Join the Discord →
Learn More →
See Project →
See About page
Rika
Rika (里香) is a tank engineer who appears in both Stage 1 and the Extra Stage of Story of Eastern Wonderland, serving as the boss for both stages. During Reimu Hakurei's absence, she creates numerous monsters and begins occupying the area around the Hakurei Shrine. The reason for creating these monsters and bakebake, as well as the method by which she created them, remains entirely unclear.
Rika is known for operating machines of her own creation, including several cannons, the Shrine Tank, the Flower-Tank, and the flying tank Evil Eye Σ. As an engineer, she would presumably need to excel in mathematics and science to construct such vehicles. However, how she manages to accomplish this using Gensokyo's available technology remains unknown. In her speech patterns, she frequently employs the verbal tic "It's assuredly that—" (~なのです ~nanodesu).
| Rika | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Origin | ||||
| Origin | Touhou | |||
| Creator | ZUN | |||
| First Appearance | Touhou Project: Story of Eastern Wonderland | |||
| Characteristics | ||||
| Species | Human | |||
| Gender | Female | |||
| Pronouns | She/Her | |||
| Sexuality | Unknown | |||
| Age | Unknown | |||
| Birthday | Unknown | |||
| Height | Unknown | |||
| Weight | Unknown | |||
| Ethnicity | Japanese | |||
| Status | Alive | |||
| Alignment | Neutral Evil | |||
| Archetype | Tech Wizard | |||
| Occupation | Tank Engineer | |||
| Time Period | Non-linear | |||
| Language | Japanese | |||
| Combat Style | Tank Combat | |||
| Homeworld | Gensokyo | |||
| Relationships | ||||
| Affiliations | Creations of Stage 1 & Extra Stage | |||
| Enemies | Reimu Hakurei | |||
Background
| This dropdown contains the synopsis of Rika’s story. Read at your own risk as you may be spoiled otherwise! | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Story of Eastern Wonderland
During Stage 1 of Story of Eastern Wonderland, Reimu Hakurei and Genji encounter Rika as a "suspicious character". Rika claims that everything on the stage—including the bakebake, several cannons, and the Shrine Tank—was created by her. Without any apparent reason, she then attacks Reimu using the Flower-Tank she constructed, though she is quickly defeated. Sobbing afterward, she attempts to lure Reimu into following her into a trap, but Reimu refuses and proceeds in another direction. Later, during the Extra Stage, Reimu encounters Rika again. Rika reveals her name and explains that this is the "trap" she had wanted Reimu to enter: a confrontation with her flying tank, Evil Eye Σ. Their conversation touches on how Reimu had followed Rika during Stage 1, and Rika remarks that Reimu's battle with Evil Eye Σ would have technically been Stage 2, breaking the fourth wall. After a prolonged and difficult battle, Rika is defeated, and Evil Eye Σ emits a massive explosion for the player to evade. |
Name Meaning
Her name Rika uses the following kanji 里香. The kanji used can be interpreted as "village incense". With different kanji characters, "Rika" can also mean "science" in Japanese. There is a possibility that her name may also be based on Rika Kayama, a psychiatrist.
Appearance
General Description: Rika's appearance changes between her portrait, in-game sprite, and Extra Stage design, with notable differences in hair and eye colors.
Portrait Art Appearance:
- Facial Features: Long brown hair styled into two braids. Brown eyes.
- Clothing/Outfit: A white shirt with a purple bow beneath its collar.
- Items: A piece of chalk held in her left hand.
In-Game Sprite Appearance:
- Facial Features: Black hair (due to sprite limitations).
- Clothing/Outfit: A grey shirt, a red cape, and what appears to be black trousers.
Extra Stage Appearance:
- Facial Features: Long hair in two braids, colored either purple or brown depending on interpretation. Eyes matching the hair color (purple or brown). White horns are present on her head.
- Clothing/Outfit: A strange red hat. A purple shirt with a red ribbon in the front.
Special Features: Rika is one of the few PC-98 characters whose appearance changes significantly between her official art, standard sprite, and Extra Stage form. She has white horns in her Extra Stage design.
Alternate Forms/Disguises: Her Extra Stage form is a distinct variation from her standard appearance.
Personality
- Trickster: After her initial defeat in Stage 1, Rika sobbed but attempted to lure Reimu into following her. This later led to Reimu encountering her in the Extra Stage, where Rika confirmed this was the trap she had intended. She then engaged Reimu in battle with her flying tank, Evil Eye Σ.
- Speech Pattern: Rika frequently uses the verbal tic "It's assuredly that—" (〜なのです ~nanodesu) in her dialogue.
Goals
- Defeat Reimu (Failed).
General Information
Origin: Touhou
Overall Series: Touhou Project
First Appearance: Touhou Project: Story of Eastern Wonderland
Latest Appearance: Touhou Project: Story of Eastern Wonderland
Company: Team Shanghai Alice
Creator: ZUN
Actor: N/A
Gender: Female
Sexuality: Unknown
Pronouns: She/Her
Handedness: Left-Handed (Both of her portrait arts shows her holding objects with her left hand)
Age: Unknown
Birthday: Unknown
Time Period: The world of Gensokyo itself is in a non-linear time period
Timeline: Main Timeline
Homeworld: Gensokyo
Residence: Gensokyo
Story Role: First Stage Boss, Secret Boss
Legacy: Unknown Legacy
Influence: EVent Influence (Rika is the one responsible for the ghost in stage one)
Language: Japanese
Ethnicity: Japanese
Religion: Unknown
Classification: Engineer
State of Being: Regular
Physiology: Humanoid Physiology
In-Universe Creator: Unknown
Occupation: Tank Engineer[3]
Combat Style: Tank Combat
Affiliations: Creations of Stage 1 & Extra Stage
Enemies: Reimu Hakurei
Height: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Status: Alive (Noted by ZUN that characters from the PC-98 games have probably retired and are warmly watching over things from various places nowadays[4])
- For Herself: Neutral Evil (Was the one responsible for the[5] Hakurei Shrine going out of control[6] due to the youkai attacking[7])
- For Her Creations: Neutral Evil (Youkai carry about one thing in common, that they attack and prey upon humans, they only think of themselves, and they are the most dangerous enemies to humans[8])
Threat Level: Street Threat
- 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.
Archetypal Tiering: Tech Wizard
Codex Statistics
Grade: A
Tier: 10-B physically. At least 9-B with Flower Tank & Evil Eye Σ physicals, Far Higher with Spiritual Power
Cardinality: Finite
Dimensionality: 3-D
Power Source: Spirit
Attack Potency: Average Human level physically. At least Wall level (Size) with Flower Tank & Evil Eye Σ physicals (As her tanks should be at the same level of realistic tanks, shooting out this level of power. Believed that the Evil Eye Σ would've crushed Reimu, being her ultimate battle weapon[9]), Far Higher with Spiritual Power (As she's creating ghosts who are of spirit[10], who are noted by Genji to be Youkai[7], where Youkai's bodies in truth are just their souls[11]. Noted how even Yumemi Okazaki's scientific magic truly pales in comparisson with the real thing[12], which Yumemi noted to not make light of the power of her science as she could blow up the planet at any moment[13]). Can ignore covnentional durability with Magic (Magic exists outside of the Grand Unified Theory[14], 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[15]. Yumemi also explains that in the world of Gensokyo, magic unifies everything[16]. Magic is noted by Yumemi to have close ties with religion[17]. 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[18])
Durability: At least Wall level physically (Tanked the explosion of her tank[19]). At least Wall level (Size) with Flower Tank & Evil Eye Σ physicals, Far Higher with Spiritual Power (Can take multiple hits from Reimu's spiritual attacks[20])
Striking Strength: Average Human Class
Lifting Strength: Average Human Class
Travel Speed: Average Human Speed, Superhuman in Flower Tank & Evil Eye Σ (Should be comparable to real tanks, which can move up to 45 mph)
Attack Speed: Superhuman. 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])
Stamina: Average
Range: Standard Melee. Kilometers with Tanks (The effective rank of a tank gun projectile is typically no less than two to four kilometers)
Intelligence: Supergenius Intelligence (Rika is the one who created the ghost during Stage 1 of Story of Eastern Wonderland[25], who are noted by Genji to be Youkai[7], where Youkai's bodies in truth are just their souls[26], with the soul being the second layer of reality which is spirit and magic, while the first layer is where all things within the laws of physics presides[18]. Created a tank capable of flight[27])
Knowledge: Master level
Powers and Techniques
- Genius Intelligence (Rika is the one who created the ghost during Stage 1 of Story of Eastern Wonderland[28])
- Human Achievements (Rika is a tank engineer[29])
- Vehicular Usage
- Land Vehicles: Can pilot the Flower-Tank while fighting Reimu[30].
- Air Vehicles: Can pilot the flying Evil Eye Σ while fighting Reimu[31].
- Preparation (Rika is the one who created the ghost during Stage 1 of Story of Eastern Wonderland[32]. Developed a flower tank in order to defeat Reimu[33]. Attempted to trick Reimu to lead her into a trap[34], where she had a much stronger machine ready[35])
- Sheer Will (When asked how do the characters have multiple "lives" in the game, ZUN notes that it's guts, so if they earn more points, it's them having more guts to continue fighting[36], while this may have initially been merely a joke, 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[37])
- Breaking the Fourth Wall (Touhou characters constantly acknowledge being a stage boss[38]. Acknowledged being the first stage boss[39])
- Cartoon Physics (Gensokyo is a world that lacks and defies common sense[40], where characters can explode[41], this is even acknowledged with ZUN roleplaying as the characters in-universe that they explode upon defeat[42]. Despite this they will still come back, even human characters that do not have regeneration)
- Acausality
- Non-Standard Interaction
- Non-Standard Damage (As she is capable of creating the ghost and is considered enough to be a stage boss for Reimu, she should be able to harm non-humans too[47], where 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[48])
- Observation
- Unconscious Manifestation: Gods and buddhas are no more than youkai, yet youkai are hated while gods are worshipped, all being due to humanity deciding it should be that way[49]. The form Nue takes has changed due to the various ways people have observed her[50]. Humans created reasoning in order to explain all natural phenomena, thus every phenomena that could be observed therefore belongs to the human race, due to this, humans come to believe all but one, or perhaps even all forms of reasoning were false, spawnning youkai who were born from the natural phenomena and thoughts people have about them[51].
- Truth Manipulation & Information Manipulation (Truth is built upon information just like a tower is built upon sand, most of the truths that are known are built upon information, thus truth is easily changed by informationa nd there's no such thing as information that concepts only but the truth as truth itself is the ultimate illusion, one that does not exist in Gensokyo[52])
- Magic (Noted by Yumemi that this world's Chiyuri can use magic[53]. Magic exists outside of the Grand Unified Theory[54], 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[55]. Yumemi also explains that in the world of Gensokyo, magic unifies everything[56]. Magic is noted by Yumemi to have close ties with religion[57])
- Transferal (Magic users can transfer their magic into a tool, having the tool change depending on the user[58])
- Acausality
- For their Magic
- Irregular Causality
- Unknown: It's noted that magic power exists outside of the Grand Unified Theory[59], 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. It's further explained that magic is a force that cannot be explained by the Grand Unified Theory, with Yumemi even proposing a "Non-Unfied Magic World" theory[60]. 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[61]. Magic does not exist in Yumemi's world, which is a Probability World, a different world, but in the same dimension[62].
- Irregular Causality
- For their Magic
- Holy Manipulation (Magic is noted by Yumemi to have close ties with religion[63])
- Information Manipulation (Human's life information is the ultimate impurity, being apart of Earthly information[64], which is the information of all living things[65]. The reason why this is never shown is that the Asama Joue Moutain is a shrine that neutralizes human impurities[66], where if the human information cannot be processed it will throw the Lunar Capital into disarray[67])
- Link Manipulation (Strong Emotions can be contained in objects that can connect between the main world and the netherworld[68])
- Spirit Manipulation (The bombs used are referred to as spiritual attacks[69], being directly called spiritual attacks[70])
- Explosion Manipulation (When bomb users are cornered from attacks they cannot repel with regular attacks they can release a massive spirit explosive that destroys all objects on screen[71], along with killing all enemies on screen[72])
- Magnetism Manipulation (When using a bomb[73], all items on screen will be attracted towards the user[74])
- Perception Manipulation (When using a bomb the screen flashes white and an image of the bomb user can be seen[75])
- Logic Manipulation (The Great Hakurei Barrier is a boundary of common sense, which things with high spiritual power in the cause to waver[76])
- Nullification & Erasure
- Projectile Nullification & Physical Erasure: Bomb users can use a bomb to nullify & erase all projectiles on screen[77]. This makes the enemy incapable of[78] shooting out any further projectiles until the bomb's duration is done[79].
- Invulnerability
- Resistance to
- Purification (Eirin noted that only humans could solve the incident with Junko as youkai being completely impure could not eevn see her[81], with it being noted that non-humans cannot get close to her[82], where Junko's powers of purification allows her to kill one unconditionally, removing all impurities from them[83], with impurity being the concept of life and death where to lose one's impurity is to lose both life and death[84], it was also shown a metallic spider's march of purification caused all the trees withering before one's eyes and not one blade of grass was left in the spider's tracks[85])
- Matter Manipulation & Physics Manipulation (Gensokyo is a brane world dominated by particles with different properties, not following the standard physics of the real world[43], with the grand unified theory being the reason for all pheneomna in the human world, which does not apply to Gensokyo[86])
- Gravity Manipulation (Noted by Maribel that in the world of Gensokyo, they the gravitons likely have a different structure and the world's properties are likely different too, likening it to being one of the brane worlds[87])
- Probability Manipulation (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[88]. Magic does not exist in Yumemi's world, which is a Probability World, a different world, but in the same dimension[89])
Stage 1 Midboss Tank
Flower-Tank
- Curtain Fire
- Multi-Directional & Rapid Fire: Can shoot out a multitude of energy bullets in all directions[91]. Shoots out a multitude of energy orbs in all directions at fast speeds[92].
- Energy Manipulation
Evil Eye Σ
- Flight (Created a tank capable of flight[94])
- Curtain Fire
- Rapid Fire: Rains down dozens of energy bullets at fast speeds[95].
- Multi-Directional: Fires energy bullets in all directions while moving around[96].
- Multi-Directional & Rapid Fire: Shoots out dozens of energy bullets in all directions at fast speeds while moving around[97].
- Energy Manipulation
- Explosion Manipulation (Shoots out dozens of energy bullets that explode[99]. Can cause explosions to spawn near Reimu[100]. Causes circles to spawn around that cause explosions on their lines[101]. Can control each of[102] its energy projectiles to explode[103])
- Ricochet Manipulation (Sends out dozens of red-orb like objects that bounce off the ground and back up[104])
Her creations are noted by Genji to be Youkai[7], giving them the Youkai abilities which include:
- Superhuman Physical Characteristics
- Superhuman Strength (Youkais can easily kill humans[105], 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[106]. Youkai have stronger bodies than humans[8]. Youkai are noted to be physically stronger than humans[107])
- Superhuman Durability
- Superhuman Speed
- Superhuman Reaction
- Superhuman Lifting
- Superhuman Energy Efficiency
- Enhanced Senses (Unlike humans, youkai can see in the dark to the point that it's a way for them to spot a human[108])
- Extrasensory Perception (Youkai are able to see the human village that Keine made essentially invisible from history from humans[109])
- Longevity (Marisa notes that youkai live a really long time, beyond even human years[110]. Youkais have longer lifespans than humans[8])
- Aura (Noted that Youkai possess an aura[111][112], along with an energy source called "Youkai Energy"[113])
- Invisibility (Youkai are noted to be life-forms that are invisible to humans, appearing to them via fluctuations[114]. Noted that all objects within Gensokyo were all hidden in the invisible gaps of the quantum world[43])
- Non-Standard Damage (Youkai's attacks are spiritual based whereas having standard durability against them does not help. When a youkai has injured someone, they need special recovery from youkai practitioners otherwise they cannot recover normally[115])
- Non-Standard Defenses (Reimu realized that only the Yin-Yang Orb was effective against non-human creatures[116], with it being noted that Reimu using her ofuda, her spirit power, and her martial arts all prove to be useless against her enemies[117], meaning Youkai cannot really be harmed by regular or standard weaponry. 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[118]. Physical attacks such as a whacking a sake bottle over the head are considered violent methods that wouldn't work on youkai[119], with it only being spiritual attacks that cause fatal wounds to youkai[8]. When attempting to exterminate a youkai, one does not use weapons that cause physical damage, instead weapons with an "origin" are more preferable[107]. In the world beyond (Gensokyo), physical form has no meaning for all non-human entities[120])
- Absorption
- Regeneration
- Mid-High right away: Youkai have stronger bodies than humans, thus even if they're torn limb from limb they can heal right away[8]. Youkai can heal wounds like tiger slashes in no time at all[124].
- Low-Godly overtime: Non-Humans within Gensokyo do not have much demand for medicine for physical illnesses as they are comprised mostly of spirit, thus they can always regenerate from their spirit[125].
- Transformation
- Acausality
- For Their Physiology
- For their Magic
- Reliance
- True Sight (It's noted by ZUN[135] that Youkai can see through illusions that humans can't[136])
- Propagation (Youkai are able to sever their heads from their body and multiply them[137])
- Incorporeality (Youkai's bodies in truth are just their souls[138]. Youkai's do not possess DNA, with the concept being foreign to them, noting how humans for some reason are under the control of them[139])
- Empowerment (Youkai are amplified by the power of the moon[140], Mima specifically reqested Yumemi in an ending to stop the moon so that she could always be empowered by its light[141])
- Battlefield Removal
- Application Based: Ordinary youkai[142], can send themself and their opponent to a different battlefield[143].
- Magic (Youkais have developed a civilization of magic, making it a common ability used by them[144]. Magic exists outside of the Grand Unified Theory[145], 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 also explains that in the world of Gensokyo, magic unifies everything[146]. Magic is noted by Yumemi to have close ties with religion[147])
- Transferal (Magic users can transfer their magic into a tool, having the tool change depending on the user[148])
- Transmutation
- Acausality
- For their Magic
- Irregular Causality
- Unknown: A youkai's magical power exists outside of the Grand Unified Theory[149], 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. It's further explained that magic is a force that cannot be explained by the Grand Unified Theory, with Yumemi even proposing a "Non-Unified Magic World" theory[150]. 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[151]. Magic does not exist in Yumemi's world, which is a Probability World, a different world, but in the same dimension[152].
- Irregular Causality
- For their Magic
- Holy Manipulation (Magic is noted by Yumemi to have close ties with religion[153])
- Transferal (Magic users can transfer their magic into a tool, having the tool change depending on the user[148])
- Temperature Manipulation (Youkai being released caused the room to get more cold[154])
- Emotion Manipulation (A youkai's Noh is able to take away people's emotions[155])
- Portal Manipulation (The denizens of Makai found out about the human world and managed to obtain the power to make a hole in the barrier[156])
- Forcefield Manipulation (Youkais use their magic in order to strengthen and reinforce the great barrier with an ever stronger power to prevent invasion by humans[157])
- Curse Manipulation (Youkai energy naturally curses people[158])
- Quantum Manipulation (Youkai are naturally in a state of lurking within quantum gaps, were they can exist in both the human world and Gensokyo freely while not being noticed in the human world and passing through objects, being compared to the idea of Schrödinger's Cat[159]).
- Spirit Manipulation (The bombs used are referred to as spiritual attacks[69], being directly called spiritual attacks[160])
- Explosion Manipulation (When bomb users are cornered from attacks they cannot repel with regular attacks they can release a massive spirit explosive that destroys all objects on screen[71], along with killing all enemies on screen[161])
- Magnetism Manipulation (When using a bomb[162], all items on screen will be attracted towards the user[163])
- Perception Manipulation (When using a bomb the screen flashes white and an image of the bomb user can be seen[164])
- Logic Manipulation (The Great Hakurei Barrier is a boundary of common sense, which things with high spiritual power in the cause to waver[165])
- Nullification & Erasure
- Projectile Nullification & Physical Erasure: Bomb users can use a bomb to nullify & erase all projectiles on screen[166]. This makes the enemy incapable of[167] shooting out any further projectiles until the bomb's duration is done[168].
- Invulnerability
- Resistance to
- Extreme Temperatures (Youkai are unaffected by things such as heatstrokes[170])
- Sealing (Youkais can overtime break out of seals[171]. Youkais use their magic in order to strengthen and reinforce the great barrier with an ever stronger power to prevent invasion by humans[172])
- Observation & Subjective Reality (Once a youkai/non-human enters Gensokyo or if a youkai/non-human is a native, they are liberated from the spell of human imagination and obtain true freedom, being able to develop their own characteristics, though the observations of the humans from within Gensokyo can have some effect on them to a degree[173])
- Probability Manipulation (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[174]. Magic does not exist in Yumemi's world, which is a Probability World, a different world, but in the same dimension[175])
- Madness Manipulation (Unaffected from the affects of the Lunarian Full Moon, a hypnosis that drove the humans who came to the Moon insane[176], further being noted by Reisen that the moon drives people insane[177])
- Illusion Manipulation (Youkai are unaffected by illusions[135] as they can easily see through them[136])
- Disease Manipulation (Non-Humans within Gensokyo do not have much demand for medicine for physical illnesses as they are comprised mostly of spirit, thus they are always fit and robust with no diseases[125])
- Matter Manipulation & Physics Manipulation (Youkai are noted to be fluctuations that exist in worlds which are not dominated by concepts such as photons, but instead other types of particles not explored by humans in the Outside World[114], with the grand unified theory being the reason for all pheneomna in the human world, which does not apply to Gensokyo[178]. Gensokyo is a brane world dominated by particles with different properties, not following the standard physics of the real world[43])
- Gravity Manipulation (Noted by Maribel that in the world of Gensokyo, they the gravitons likely have a different structure and the world's properties are likely different too, likening it to being one of the brane worlds[87])
- Biological Manipulation & Disease Manipulation (Youkai's do not possess DNA, meaning that nothing regarding biological processes can truly affect them[139])
- Life Manipulation & Death Manipulation (Youkai cannot be affected by the Hourai Elixir[179], which removes death from part of one's existence[180], where being without death is being without life[181], being free from the boundaries of life and death[182])
Equipment
Stage 1 Midboss Tank

- Description: This tank serves as the first midboss encounter in Story of Eastern Wonderland, making it the very first midboss in the entire Touhou Project series. It was constructed by the tank engineer Rika as part of her defensive arsenal.
- Appearance: The vehicle features large brown caterpillar tracks supporting a black, square-shaped turret structure. The turret is topped with a red roof adorned with a Shimenawa—the sacred rope typically found marking Shinto shrines—giving it the distinct visual appearance of a mikoshi (portable shrine). Four symbols decorate the roof's surface, including a taijitu (yin-yang symbol). A black cannon protrudes from the front. This shrine-like aesthetic has led the Japanese fanbase to unofficially dub it the "Shrine Tank" (神社戦車), following the naming pattern of Rika's Flower-Tank.
- Usage: The vehicle ambushes Reimu Hakurei and her companion Genji as they cross a bridge in the first stage. It engages by firing small white danmaku projectiles in a specific repeating pattern: three-way spread, then four-way, then four-way again, with all shots aimed directly at Reimu's position.
- Function: The vehicle's tracked design suggests ground-based mobility, while its cannon provides ranged offensive capability.
- Notable Traits: This vehicle holds the distinction of being the first midboss ever encountered in a Touhou shooting game.
Flower-Tank[185]

- Description: The Flower-Tank (ふらわ~戦車) is a custom combat vehicle engineered by the tank engineer Rika. It served as the Stage 1 boss in Story of Eastern Wonderland. Rika deployed it against Reimu Hakurei and her turtle companion Genji.
- Appearance: The tank features a robust military design with distinctive red caterpillar tracks for mobility. Its turret is rounded and painted in a subdued grey, with a yin-yang symbol on its top surface. The tank's most whimsical feature is the numerous green leaves and vines that cascade from the back of the turret and drape around the main cannon, giving it a floral aesthetic that contrasts with its weaponry.
- Usage: The Flower-Tank was designed for offensive combat against Gensokyo's defenders. During the battle, it patrolled horizontally across the screen, unleashing volleys of white danmaku projectiles at Reimu. After this initial barrage, it would deploy two concentrated laser beams from its smaller cannons, attempting to catch its opponent in a crossfire. Rika operated it personally, as she initially believed this to be her greatest weapon.
- Function: As a military vehicle, the Flower-Tank combines conventional tank mobility with magical enhancement. Its treads allow for ground traversal while its turret provides rotating aim for its primary and secondary cannons. The laser system provides an advanced energy weapon, while the standard bullet spread makes it far more useful then a regular tank.
- Notable Traits: It is part of a larger arsenal created by Rika, which includes the Shrine Tank, Evil Eye Σ, and various bakebake constructs.
Evil Eye Σ[186]

- Description: The Evil Eye Σ (イビルアイ Shiguma) is a flying tank created by Rika that serves as the Extra Stage boss of Story of Eastern Wonderland. It is the first Extra Stage boss in the entire Touhou Project series. Rika deployed it against Reimu Hakurei and Genji, believing it to be the ultimate weapon that would crush Reimu.
- Appearance: It has one big eye with a red iris and black eyelids. It has two large purple wings, a halo, and two large tentacles. Below there is something green (possibly leaves or foliage). On the lower eyelid is a red Sigma (∑). Its motif bears a strong resemblance to the Evil Eye.
- Usage: The Evil Eye Σ engages Reimu by moving left and right across the screen while firing bizarre danmaku patterns. Upon its defeat, it generates a large explosion.
- Function: Its design incorporates elements that may reference real-world "flying tank" concepts such as the Antonov A-40, the Special Number 3 Light Tank Ku-Ro, or the heavily armed AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.
- Notable Traits: In a conversation between Reimu and Rika, it's noted that Rika was a Stage 1 boss and that she wanted Reimu to follow her. This implies that if Reimu had followed Rika during that initial encounter, the battle with the Evil Eye Σ would have been Stage 2 instead of an Extra Stage fight. The "Evil Eye" name also connects to YuugenMagan's title from the same game.
Notable Techniques
Other
Standard Tactics: Rika deploys many of her creations to attack the opponent, requiring the opponent to deal with a large amount of ghost[187] small orb-like objects shooting out projectiles[188], and tanks[189]. If the opponent reaches her, they will have to fight her in her Flower-Tank where she shoots an assortment of energy bullet attacks, if this is destroyed, she will flee into her Evil Eye Σ, a flying tank that has a far larger assortment of attacks along with explosives. If one follows her as she flees, they will have to go past her other creations, while she deploys the same ones, added ones are tiles that shoot out a multitude of energy bullets[190], flying eye creatures that shoot out energy bullets from their eyes[191], cannons shooting out five-way spread shots from the left and right corners[192], orb like objects flying down at the opponent[193] shooting out energy projectiles in all directions[194], dozens of star-like objects attempting to make contact damage[195], and more.
Weaknesses
- Magic Weaknesses: Magic users taking too much damage will cancel out their attacks[196]. If a magic users spirit is depleted they enter a state of "Guard Crush" where they can't use bullets, special moves, or spell cards at all[197]. Repeatedly attacking red glyphs will break one's defenses[198].Easily gives herself away[199].
- Creations Weaknesses: Her creations are noted by Genji to be Youkai[7], giving them the Youkai weaknesses, which include:
- Youkai's bodies being destroyed by spiritual attacks[200], have them take a while to recover[201].
- Youkai are more easily affected by belief than humans, and as a result spiritual damage can cause fatal wounds[8]. Youkai are weak to spiritual attacks such as names or legends[107].
- Youkai and Ghost are weak to sunlight[202].
- Mental Attacks can be lethal to youkai, in some cases one can repel them with a single phrase[203].
- The human village acts as a lifeline for the Gensokyo Youkai, if the humans were to perish or if they stopped fearing the youkai, then they would cease to exist[204].
- Youkai are weak against psychological attacks[205].
Note
- Any translations from en.tohouwiki.net are considered fine to use as they all fall under Project Translations, a fan translation team that have translation guuidelines and rulesets, along with moderators that directly overlook and proofread English translations to check for machine translations.
- Yumemi's statements can be taken with credibility, not only do the science from her world surpass the main one by 500 years[206] where she notes the science of the main world is much more primitive then hers[207], but her world has already fully proven the existence of Grand Unified Theory and Yumemi herself notes that her theory was proven right by seeing magic.
- Despite Gensou Narratograph being directly noted to be an "unofficial Touhou tabletop RPG", ZUN has directly participated in the RPG and noted the way Reimu acts during his session is how canon Reimu would act[208], thus character actions done by him and mechanics are fine to use.
- Even if characters have not showcased using a bomb, they should all be able to use bombs, as bombs are realistically just spiritual attacks[69] and to even be able to fight the non-human entities, requires a weapon with an unnatural amount of spiritual power such as the Yin-Yang Orb[209], meaning everyone that is non-human or is fighting non-humans is using spiritual energy.
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[210]. He has also said that anything prior to Embodiment of Scarlet Devil can for the most part be ignored and one can think fo Embodiment of Scarlet Devil as the starting from a clean slate and starting a new series[211], he's also referred to Highly Responsive to Prayers as a study product[212]. 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[213]. 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[214]. 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[215]. 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[216]. ZUN has also made mention to Genji probably living in the lake in the back of the shrine[217]. 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[218].
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"[219]. In Yuuka's mode in Touhou Project - Phantasmagoria of Flower View, Reimu directly references defeating Yuuka back in PC-98[220]. 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[221].
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[222].
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[37].
In terms of how playable routes have went, some examples of canonically noted routes:
- In Reimu's profile on Perfect Memento in Strict Sense, it's noted that Reimu resolved the Scarlet Devil Mansion Incident alone[223].
- Reimu is also acknowledged to have resolved the Spring Snow Incident in Perfect Cherry Blossom, though it is not noted if she did this alone[224].
- Reimu claims she solved the Eternal Night incident, however if one asks her about the cause or the perpetrator, she'll only respond with ambiguous answers, it is also not noted if she did this alone[225].
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[226]. 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[227]:
- 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[228]. 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[229], further showcasing that probabiliy serves an importance.
Magical vs. Physical Strength
There[230] are[231] multiple[232] occasions[233] of[234] characters[235] commenting[236] on[237] humans like[238] Reimu[239] being strong[240]. 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[241], 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[242], with her acknolwedging her strength[243], something Yuugi only does to those who are truly strong[241]. 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[244], 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[18]. 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[245].
Thus the memory layer is essentially the most important layer that rejects the notion of loops from the previous two layers.
Trivia
- Rika holds two distinct "firsts" in the Touhou Project: she is the first boss ever encountered in a shooting game with the Flower-Tank, and she is also the first Extra Stage boss, appearing as such with the Evil Eye Σ.
- She is the first character to serve as both a stage boss and an Extra boss within the same game. The only other Touhou characters to achieve this are Alice Margatroid, Junko (partially), and Okina Matara.
- In Story of Eastern Wonderland, Rika mentions having created the Bakebake enemies found on the game's first stage. However, it remains unknown whether the Bakebake appearing elsewhere in the game—or in subsequent titles—were also her creations.
- Rika is the sole character in the series to pilot a vehicle during a boss fight, specifically tanks of her own construction. This also makes her the only character who fights without relying on any innate abilities, magic, or supernatural powers. As such, she could be considered the weakest character in the game series, having no personal means of combat.
- Rika, Fujiwara no Mokou, and Marisa Kirisame are the only three Extra bosses in the series confirmed to be entirely human.
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[246], 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[247].
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[248], 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[249]. 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[250].
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[251]. 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[244].
Battle Records
0 - 2 - 0
None.
- Reimu Hakurei - Fight[252]
- Conditions: None.
- Location: Stage 1 Purple Field ~ Purple Dawn
- Reimu Hakurei - Fight[253]
- Conditions: Match was a rematch.
- Location: Extra Stage Another Sky ~ for Lunatic Gamers
None.
References
| Expand here. |
|---|
|
- Pages using Tabber parser tag
- Templates
- Characters
- Female Characters
- Asian Characters
- Asian Female Characters
- Japanese Characters
- Japanese Female Characters
- Video Game Characters
- Indie Characters
- Indie Game Characters
- Doujin Characters
- Doujinshi Characters
- Doujin Soft Characters
- Non-Playable Characters
- Left-Handed Characters
- Human Characters
- Evil Characters
- Humanoid Characters
- Neutral Evil Characters
- Alive Characters
- 4th Wall Aware Characters
- Primary Antagonists
- Antagonists
- Villains
- Geniuses
- Engineers
- Mechanics
- Humans
- Game Enemies
- Game Bosses
- Secret Boss
- Human Achievers
- Street Threats
- Touhou Project
- Tier 10
- 10-B
- Higher Tier Vehicle Users
- Higher Tier Weapon Users
- Higher Tier Ability Users
- Genius Intelligence Users
- Human Achievements Users
- Vehicular Masters
- Vehicle Masters
- Vehicle Users
- Land Vehicle Users
- Air Vehicle Users
- Preparation Users
- Sheer Will Users
- Second Wind Users
- Breaking the Fourth Wall Users
- Cartoon Physics Users
- Non-Standard Interaction Users
- Non-Standard Damage Users
- Observation Users
- Truth Users
- Information Users
- Magic Users
- Transferal Users
- Transmutation Users
- Acausality Users
- Holy Users
- Link Users
- Spirit Users
- Explosion Users
- Magnetism Users
- Perception Users
- Logic Users
- Nullification Users
- Erasure Users
- Invulnerability Users
- Energy Users
- Energy Projection Users
- Curtain Fire Users
- Flight Users
- Ricochet Users
- Superhuman Physical Characteristics Users
- Superhuman Speed Users
- Enhanced Senses Users
- Extrasensory Perception Users
- Longevity Users
- Aura Users
- Invisibility Users
- Non-Standard Defenses Users
- Absorption Users
- Regeneration Users
- Transformation Users
- Reforming Users
- Reliance Users
- True Sight Users
- Propagation Users
- Incorporeality Users
- Empowerment Users
- Battlefield Removal Users
- Cold Users
- Empathic Users
- Portal Users
- Forcefield Users
- Curse Users
- Quantum Users









