good fortune," Marisa was embarrassed./"What? Howzzat gonna help anyone but those who are already lucky?" Marisa sunk.
    I thought there was something false and shady about luck in the world. A big factor in this is that I thought the future was planned. Good luck (Engi) Even things were perceived as just far-fetched lumps./I doubted the existence of things such as fortune in this world, thinking it seemed like a lie. This was too likely of me thinking that the future was predetermined. I saw good luck charms as nothing more than lumps of sophistry.
    However, hearing Reimu's words reaffirmed the existence of luck in this world. There are certainly lucky and bad people. 験 (Gen) を 担 (and) Some people succeed easily. To the jinx 囚 (Tora) I have people who fail. It may certainly be rough to think of all of these as just initial conditions./ Whatever, upon listening to Reimu's words, I have reaffirmed the existence of fortune. The blessed man and the cursed man both exist, certainly. There is a man that succeeds in shouldering his trials. There is a man that is a failure, captive by jinxes, as well. It might certainly be reckless to think of each one as mere because of initial conditions.
    If the determination of probability is due to the power of memory, it may not be surprising that lucky charms have the power to manipulate probability. The origin is complex and strange 程 (Moderate) , memory is Taki (Taki) This also means that the status of lucky charms increases./If we assume that probability is determined by the power of memory, it may be natural that probability can be manipulated by the power of good luck charms. The more complicated and unusual the origins are, the more memories a charm will have, therefore raising its effectiveness.
    Reimu added that 『all matter and psychology in this world are created by probability, and it is the luck of memory that determines this』./Reimu added to this, "In this world, both objects and souls are made up of probability, and are determined by the fortune which memories hold."
    I once heard that word and remembered it. 『 こ (﹅) の (﹅) 世 (﹅) の (﹅) 物 (﹅) 質 (﹅) は (﹅) 全 (﹅) て (﹅) 確 (﹅) 率 (﹅) で (﹅) 存 (﹅) 在 (﹅) し (﹅) て (﹅) い (﹅) る (﹅) For it is already common sense』 I have seen science books from the outside world that say things like this. I remember looking at the book and not being able to figure out 『who would confirm the probability』 and not really understanding it./Hearing those words I remembered something. "It is already common knowledge that everything in the world exists by probabilities." Something along those lines was written in a science textbook from the outside world. I recall having only a huge compromise of its meaning, and I didn't understand, "Who determines the outcome of those probabilities?"
    However, Reimu was thinking of something similar, and he also realized that he had the power to determine probability in his memory. It was amazing./But Reimu had thought the same kind of thing, and even realized that it is memories which hold the right to determine those probabilities. It was surprising.
    "Memory determines probability... in other words What goes around comes around (Ingaohou) You could also say, it's amazing. That may indeed be true. But how did you acquire that knowledge?"/"Memory determinations probability... in other words, you could say it's karma. That's pretty amazing. It may very well be true. By the way, how did you come across this knowledge?"
    Always Inaction (Mui) I almost added that it looks like the wind that lives in, but I stopped to move the story along smoothly./Your lifestyle appears so idle, I was about to add, but to preserve the current subject I changed my mind.
    「 も (﹅) の (﹅) 凄 (﹅) く (﹅) 頭 (﹅) の (﹅) 良 (﹅) い (﹅) 人 (﹅) 間 (﹅) I asked him."/"I heard it from a really, really smart human."
  125. ↑ Changeability of Strange Dream #05 Boys and Girls of the Age of Science ""Here are the cookies I got at the scarlet mansion, and the natural bamboo shoots from the bamboo forest." "Huh? I thought you were talking about a dream, Merry?" The girl listening to me talk about my dreams is Renko Usami: the other member of our little club of two, and the one who comes up with most of our activities. Renko can tell where she is and what time of day it is just by looking at the sky. Creepy.
    Also, Renko calls me Merry. People in this country seem to have trouble pronouncing my name, to the point where I wonder if anyone even remembers it anymore.
    "I am talking about my dreams. I told you that from the start, didn't I?" "...But if those were dreams, then how do you have those things here in reality?" "That's precisely why I wanted to consult you."
    It's becoming hard for me to tell what's a dream and what's reality. The dreams usually end when I'm being chased by a youkai. They're nightmares worthy of being called nightmares, but... If I keep bringing things along from my dreams without realizing it, then maybe even the conversation I'm having now is just a dream...
    "Alright, here's my first piece of advice for you, Merry. These aren't bamboo shoots anymore. By the time they get to this size they're too tough to eat." But if I could change them from nightmares to good dreams, I might prefer them to my present reality... "Natural bamboo shoots hide underground, to protect themselves while they're soft and tasty.""
  126. ↑ Changeability of Strange Dream #06 Retribution for the Eternal Night ~ Imperishable Night "I ran for dear life, even though I was in a dream.
    I didn't know why it was, but the laughter that I heard sounded like something that clearly wasn't human.
    My instincts were telling me "Run for it!"
    But the bamboo forest was sloped at a slight angle, which made me lose my sense of balance.
    I tried to run in a straight line, but what really happened, I wonder?
    Although it felt like I'd run quite a lot, there was nothing to see but the same scenery as before.
    Did this forest continue on for eternity, or was I running around in circles?
    ...But I suppose either would have the same result.
    To think in such a way that "from an objective point of view, there exists a definite truth" like Renko does really is old-fashioned.
    The truth exists within subjectivity. If I can only see the same sights over and over again... then that's the kind of place this is.
    And that's why I'm running.
    Because dreams are nothing like the antonym of reality.
    By today's common knowledge, the two are synonyms.
    Even in dreams, one must flee from things of unknown nature. That is the truth.
    My major is relativistic psychology.
    Renko's is super-unified physics. I wonder if her recent study of strings is going well?"
  127. ↑ Changeability of Strange Dream #07 Night Falls ~ Evening Star "But... it's strange. Even though there are an awful lot of old-fashioned people like you who consider dreams and reality to be direct opposites, I heard that people much, much longer ago didn't draw a distinction between dreams and reality.
    And now, we draw a distinction between dream and reality, but they are the same.
    The truth of reality and the truth of dreams, the me of reality and the me of dreams, they each exist.
    A butterfly of night or a human of the day...
    According to current common knowledge, both are me.
    I felt that I ran away a considerable distance, but I didn't feel fatigued at all.
    Was it because I moved as if I was flying in the sky? Did I become a butterfly, I wonder?
    But I could see the finish line for this kind of midnight marathon...
    ...I stopped running.
    Because a little further through the bamboo forest ahead of me, there was a scarlet red shining light.
    It had an ominous glow, as if it was not real.
    To compare it to something you'd understand...
    Its color might have been closest to that of the flame test of rubidium, perhaps?
    It was certainly nothing like a glowing bamboo stalk.
    Remaining cautious of what may have been behind me, I stealthily peeked in the direction of the light."
  128. ↑ Changeability of Strange Dream #09 Border Between Dreams and Reality ""And, this is the scrap of paper that I found on the ground after the big mouse and the girl left."
    "Hey, are you actually talking about a dream?"
    The origin of the scarlet light that confronted the big mouse was somehow a girl. That girl was shining with a scarlet light. As for the reason why she was shining scarlet, it is very simply that the girl's body was entirely engulfed in flames.
    No, that description is not entirely correct. It's more accurate to say that she was emitting flames from her body. The deep scarlet flames spread out diagonally upward, like a bird spreading its wings...
    Yes, that was how it was. She was ominous— incomparably more so than the big mouse with the human face. The big mouse was terrified and fled as soon as the girl raised her hands.
    "I keep telling youuu... Dreams and reality are the same thing. I've told you time and time again, haven't I? To me, talking to you now could be a dream, or it could be reality..."
    "Hey, listen, Merry, I'll hear you out about the dream world, so just calm down a bit. In the end, who was that girl? What happened afterwards?"
    "I don't know. After that, the big mouse ran away... and the girl left, too. I stayed hidden the whole time so the large mouse and the girl wouldn't see me. Why'd I stay hidden when she'd chased that mouse away for me, you ask? Well..."
    I'd gotten a look at that girl's eyes—scarlet beyond even the big mouse's...
    "...Because you couldn't call that human.""
  129. ↑ Touhou 15: Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom Stage 3
  130. ↑ Tohou 15.5 Antinomy of Common Flowers Futo/Ichirin Story Stage 3
  131. ↑ Tohou 15.5 Antinomy of Common Flowers Nitori/Kokoro Story Stage 5
  132. ↑ Touhou 14.5: Urban Legend in Limbo Reimu Story Ending
  133. ↑ Touhou 14.5: Urban Legend in Limbo Reimu Story Ending
  134. ↑ Touhou 02: Story of Eastern Wonderland Stage 03
  135. ↑ Touhou 02: Story of Eastern Wonderland Stage 03
  136. ↑ Touhou Sangetsusei (Three Fairies) ~ Oriental Sacred Place Chapters 1-2
  137. ↑ Touhou Sangetsusei (Three Fairies) ~ Strange and Bright Nature Deity Chapter 6
  138. ↑ Curiosities of Lotus Asia Chapter 27 Page 198-205 "She says that the world is made up of three layers:
    First is the physical layer that moves in accordance with the laws of physics, including all living things, objects, etcetera. It is on this layer that an object falls toward the ground, and that the water of the river flows.
    The second layer is one that moves with the spirit, which includes things such as magic and sorcery — the mental layer. One's mood turning sour when meeting an unpleasant person, and releasing all your stress and cares during a party lie here. Since most youkai can control the world through both the physical and mental layers, they say that history repeats itself and the future is predetermined as a prank.
    But according to Reimu, there is a third layer that rejects loops: this third layer is the memory layer, which is the recollection of events that lies within all things. Since it is only possible to add to the memory layer, it's impossible to completely recreate the past; if something were to happen that already occurred in the past, then there would be a contradiction because that would imply that that memory was lost, which is impossible. The memory layer always continues to build up."
  139. ↑ Curiosities of Lotus Asia Chapter 27 Page 198-205 "The second layer is one that moves with the spirit, which includes things such as magic and sorcery, the mental layer. One's mood turning sour when meeting an unhappy person, and releasing all your stress and cares during a party lie here. Since most youkai conceive of the world just through these physical and mental layers, they Ridiculously say that history repeats itself and the future is predetermined."
  140. ↑ Touhou 06: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil
  141. ↑ Touhou 06: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil


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