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Youkai

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Touhou Project/Youkai
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Youkai are creatures in the Touhou Project series following the real life idea behind creatures from Japanese mythology, though they also expand to other regions.

The rise of rationalism and modern explanations for strange phenomena has made survival difficult for youkai in the present era. The valley of Gensokyo, sealed from the Outside World by the Great Hakurei Barrier in 1885, serves as one of their few remaining sanctuaries. Some youkai, such as Mamizou Futatsuiwa and possibly Shou Toramaru, managed to persist in the outside world for many years, though both have since relocated to Gensokyo for reasons unrelated to their survival. Yukari Yakumo is speculated by some Gensokyo residents to be an outside world youkai who merely visits Gensokyo for amusement, though this remains just one of many rumors surrounding her.

Due to Gensokyo's relatively small human population and youkai reliance on conflict with humans to sustain themselves, its residents have established various unique rules and customs. Among these, youkai are forbidden from killing natives of the Human Village—though this restriction does not extend to Outside World humans who find themselves in Gensokyo—and Human Village inhabitants are prohibited from transforming themselves into youkai. More recently, the Spell Card rules were created to establish a formal duel system that deemphasizes raw power, limiting potential damage from youkai while enabling humans to more effectively resolve youkai incidents. Although the Hakurei shrine maiden is officially tasked with exterminating youkai whenever they cause trouble, these "exterminations" (along with those performed by her colleagues) are typically nonlethal, with sealing or execution reserved only for youkai incapable of adhering to the established rules.

Youkai Types

There are many types of youkai with extremely varied powers, and different groups entirely, due to this, each youkai type is split into their own section, for the most part, each youkai type share the same general youkai abilities. The following is the regular youkai:

Regular Youkai

Alignment

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[1]

Abilities

Weaknesses

Magicians

Magician Youkai are the closest to human, this is due to a lot of them originally being human that studied magic long enough to become Youkai magicians.

Magician Youkais bodies are nearly the same as humans' so they are frail in comparison to other youkai[94], this also means they likely do not carry a lot of physiological based abilities that standard youkai have. Whenever making a profile for a magician Youkai, only the following should be carried over from standard youkai abilities:

Expand here.



Alignment

Chaotic Neutral

Magician Youkai are most likely to steal livestock, along with stealing food, drinks, and curios such as moon rocks, and at their worst they might even steal children[168].

Abilities



Weaknesses

Vampire

Vampires in Gensokyo are a young but powerful youkai species, classified as a type of devil. They possess a far broader range of abilities than most youkai, including oni-level strength and tengu-level speed, but also have a wider array of weaknesses. Vampires in Gensokyo show no particular aversion to the Christian cross, though they can still be harmed by spiritual attacks like any youkai. They do, however, display a vulnerability to roasted soybeans, presumably from being associated with oni. While sunlight has the power to destroy them, they can survive brief exposure and even travel during the day as long as they remain in the shade. They also cease to grow and mature, making them biologically immortal.

Remilia and Flandre Scarlet are the only known members of the vampire species in Gensokyo, to the point where most characters simply refer to Remilia as "the vampire" rather than by name. A contract exists between vampires and other youkai in which the vampires pledge not to attack Gensokyo's humans in exchange for receiving humans to feed on. Being a devil's contract, it is unbreakable. Remilia was the primary instigator of the incident that led to this contract and eventually the spell card rules.

Alignment

True Neutral

Vampires are forbidden to directly assault humans, so they instead cause many disasters that affect the whole of Gensokyo, creating abnormalities in everything including natural phenomena with no warning, for selfish reasons, which always lead to endangering human life no matter what is affected[176]. Though most of these reasons are out of mere curiosity and they will cease once they tire of it[176].

Abilities

Weaknesses

Oni

In the Touhou Project, oni are jovial youkai with a fondness for drinking, feasting, and engaging humans in various forms of competition, ranging from physical combat to drinking games. According to legend, when an oni encountered a human they favored, they would tempt that human into challenging them at any contest the human chose. If the human lost, they would be carried off. Since ordinary humans stood no chance against an oni's abilities, they typically resorted to clever and underhanded tactics to secure victory. Growing weary of constantly being deceived and defeated, the oni eventually swore off humans entirely and retreated beyond human reach—or so the story goes.

Within Gensokyo, oni once dominated Youkai Mountain as its primary inhabitants, holding authority above both tengu and kappa in the social hierarchy. They were governed by the Four Devas of the Mountain. However, they eventually relocated to Old Hell sometime after the yama moved the actual Hell away from the Underworld. Within Hell, oni now serve under the kishin, tasked with tormenting the souls of sinners.

Komachi Onozuka notes that the oni residing in present-day Hell remain disciplined and controlled, while those in Old Hell have developed such close ties with the ghosts of sinners that they show little interest in relocating to the true Hell anytime soon.

Possessing immense physical strength and magical power, oni rank among the most formidable beings in Gensokyo. They differ fundamentally from ordinary youkai, requiring distinct methods and tools for extermination. Because oni vanished long ago, Gensokyo lacks any specialists trained in oni extermination, and the knowledge of how to deal with them has been lost to humans. Consequently, encountering an oni in the modern era would prove disastrous for most.

The Grimoire of Marisa and Double Spoiler reveal that certain oni spell cards are highly unusual, barely qualifying as danmaku at all. According to Patchouli Knowledge and Yuugi Hoshiguma, oni can be weakened by fried soy beans. Hieda no Akyuu claims that inserting a holly branch through a sardine head would ward off an oni, though whether this method would actually prove effective remains uncertain.

Alignment

Lawful Neutral

Oni are the strongest enemies of humans in Gensokyo, their livelihood is kidnapping humans and thus threaten and livelihood of the villages[187]. Onis are both cheerful and ferocious, they can be quite belligerent to those they dislike, however, they will be warm hearted and consdierate to those they recognize as friends and will absolutely never betray them[187]. Onis hate lies, cowardice, malice or unfairness, honoring their promises and can think of no other way to behave than to be fair and square[187].

Since times long ago humans have been tormented by the oni, occassionally being kidnapped by them and making off with their sake, having their day-to-day life threatened[188].

Abilities



Weaknesses

Tengu

Tengu (天狗, literally "heaven dog") are a type of youkai commonly found in Japanese mythology. Broadly speaking, they correspond to the Western concept of goblins.

The tengu residing in Gensokyo are noted for their fondness for gossip and their practice of writing newspapers. They inhabit Youkai Mountain and display territorial behavior toward humans and other youkai who venture into their domain. According to Aya Shameimaru, tengu are heavy drinkers, rivaled only by oni in this regard. They once possessed their own written language, though no one remains who can still read it.

Two primary subspecies of tengu exist. The crow tengu (烏天狗 karasu-tengu) resemble anthropomorphic crows with humanoid body structures, while the yamabushi tengu (山伏天狗) take the form of yamabushi monks, characterized by red skin and notably long noses.

Tengu are described as mischievous and occasionally malicious, with a tendency to play tricks on humans, though stories also portray them in the role of mentors. Despite their disdain for pride and arrogance, they frequently exhibit these very qualities themselves. They maintain associations with the arts of warfare and political matters.

Several objects are commonly linked to tengu. The shakujo is a ring-tipped staff employed for magical purposes or physical combat. The tokin is an unusually shaped hat that can double as a divining cup. The hauchiwa fan, crafted from Japanese Aralia leaves or feathers, is said to possess the power to generate gale-force winds. Tengu are also frequently depicted wearing tengu geta, a variety of geta sandals featuring a single tall slat instead of two shorter ones, making balance extremely difficult for human wearers. Most of these items derive from traditional yamabushi attire.

Alignment

True Neutral

Tengu have a strong sense of community, if one of their friends are attacked, they will respond with hostility; if an intruder appears on the mountain, they will quickly show up in force to remove them[198]

Abilities



Weaknesses

  • Nothing notable.

Tanuki

Bake-danuki are among the most common youkai in Gensokyo, reflecting how raccoon dogs as a whole represent a successful species throughout East Asia and many introduced regions. Tanuki frequently appear as the initial suspects behind various minor incidents in Gensokyo, often depicted in the manga series—such as when Reisen was mistaken for a tanuki by Reimu Hakurei during her journey to the surface in Silent Sinner in Blue.

Tanuki possess the ability to transform themselves into replicas of a Gensokyo Power Stone, enabling both themselves and those holding the stone to pass through Gensokyo's barrier, as demonstrated by Sumireko Usami in Urban Legend in Limbo.

Tanuki exhibit a vulnerability to oil; when they become intoxicated on it, they lose the ability to move for several days.

Alignment

True Neutral

Tanuki actively play tricks on humans though they don't do any everlasting harm.

Abilities



Weaknesses

Ghost

In standard Japanese usage, the terms ghost (亡霊 bōrei) and phantom (幽霊 yūrei) are largely interchangeable, though within the Touhou series they represent distinct entities.

Ghosts are the after-forms of humans who died and became phantoms, yet possess lingering attachments that bind them too strongly to the world. Since no living things other than humans die in this manner, ghosts of non-human beings do not exist. The strength of their attachment preserves the form they held while alive, along with their body temperature, and they remain capable of touching living humans. To an outsider, such ghosts might be indistinguishable from living people. Unlike phantoms, they cannot pass through solid objects.

Generally, a ghost's weakness lies in its own dead body. For ghosts who became such without realizing they had died, encountering proof in the form of their corpse causes them to revert to ordinary phantoms. Ghosts already aware of their death do not share this weakness, though they commonly hide their bodies to prevent memorial services from being performed that would allow them to achieve nirvana. The likelihood of this occurring has diminished in modern times due to the increased prevalence of cremation.

Since attachment drives a ghost's continued existence, their mere presence often exerts a negative influence on living humans nearby, potentially leading to death over time. This effect proves particularly strong against the source of their attachment—such as someone against whom the ghost holds a grudge—though it can affect anyone regardless.

Ghost are officially recognized as youkai as shown in Imperishable Night where Yomnu's youkai partner is the ghost Yuyuko[213].

Alignment

Varies
Ghosts are the souls of the dead of humans, thus it ranges on the ghost in question for how they are[214].

Abilities

Weaknesses

Beast Youkai

Beast youkai are animals that have acquired "too much power and wisdom" (as defined in Perfect Memento in Strict Sense) and may serve as leaders to their non-youkai counterparts or dwell alongside them. In the cases of Tewi Inaba and Aya Shameimaru, both exhibit strong protectiveness toward their kind, even though the latter treats them as tools. Some beast youkai pose a threat to humans due to developing a taste for human flesh. Youkai variants of humans, such as magicians, can also present a moderate danger to ordinary humans by stealing everything from livestock to children. Though beast youkai possess intelligence sufficient to communicate with humans, they appear to retain a primitive nature; youkai crows like tengu, however, are more advanced than Gensokyo's humans in certain respects.

Hieda no Akyuu's classification system for beast youkai refers exclusively to mammal youkai. Youkai such as Wriggle Nightbug and Mystia Lorelei are not categorized as beast youkai in her writings, likely reflecting an older worldview in which only mammals were considered "animals" while humans occupied a unique existence separate from the animal kingdom.

According to Kasen Ibaraki in Oriental Sacred Place chapter 16, once an animal transforms into a youkai, it cannot return to its original state.

Perfect Memento in Strict Sense describes beast youkai as capable of using sorcery, though they generally favor physical approaches. They exhibit various traits such as tremendous strength, exceptional speed, or heightened senses. Their existence carries less spiritual weight than that of ordinary youkai, granting them greater resistance to spiritual attacks while making it more difficult for them to recover should their physical bodies be destroyed. The number of tails a beast youkai possesses can indicate their level of power, with more tails generally signifying greater youkai strength.

Alignment

Neutral Evil

Beast Youkai are heavily influenced by the animal from which they orignated, thhey tolerate no harm to any of their kin and have a preference for meat, especially human flesh[217]. Beast Youkai are noted to be very ferocious[217].

Abilities



Weaknesses

Other

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[228]. 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[229], he's also referred to Highly Responsive to Prayers as a study product[230]. 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[231]. 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[232]. 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[233]. 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[234]. ZUN has also made mention to Genji probably living in the lake in the back of the shrine[235]. 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[236].

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"[237]. In Yuuka's mode in Touhou Project - Phantasmagoria of Flower View, Reimu directly references defeating Yuuka back in PC-98[238]. 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[239].

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[240].

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[241].

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[245]. 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[246]:

  • 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[247]. 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[248], further showcasing that probabiliy serves an importance.

Magical vs. Physical Strength

There[249] are[250] multiple[251] occasions[252] of[253] characters[254] commenting[255] on[256] humans like[257] Reimu[258] being strong[259]. 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[260], 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[261], with her acknolwedging her strength[262], something Yuugi only does to those who are truly strong[260]. 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[263], 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[32]. 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[264].

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

References

Expand here.
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Pages 31-32 Youkai "Characteristics
    There are many types of youkai with extremely varied powers. Some races have a great number that are all categorized under a certain name, while others can be as few as a single member.
    These unique youkai are not called by whatever individual species they may be, but simply "youkai."
    Many of the youkai in Gensokyo fall into this "youkai (*1)" section.
    Rarely if ever is there any commonality in their appearance, ability, character, danger level, or times and places of activity.
    Just about the only thing in common between youkai is that they attack and prey upon humans.
    There are definitely exceptions, but many fall towards these trends:
    • Youkai have longer lifespans than humans.
    • Youkai have stronger bodies than humans, so even if they're torn limb from limb, they heal right away.
    • Youkai are more easily affected by belief than humans, and as a result spiritual damage can cause fatal wounds.
    • Youkai generally do not act in groups.
    • Youkai only think of themselves.
      Youkai are the most dangerous enemies to humans.
      However, since they are rather varied, one must be informed of each of their traits before heading out to exterminate them."
  2. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 48
  3. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 48
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Countermeasures
    Unless one thoroughly trains in fighting against them, youkai extermination is difficult.
    Youkai have a history of being physically stronger than humans, and trying to fight them may quickly end up as feeding them.
    However, the reason most youkai attack humans is because they need prey.
    That's why, if one cannot exterminate them, one should offer something else to eat in place of themselves.
    Offering a cow will save you from being attacked for a while.
    There are many that have a strong sense of honor, and will act in a friendly manner towards those who do not act against them.
    But exterminating youkai is a different story.
    Humans regularly perform exterminations, but this is a custom passed down from ancestors.
    In Gensokyo, humans must exterminate youkai (*2).
    There are those that specialize in youkai extermination.
    For example, the Hakurei shrine maiden is the most well-known specialist.
    In extermination, one does not use weapons that cause physical damage. Weapons with an "origin" are more preferable
    Youkai are weak to spiritual attacks such as names or legends."
  5. ↑ Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Stage 2
  6. ↑ Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Stage 3
  7. ↑ Touhou Sangetsusei (Three Fairies) ~ Oriental Sacred Place Chapter 15
  8. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Standalone Chapter Gensokyo Short Stories
  9. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 16
  10. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 24
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Dr. Latency's Freak Report Story #05 An Instant that Exceeds Planck's Time "Merry said that if we refer to the world we humans observe, which is dominated by photons, as "the world here," then there are also countless "worlds beyond" dominated by other types of particles. And in those "worlds beyond," there are life-forms living there as well.
    "Those life-forms that are invisible, but exist very close to us, and can appear to us via fluctuations are youkai, in my opinion."
    "Youkai... That suddenly makes it sound kind of crazy."
    "Well, you could call them angels or devils or phantoms or cryptids, whatever's fine. But when I think of something that can't be seen, yet definitely exists as a phenomenon, I'd say 'youkai' is the best descriptor."
    The existence of youkai certainly had been supported since long ago. However, as the world was dominated by science and philosophy that demanded falsifiability, the topic of youkai faded away."
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 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."
  13. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 38
  14. ↑ 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?"
  15. ↑ 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."
  16. ↑ 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."
  17. ↑ Touhou Sangetsusei (Three Fairies) ~ Oriental Sacred Place Chapter 16
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 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."
  19. ↑ Touhou 20: Fossilized Wonders Reimu Extra Stage
  20. ↑ Touhou 20: Fossilized Wonders Reimu Extra Stage
  21. ↑ Touhou 20: Fossilized Wonders Reimu Extra Stage
  22. ↑ Touhou Ibarakasen (Rose Poem Hermit) ~ Wild and Horned Hermit Chapter 11
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 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."
  24. ↑ Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character Reimu B Story Stage 1
  25. ↑ Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character Reimu B Story Stage 2
  26. ↑ Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character Reimu B Story Stage 3
  27. ↑ Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character Reimu B Story Stage 4
  28. ↑ Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character Reimu B Story Stage 5
  29. ↑ Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character Reimu B Story Stage 6
  30. ↑ Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character Reimu B Story Stage 6
  31. ↑ Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character Reimu B Story Extra Stage
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 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."
  33. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 48
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 Imperishable Night Demo Afterword "Drinking with a person that can see illusion
    This time, by changing between human and youkai, the enemies change. This type of system existed from a while back but it was hard to make use of these systems. The STGs that got around often make good use of these systems and that’s where you know that these people are really pros."
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 Imperishable Night Demo Afterword "The point about Imperishable Night is that there are humans, youkai and familiars (illusions). While the human is distracted by the familiar and can’t attack the enemy, the youkai watches that and says, “Well, you’re only a human.” While the human sees the youkai and thinks that they only see things in a simple manner. Since the Youkai are beings that cover everything in mist just because they hate sunlight, or collect all the spring just because they want to see the cherry blossoms bloom. Of course they won’t look at the illusion that shoots out bullets, but aim for the enemy directly even if they need to dodge a few extra bullets. (Laughs) "
  36. ↑ Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character Stage 2
  37. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Mima vs Chiyuri
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 Double Spoiler Spell Cards Level 9 "Spell Card 9-4
    記憶「ＤＮＡの瑕」 (Kioku "Dii-enu-ei no Kizu") Memory "DNA's Flaw"
    Owner
    Koishi Komeiji
    Level 9 — 4
    Aya's Comment
    人間はなんかうねうねに支配されているのだそうですよ
    里の人間が浮き沈み激しいのはこのうねうねの所為なんで しょうかね。　でも何処に居るのでしょう？　うねうね
    Aya's Comment Translation
    Humans are under the control of some kind of swirly things. Maybe the intense ups and downs of the village people were caused by these swirly things? But where are they located? Those swirly things.
    Hatate's Comment
    あれ？　私の楽しい心の中を読んでいないのかなぁ というか、私の話も聞いてないみたいだしー もしかしてボケているのかな。　で、ＤＮＡって何？
    Hatate's Comment Translation
    Huh? She's not reading my fun-loving heart. Heck, she doesn't even seem to be listening to me. Is she being an airhead? And what's DNA anyway?"
  39. ↑ Touhou 8: Imperishable Night Good Ending #1
  40. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Mima Ending
  41. ↑ Touhou 04: Lotus Land Story Stage 1
  42. ↑ Touhou 04: Lotus Land Story Stage 1
  43. ↑ Touhou Project - Perfect Cherry Blossom Gensokyo Record "Though innumerable years have passed since its sealing, Gensokyo is still home to many youkai and just a few humans.
    The youkai of Gensokyo have built up their own culture; one that is all that like the culture of the world when Gensokyo was sealed.
    However, it was not a materialistic culture - it was a culture centered upon spiritual awareness far exceeding that of the human world. The wise youkai sought not the bounty of objects, but the bounty of the heart. For the youkais with such a civilization of magic, it is very easy for them to open the Great Barrier sealing Gensokyo. However, the youkai do not attempt to open it. On the contrary, they actually reinforced the barrier with an even stronger power. The barrier that had once locked Gensokyo away was now used in order to prevent invasion by the humans."
  44. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  45. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Rikako vs. Chiyuri
  46. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Reimu Ending
  47. ↑ Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character Extra Stage
  48. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  49. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  50. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  51. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Kana vs Chiyuri
  52. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Reimu Ending
  53. ↑ Touhou 04: Lotus Land Story Good Ending 1
  54. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 11
  55. ↑ Touhou 05: Mystic Square Good Ending 1
  56. ↑ Touhou Project - Perfect Cherry Blossom Gensokyo Record "Though innumerable years have passed since its sealing, Gensokyo is still home to many youkai and just a few humans.
    The youkai of Gensokyo have built up their own culture; one that is all that like the culture of the world when Gensokyo was sealed.
    However, it was not a materialistic culture - it was a culture centered upon spiritual awareness far exceeding that of the human world. The wise youkai sought not the bounty of objects, but the bounty of the heart. For the youkais with such a civilization of magic, it is very easy for them to open the Great Barrier sealing Gensokyo. However, the youkai do not attempt to open it. On the contrary, they actually reinforced the barrier with an even stronger power. The barrier that had once locked Gensokyo away was now used in order to prevent invasion by the humans."
  57. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 48
  58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 Dr. Latency's Freak Report Story #06 Schrödinger's Bakeneko "Schrodinger's Black Cat" ""So as I was thinking, 'where did the youkai disappear to?', I became able to see it. A world where youkai live even now."
    "Perhaps that could be another brane world..."
    "Another what?"
    "Oh, just one of the worlds only physicists can see."
    Whether for some geographical or geological reason, or even pure coincidence, places where different worlds were easily visible had been called 'holy ground' since long ago. Shrines and the like were definitely holy ground.
    Merry said she saw a cat at a shrine. However, the cat never caught anyone's attention and freely passed through objects. Merry knew what it was at once. It was a youkai cat, she said, lurking within quantum gaps.
    "Huh, a quantumly-unobservable cat... Until it's observed, it's both alive and dead. Just like Schrödinger's Cat."
    "Although since I observed it, that determined it was alive.""
  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 59.2 59.3 59.4 59.5 59.6 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."
  60. ↑ 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."
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 61.2 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."
  62. ↑ Touhou 02: Story of Eastern Wonderland
  63. ↑ 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."
  64. ↑ Touhou 05: Mystic Square
  65. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Final Stage
  66. ↑ Touhou 14.5: Urban Legend in Limbo Reimu Story Ending
  67. ↑ Touhou 01: Highly Responsive to Prayers
  68. ↑ Touhou 02: Story of Eastern Wonderland
  69. ↑ Touhou 04: Lotus Land Story
  70. ↑ Touhou 01: Highly Responsive to Prayers
  71. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 25
  72. ↑ Touhou Hisoutensoku Hong Meiling's Story Ending
  73. ↑ Touhou 02: Story of Eastern Wonderland Good Ending
  74. ↑ Touhou Project - Perfect Cherry Blossom Gensokyo Record "Though innumerable years have passed since its sealing, Gensokyo is still home to many youkai and just a few humans.
    The youkai of Gensokyo have built up their own culture; one that is all that like the culture of the world when Gensokyo was sealed.
    However, it was not a materialistic culture - it was a culture centered upon spiritual awareness far exceeding that of the human world. The wise youkai sought not the bounty of objects, but the bounty of the heart. For the youkais with such a civilization of magic, it is very easy for them to open the Great Barrier sealing Gensokyo. However, the youkai do not attempt to open it. On the contrary, they actually reinforced the barrier with an even stronger power. The barrier that had once locked Gensokyo away was now used in order to prevent invasion by the humans."
  75. ↑ 75.0 75.1 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."
  76. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  77. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Kana vs Chiyuri
  78. ↑ Touhou 8: Imperishable Night Stage 5
  79. ↑ Touhou 8: Imperishable Night Stage 5
  80. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  81. ↑ 81.0 81.1 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."
  82. ↑ Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Magic Team Extra Stage
  83. ↑ Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Magic Team Extra Stage
  84. ↑ Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Magic Team Extra Stage
  85. ↑ Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Magic Team Extra Stage
  86. ↑ Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Magic Team Extra Stage
  87. ↑ Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Magic Team Extra Stage
  88. ↑ Touhou 01: Highly Responsive to Prayers Mima Boss
  89. ↑ Touhou 02: Stage of Eastern Wonderland Stage 04
  90. ↑ Touhou 7.5: Immaterial and Missing Power Reimu Good Ending (Ending No. 3)
  91. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 31
  92. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 48
  93. ↑ Touhou Ibarakasen (Rose Poem Hermit) ~ Wild and Horned Hermit Chapter 11
  94. ↑ 94.0 94.1 94.2 94.3 94.4 94.5 94.6 94.7 Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Pages 52-53 Magician "Characteristics
    One who has become possessed by magic, such that one's body itself is powered by magic; this type of youkai is known as a magician.
    Their livelihood revolves around magical research, spending their days thinking about new spells.
    Among youkai, they are the most similar to humans.
    There are two types of magicians: those who were born as magicians and humans who became magicians.
    At the point when they completely become magicians, their growth (aging) stops.
    Those who were born as magicians, from the start, are only able to use magic, and just like humans, they grow, age, and have a limited lifespan.
    Then, when they learn "abandon worms" magic, they become long-lived, complete magicians.
    In the case of those who were originally human, in continuing their study of magic, it is when they learn "abandon food" magic that they become magicians.
    After that, it's the same as for normal magicians.
    In any case, becoming a member of the magician race takes quite a bit of time.
    Since they continue to grow old like humans up until that point, in general there are many aged wizards and witches.
    However, in Gensokyo, magical research is more advanced and learning magic is simple.
    Thus, there are more than a few young (childish) magicians in Gensokyo.
    There's no way to tell them apart from humans by their appearance.
    Their bodies are nearly the same as humans', so they are frail in comparison to other youkai.
    They're generally intelligent, studious people with a lot of knowledge, but they tend to be hikikomori and not leave their homes."
  95. ↑ Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Stage 2
  96. ↑ Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Stage 3
  97. ↑ Touhou Sangetsusei (Three Fairies) ~ Oriental Sacred Place Chapter 15
  98. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Standalone Chapter Gensokyo Short Stories
  99. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 16
  100. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 24
  101. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 38
  102. ↑ 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?"
  103. ↑ 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."
  104. ↑ 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."
  105. ↑ Touhou Sangetsusei (Three Fairies) ~ Oriental Sacred Place Chapter 16
  106. ↑ Touhou 20: Fossilized Wonders Reimu Extra Stage
  107. ↑ Touhou 20: Fossilized Wonders Reimu Extra Stage
  108. ↑ Touhou 20: Fossilized Wonders Reimu Extra Stage
  109. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  110. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  111. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  112. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Kana vs Chiyuri
  113. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 48
  114. ↑ Touhou 8: Imperishable Night Good Ending #1
  115. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Mima Ending
  116. ↑ Touhou 04: Lotus Land Story Stage 1
  117. ↑ Touhou 04: Lotus Land Story Stage 1
  118. ↑ Touhou Project - Perfect Cherry Blossom Gensokyo Record "Though innumerable years have passed since its sealing, Gensokyo is still home to many youkai and just a few humans.
    The youkai of Gensokyo have built up their own culture; one that is all that like the culture of the world when Gensokyo was sealed.
    However, it was not a materialistic culture - it was a culture centered upon spiritual awareness far exceeding that of the human world. The wise youkai sought not the bounty of objects, but the bounty of the heart. For the youkais with such a civilization of magic, it is very easy for them to open the Great Barrier sealing Gensokyo. However, the youkai do not attempt to open it. On the contrary, they actually reinforced the barrier with an even stronger power. The barrier that had once locked Gensokyo away was now used in order to prevent invasion by the humans."
  119. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  120. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Rikako vs. Chiyuri
  121. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Reimu Ending
  122. ↑ Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character Extra Stage
  123. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  124. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  125. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  126. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Kana vs Chiyuri
  127. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Reimu Ending
  128. ↑ 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."
  129. ↑ Touhou 02: Story of Eastern Wonderland
  130. ↑ 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."
  131. ↑ Touhou 05: Mystic Square
  132. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Final Stage
  133. ↑ Touhou 14.5: Urban Legend in Limbo Reimu Story Ending
  134. ↑ Touhou 01: Highly Responsive to Prayers
  135. ↑ Touhou 02: Story of Eastern Wonderland
  136. ↑ Touhou 04: Lotus Land Story
  137. ↑ Touhou 01: Highly Responsive to Prayers
  138. ↑ Touhou 04: Lotus Land Story Good Ending 1
  139. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 11
  140. ↑ Touhou 05: Mystic Square Good Ending 1
  141. ↑ Touhou Project - Perfect Cherry Blossom Gensokyo Record "Though innumerable years have passed since its sealing, Gensokyo is still home to many youkai and just a few humans.
    The youkai of Gensokyo have built up their own culture; one that is all that like the culture of the world when Gensokyo was sealed.
    However, it was not a materialistic culture - it was a culture centered upon spiritual awareness far exceeding that of the human world. The wise youkai sought not the bounty of objects, but the bounty of the heart. For the youkais with such a civilization of magic, it is very easy for them to open the Great Barrier sealing Gensokyo. However, the youkai do not attempt to open it. On the contrary, they actually reinforced the barrier with an even stronger power. The barrier that had once locked Gensokyo away was now used in order to prevent invasion by the humans."
  142. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 48
  143. ↑ 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."
  144. ↑ Touhou 02: Story of Eastern Wonderland
  145. ↑ 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."
  146. ↑ Touhou 05: Mystic Square
  147. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Final Stage
  148. ↑ Touhou 14.5: Urban Legend in Limbo Reimu Story Ending
  149. ↑ Touhou 01: Highly Responsive to Prayers
  150. ↑ Touhou 02: Story of Eastern Wonderland
  151. ↑ Touhou 04: Lotus Land Story
  152. ↑ Touhou 01: Highly Responsive to Prayers
  153. ↑ Touhou Suzunaan (Bell Hermitage) ~ Forbidden Scrollery Chapter 25
  154. ↑ Touhou Hisoutensoku Hong Meiling's Story Ending
  155. ↑ Touhou 02: Story of Eastern Wonderland Good Ending
  156. ↑ Touhou Project - Perfect Cherry Blossom Gensokyo Record "Though innumerable years have passed since its sealing, Gensokyo is still home to many youkai and just a few humans.
    The youkai of Gensokyo have built up their own culture; one that is all that like the culture of the world when Gensokyo was sealed.
    However, it was not a materialistic culture - it was a culture centered upon spiritual awareness far exceeding that of the human world. The wise youkai sought not the bounty of objects, but the bounty of the heart. For the youkais with such a civilization of magic, it is very easy for them to open the Great Barrier sealing Gensokyo. However, the youkai do not attempt to open it. On the contrary, they actually reinforced the barrier with an even stronger power. The barrier that had once locked Gensokyo away was now used in order to prevent invasion by the humans."
  157. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  158. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Cutscene: Kana vs Chiyuri
  159. ↑ Touhou 8: Imperishable Night Stage 5
  160. ↑ Touhou 8: Imperishable Night Stage 5
  161. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  162. ↑ Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Magic Team Extra Stage
  163. ↑ Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Magic Team Extra Stage
  164. ↑ Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Magic Team Extra Stage
  165. ↑ Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Magic Team Extra Stage
  166. ↑ Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Magic Team Extra Stage
  167. ↑ Touhou 08: Imperishable Night Magic Team Extra Stage
  168. ↑ Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Pages 52-53 Magician "Potential Harm
    Sacrifice, Theft, Abduction, Fraud
    The most likely cause of harm is theft of livestock.
    Living livestock is necessary for large-scale magic, and it seems there is a serious livestock shortage among magicians.
    In addition, they often steal food and drink (especially liquor), and curios such as moon rocks.
    At worst, they might even steal children.
    Also, they can use magic which is similar to sleight of hand and commit fraud.
    Perhaps performing magic requires money, but they will take any means necessary to raise funds.
    Be particularly cautious if you see someone selling shady magic props on the roadside."
  169. ↑ 169.0 169.1 169.2 Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Pages 52-53 Magician "Countermeasures
    The most important thing is to not trust magicians.
    Fortunately, their bodies are only about as strong as that of an ordinary human, so running away is simple.
    A magician who is properly prepared is so strong that they can take on any kind of youkai.
    However, they are weak to surprise attacks, and are not good at close combat or lengthy conflicts.
    The most fundamental thing is to be careful not to fall into a magician's trap, which will not happen without entering their territory.
    If you happen to do so, your best options are either to immediately run away or to boldly approach them."
  170. ↑ 170.0 170.1 170.2 "1: There are those who repeatedly cast magic to restore their youth, but...
    2: Magic to stop one's growth. It can only be used on oneself.
    3: Magic that allows you to compensate for not eating food via magic power. It can only be used on oneself.
    4: Sometimes the children become the magicians' apprentices.
  171. ↑ Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Page 54-56 "Seven-Colored Puppeteer
    Alice Margatroid
    Ability: Manipulation of dolls
    Threat level: Low
    Human friendship level: High
    Main place of activity: Any kind of place
    The magician that appears in front of crowds during festivals and displays her performances with her dolls would be Alice Margatroid.
    She is an artistic magician who manipulates dolls with magic and makes it appear as if they were alive.
    She has blond hair and pale skin, looking very much like a doll herself.
    She is the type of magician that was originally human and became one through training.
    Because of this, she is very understanding of humans.
    However, her history as a magician is short, and she is a novice.
    She still eats and sleeps and does everything a human would, despite not needing to do so.
    She usually lives in a cozy western house in the Forest of Magic.
    If you happen to wander into the Forest of Magic, lose your way and end up at her house, it is said that she will cheerfully allow you to stay the night.
    However, while she says that, all she does is research magic and control her dolls without really conversing, which is unsettling, so it seems one would want to run away as soon as possible (*1)."
  172. ↑ Touhou Ibarakasen (Rose Poem Hermit) ~ Wild and Horned Hermit Chapter 3
  173. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Marisa vs. Chiyuri
  174. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Kana vs Chiyuri
  175. ↑ Touhou Ibarakasen (Rose Poem Hermit) ~ Wild and Horned Hermit Chapter 3
  176. ↑ 176.0 176.1 176.2 "Potential Harm
    Disaster
    Those as powerful as vampires are usually forbidden to directly assault humans.
    So, they aren't so dangerous even if you happen to meet one.
    Instead, they cause many disasters that affect the whole of Gensokyo.
    They can create abnormalities in everything including natural phenomena with no warning, for selfish reasons, which will always lead to endangering human life no matter what is affected.
    Most of these reasons are out of mere curiosity, and they will cease once they tire of it."
  177. ↑ 177.00 177.01 177.02 177.03 177.04 177.05 177.06 177.07 177.08 177.09 177.10 177.11 177.12 177.13 Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Pages 75-76 Vampire "Characteristics
    Of the newer youkai that have emerged only within the last few centuries, vampires are among the strongest of them, strong enough to take part in the power-balance of Gensokyo (*1) by now.
    During the day they spend their time in their mansion, and once night comes they become active; they are the Lords of the Night.
    Their main diet consists of the blood of humans. Those whose blood has been sucked by one will neither die nor become a ghost. They will turn into a zombie for a while before evaporating under the sunlight.
    They went on a rampage when they first appeared in Gensokyo, lost against powerful youkai, and settled down after agreeing to a contract (*2).
    The details of this contract are that the youkai will offer them humans from which to feed (*3); in return, the vampires will not attack humans living in Gensokyo.
    Of course, the contract remains in effect to this day.
    Vampires have tremendous physical abilities and magical power: they are able to uproot a thousand-year-old tree single-handedly, to run through the human village within the blink of an eye, to summon many devils with a single word, to turn into bats or even mist to intrude anywhere they please, and they can recover within a single night even when their body is blown away, so long as their head is intact.
    Some youkai have abilities to this level of power, but only vampires are known to possess all of them.
    Because of this, they have charisma of the highest class.
    However, perhaps due to their extraordinary abilities, they have many weaknesses.
    First, they are weak against sunlight, so they are docile during the day.
    Neither can they move through flowing water, so they are docile on rainy days. They also cannot cross rivers.
    They can't approach a sardine head or a broken holly branch.
    Their skin will be burnt if someone throws roasted soybeans at them (*4)."
  178. ↑ 178.0 178.1 178.2 178.3 Immaterial and Missing Power 上海アリス通信.txt "Eternally Young Scarlet Moon
    Remilia Scarlet
    Species: Vampire
    Location: Scarlet Devil Mansion
    Abilities: Manipulation of fate
    Master of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. She looks young, but she's actually a vampire who's over 500 years old. Weak against sunlight, she has to take a parasol if she wants to go out in the daytime.
    Her personality is somewhat childish, and she's got maids who are basically at her beck and call, so she can be as egotistical as she wants. She's immensely powerful, so she can really kick up a fuss.
    Faster than the eye can follow, strong enough to crush boulders, powerful enough to manipulate demons, she's so strong it's almost not fair, so she doesn't care much for subtle technique. She may be weak against sunlight, but she has a pretty strong constitution, so as long as some bit of her still remains, say, a little bat, she can regenerate any time. She's dreadful to have as an enemy, but she's not exactly the sort of person you'd want as a friend, either."
  179. ↑ ZUN's comment from Dai Touhouten (EoSD) plaque ""Vampire as the last boss is one of the best tropes in video games, no way this suddenly won't work in a bullet hell!"
    That's what I thought when I started making the game. Now I think of it, that superhuman toughness and vampiric ability are only suited for roleplaying games. Making bullet patterns for vampires ended up very difficult.
    I assigned the badass role to Sakuya, the human character, then let Remilia take the role of a selfish noble princess. I soon realized that this has made Remilia no different than an average human, so I gave her a huge pair of bat wings to compensate. But the more I looked at it the more it felt like Bahamut from Final Fantasy (lol)"
  180. ↑ Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Page 87-88 Tengu "1: Maybe a vampire could.
    2: To be honest, at the moment there is no way to compete with tengu."
  181. ↑ Touhou 06: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Ending No. 3
  182. ↑ Touhou 06: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Remilia Boss
  183. ↑ Touhou 06: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Ending No. 3
  184. ↑ Touhou 06: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Ending No. 3
  185. ↑ Touhou 17.5: Sunken Fossil World - Yuuma Story Episode 7
  186. ↑ Touhou 17.5: Sunken Fossil World - Yuuma Story Episode 7
  187. ↑ 187.0 187.1 187.2 187.3 187.4 187.5 187.6 187.7 187.8 187.9 Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Pages 92-93 Oni "Characteristics
    They are the strongest enemies of humans in Gensokyo.
    Their livelihood is kidnapping humans, and with their high levels of physical and magical strength, they are the strongest beings in Gensokyo.In antiquity, they lived on Youkai Mountain and, employing the tengu as servants, built up an oni society.(*1)
    From then on at regular fixed intervals, they would kidnap humans, and thus threaten the livelihood of the villages.
    However, since several hundred years ago, the number of oni has decreased little by little, and from the time the great barrier was built, they have not shown themselves anywhere in Gensokyo.
    They were none too pleased with how the world of Gensokyo had become so carefree, with few humans trying to exterminate them, so they left for a different world.(*2) No one knows where this world is, and since then, contact of any kind with the oni has ceased.
    Oni can have a wide variety of physiques, from huge builds all the way down to short and petite.
    But all of them have horns, and some also have fangs.
    They have arms slightly longer than humans, as well as slouched postures.
    Their personalities are both cheerful and ferocious, and they can be quite belligerent with those they dislike. However, they will be warm hearted and considerate to those they recognize as friends and will absolutely never betray them.
    What they detest the most are lies, cowardice, malice or unfairness.
    Always honoring their promises, they can think of no other way to behave than to be fair and square.
    There are no youkai who are as forthright as the oni.
    Also, their emotional and mental discipline is considerably strong, and very few oni are not well-versed in the principles of Zen.
    Also, while they have unparalleled love of and an exceedingly high tolerance for alcohol, if they drink themselves hard enough to pass out, they will not wake up no matter what."
  188. ↑ Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Pages 92-93 Oni "Potential Harm
    Abduction
    Since times fairly long ago, humans have been tormented by the oni.
    Occasionally descending from the mountain, kidnapping humans and making off with sake, the oni threatened their day-to-day life.
    Because the humans couldn't simply stay silent and do nothing, oni extermination specialists were trained or summoned at fixed intervals to go exterminate the oni.
    When that happened, marvelous tools and implements were taken from the oni society after they had been beaten.
    Oni and humans, through human kidnappings and oni exterminations, may well have built up a relationship of mutual trust."
  189. ↑ Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Pages 92-93 Oni "Countermeasures
    Because the oni have disappeared from Gensokyo, at the present time, there are no oni extermination specialists.
    Because oni are different from regular youkai, the means of extermination and the tools necessary are particular and specialized.
    The techniques to exterminate oni have already been lost by humans, thus it would appear that meeting an oni nowadays would be too much for anyone to handle.
    In reality, the way in which things like the Tsuina ceremonies or other oni-repelling rituals are conducted are already inaccurate.
    Though since the chances of meeting an oni are already close to zero, there should be no problem, but..."
  190. ↑ Touhou 7.5: Immaterial and Missing Power Yuyuko Ending
  191. ↑ Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Pages 92-93 Oni "1: It is said that the present society of tengu is built upon the vestiges of the original oni society.
    2: In Gensokyo, we call where they went the Land of the Oni. Possibly Hell."
  192. ↑ Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red Page 72-73 Suika "Season 120, Kisaragi issue #1 (est. 2005/03/10 ~ 2005/04/09)
    The Midwinter Moon's Great Explosion
    A flurry of moon fragments
    On X the Xth, I became aware that the moon had suddenly and silently exploded. Although this was a major event, it occurred so late at night that most people never realized it happened.
    The moon quietly scattered out across the sky, and its countless glimmering fragments descended to the Earth. Before long, the fragments thinned out like mist, and then gathered together again to reform the full moon. Since this happened silently over a very short period of time in the middle of the night, it was a stroke of the greatest fortune to bear witness to this fantastically unreal spectacle. Setting out to find out what had happened, I was able to gather enough information to allow me to make contact with the individual who caused the moon to explode.
    That individual was Suika Ibuki (oni). She appeared to be extraordinarily drunk, but she spoke quite lucidly when I interviewed her about this incident.
    "The moon? Ah, that's just a bit of a threat. Everyone looked like they were havin' so much fun, saying 'oni, stay outside' over and over again, so I thought I'd give 'em a little warnin'. Sure surprised the fire out of ya, didn't it?"
    Indeed it did, as I'm sure anyone would be. I then asked her how she'd made the moon explode.
    "Just what do you think the moon up in the sky is? Everyone sees that big, round shiny thing and thinks there must be somethin' up there, right? That's just silly. The truth is much more mind-blowin' than that. You can almost never see the real moon, 'cause its appearance is deadly to humans. You can only see the moon's reflection. And the things that make reflections, like water or glass, can all be broken, right? So since the moon you see in the sky is just being reflected in the heavens, all you gotta do is tear the heavens apart!"
    I understood how she'd broken the moon, but it was unclear how she'd managed to shatter the heavens. Still, the power of the oni defies imagination. They can probably shatter the heavens with their eyes closed and one hand tied behind their back.
    (Aya Shameimaru)"
  193. ↑ Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red Page 72-73 Suika "Suika
    Sake~!
    Aya
    You've been drinking for quite a while now.
    Suika
    Quite a while? Look, I've been drinking non-stop for CENTURIES. The last time I was sober is ancient history.
    Aya
    I suppose it's too late to say that drinking that much might be bad for your health...
    Suika
    Wanna have a drinkin' match?
    Aya
    Please, I'm not foolish enough to get into a drinking match with an oni.
    Suika
    Aw, c'mooonnnnnnn. You're a tengu, right? Tengu are pretty big drinkers, toooooo.
    Aya
    Ohoho, I'm on the job at the moment. Still, I found a nice food stand recently. Would you like to go for a drink afterwards?
    Suika
    Food cart? Oh, maybe they've got yakitori~.
    Aya
    Grilled eel, actually. Their fried skewers go great with alcohol.
    Suika
    Sounds niiice. Parties are great, but maybe it's nice to drink quietly once in a while.
    Aya
    This cart isn't the quietest place, I'm afraid. The owner sings a lot.
    Suika
    If she's so noisy I can't drink, I'll just make her shut up.
    Aya
    Hm, hearing that from an oni makes me feel sorry for the poor bird. Still, I was very surprised. That matter of the moon is one thing, but I didn't think there were any oni left in Gensokyo.
    Suika
    Oh, you know, I just decided to come back since it's been so long. I'm the only one who came, though.
    Aya
    Gensokyo might become even more lively with an oni around.
    Suika
    I was pretty sad to see the tengu had lost their hold on the world~.
    Aya
    Please, you're exaggerating. The tengu are still plenty powerful. Besides, the oni have always been stronger.
    Suika
    You tengu are all talk, same as ever. Yer always so humble to anyone stronger than you, but act all tough towards the weak. Yer all really strong, but go easy on everyone, and ya play dumb even though yer really smart. Yer like bats.
    Aya
    Could you not go so far, please? Honestly, we tengu really aren't as strong as we used to be. We're merely simple rumormongers, nowadays.
    Suika
    Hm, I wonder... Well, I see y'all still love gossip as much as ya did in the old days.
    Aya
    And I see the oni are still amazing. To have such power to be able to shatter the heavens.
    Suika
    Ehehe, that's just a little trick~. I'm just good at splittin' and gatherin' things.
    Aya
    Oh, does that mean you'd also be good at gathering news?
    Suika
    Huh? N-news? O-of course, I could do that with my little finger.
    Aya
    Oh, that's amazing~. Why don't we continue this conversation over a drink at that stand I was talking about? I'm sure you have a lot of interesting things to tell me.
    Suika
    Hm, yeah. Tonight, we'll drink until we can't talk anymore!
    Aya
    Ohoho, but I'm a tengu, you know? If I get so inebriated I can't hear your drunken words anymore... Hahahahaha.
    Suika
    This is why they say, "Never get too close to tengu.""
  194. ↑ Touhou 7.5 Immaterial and Missing Power Remilia Story Final Stage
  195. ↑ The Grimoire of Marisa Yuugi Hoshiguma's Spell Cards Pages 48-49 "Big Four Arcanum "Knock Out In Three Steps"
    • User: Yuugi Hoshiguma
    • Notes: Shockingly white, theatrical type
    • Reference Level: ★★★★★★
    I dunno how this skill works, but each time Yuugi stamps her foot, the distance she can travel in a single stride is filled with high-density danmaku.
    It's nearly instant death within that three-step distance, but since Yuugi's three steps are too wide, it's basically instant death.
    But she still takes care to arrange the danmaku in a way that's properly enjoyable, which is wonderful. Even during a massive feat of strength, you can see how she's laid-back enough to play around with it.
    It's a shame that I probably can't imitate it, seein' as it's a mysterious oni skill and all.
    That aside, I guess even oni have a lot of variety among 'em. Hm."
  196. ↑ Touhou Ibarakasen (Rose Poem Hermit) ~ Wild and Horned Hermit Chapter 32
  197. ↑ Touhou Ibarakasen (Rose Poem Hermit) ~ Wild and Horned Hermit Chapter 32
  198. ↑ 198.0 198.1 198.2 198.3 198.4 198.5 198.6 Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Page 87-88 Tengu "Characteristics
    Deified youkai who live on the mountain.
    These extremely well-known youkai have existed since ancient times, predating even Gensokyo, and formed a peculiar society where they lead their reclusive lifestyles.
    There are various types of tengu: the tengu boss, Tenma; the management types, Great tengu; the nimble information corps, Crow tengu; the ones who specialize in business work, Hanataka tengu; the mountain's defense force, White Wolf tengu; and the printers, Yamabushi tengu.
    In general, they look the same as humans, but there are extremely large tengu such as the Great tengu, and extremely proud ones such as the Hanataka tengu, who always have their nose in the air.
    As can be seen from their advanced civilization, tengu are far more intelligent than humans, and are very social.
    On an individual basis, they have very strong physical and sorcerous abilities that compare favorably to any youkai in Gensokyo.
    In particular, they can fly extremely fast, and there are few, if any, who can match their speed (*1).
    One characteristic of tengu is that they are generally cheerful, heavy drinkers.
    When they drink sake, they don't hold back in terms of quantity. It's said that as a greeting, they'll drink 18 liters of sake in one gulp.
    They also have a strong sense of community, and if one of their friends are attacked, they'll certainly react with hostility.
    If an intruder appears on the mountain, they'll quickly show up in force to remove them, which is a characteristic not seen in other youkai.
    Usually, if there's an incident, they'll show up with their amazing speed, take a photograph and turn it into an article, then print and publish it."
  199. ↑ 199.0 199.1 Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Page 87-88 Tengu Potential Harm
    Sudden Gusts, Rumormongering, Paparazzi Photography, etc.
    The wind that occurs in the wake of a tengu is strong enough to send a child flying.
    It doesn't happen often, but it's said that if you anger a tengu, you'll be annihilated by a tornado.
    What's even more frightening is that they'll spread half-truths and weird rumors.
    There are cases where these rumors literally become the wind's rumors before they even reach human ears.
    Thereby, it becomes difficult to properly notify the village otherwise.
    Because this is something against which there is no complete defense, there is nothing more dreadful than this."
  200. ↑ Curiosities of Lotus Asia Chapter 17 Page 116-123 Price of Paper in Luoyang "Truth is built upon information just like a tower that is built upon sand. Extra editions that were consistently being released for whatever reason fluttered around in Gensokyo's wind, and urgent news articles permeated everyone's conversations. The articles ranged from old news to recent news, and from facts that everyone knew to ones of questionable truth.
    Most of the truths we know are built upon information. When an event takes place, we usually don't have the chance to witness it with our own eyes. With luck, we can at most conjecture about it through the information that the event creates. And what we call truth is built upon this uncertain base of information.
    Most truths are not only built on uncertain bases, they are also fleeting and fragile. Truth is, in fact, easily changed by information. If one is to create information, then one must keep in mind that this information will change reality. There's no such thing as information that concepts only but the truth. Truth itself is the ultimate illusion, an illusion that doesn't exist even in Gensokyo.
    And there were a lot of newspapers being scattered around that didn't seem to understand that. That's because there was a tengu news tournament going on until recently. This tournament is not a new event, but this year there was an unpreceded climax, and at the same time, the tengu newspapers seemed to permeate every corner of academia in Gensokyo.
    But the question remains of why this news competition that has happened every year has suddenly increased in activity. I can think of two reasons for this. One is that the recent incident's aftermath provides a plethora of article material. And the other one – that I believe has a more direct relation – is that the supply of paper has seen a sudden increase, and its price has dropped according. If the availability of paper increases, it's a matter of course that the number of newspapers will increase too. And similarly, the fact that paper has become more easily available is something I'm very grateful for."
  201. ↑ Touhou 13: Ten Desires Extra Stage
  202. ↑ Hopeless Masquerade Mamizou Futatsuiwa Spell Card Bizarre Okuri-Chouchin "Her subordinate turns into a ghost lantern, spewing a (fake) will-o-wisp that gives Mamizou some protection. After staying out for a while, the will-o-wisp will chase down the opponent."
  203. ↑ Hopeless Masquerade Mamizou Futatsuiwa Spell Card Utsusemi Jizo Transformation "She transforms into a Jizo and launches a surprise attack from above the opponent.
    Also, even if she gets attacked during its activation, her subordinate takes the hit instead and this move activates.
    It can be used as a tricky counter attack, too."
  204. ↑ Hopeless Masquerade Mamizou Futatsuiwa Spell Card Animal Lute Priest "Mamizou transforms leaves into a frog or rabbit, which assaults the opponent.
    It's a rather abstract transformation though, so its movement pattern after transformation is rather simple.
    This technique doesn't rely on her subordinate, so it's important for defense in a pinch."
  205. ↑ Hopeless Masquerade Mamizou Futatsuiwa Spell Card Youkai Amikiri Transformation "Mamizou rides her subordinate in the form of a web-cutting youkai, charging forward gallantly. Its trajectory is dynamic, but if she gets hit by the opponent's attacks, her underling will be hit along with her, so thoughtless use will leave her fighting alone."
  206. ↑ Hopeless Masquerade Mamizou Futatsuiwa Spell Card Youkai Karakasa Transformation "Mamizou's subordinate, which transformed into a paper umbrella, springs up from the ground.
    The subordinate opens the umbrella at the specified point to knock the opponent away, then flutters back down.
    The subordinate knocks the opponent away based on its own movement, so it can support Mamizou's attacks if used skillfully."
  207. ↑ Hopeless Masquerade Mamizou Futatsuiwa Spell Card Youkai Tsurube Transformation "Mamizou's subordinate, disguised as a well bucket, soars heartily through the air like Tarzan. Equipping it up or down will drop the well bucket straight down, leaving it as a landmine that will attack again on its way up."
  208. ↑ Hopeless Masquerade Mamizou Futatsuiwa Spell Card Youkai Omokage Transformation "Mamizou transforms into the opponent and uses their various skills. Depending on the opponent, there's also some moves that get odd Mamizou-esque variations, rather than straightforward copies."
  209. ↑ Hopeless Masquerade Mamizou Futatsuiwa Spell Card Transformation "Bunbuku Hot Soup Bathtub" "Mamizou's subordinate transforms into a teapot and blows steam, attacking even the highest heights. Mamizou looks back at her subordinate while relaxing in there, but only the tanuki knows what it's thinking."
  210. ↑ Hopeless Masquerade Mamizou Futatsuiwa Spell Card Transformation "Youkai World Gate of One Hundred Demons" "The herd of tanuki youkai, transformed into whatever they please, rush through the transformed gate. If one is unfortunately in their path, she gets jostled around by all kinds of opponents. The incoherence of the youkai tanuki's night parade is totally unmatched."
  211. ↑ Touhou Ibarakasen (Rose Poem Hermit) ~ Wild and Horned Hermit Chapter 32
  212. ↑ Touhou Ibarakasen (Rose Poem Hermit) ~ Wild and Horned Hermit Chapter 32
  213. ↑ Touhou 08: Imperishable Night
  214. ↑ 214.00 214.01 214.02 214.03 214.04 214.05 214.06 214.07 214.08 214.09 214.10 Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Page 82-83 Ghost "Characteristics
    The souls of the dead who don't realize that they have died or whose unwillingness to recognize death is too strong will be unable to achieve nirvana, becoming ghosts.
    Ghosts are different from phantoms, since they keep the appearance they did while alive, can touch and speak, and can't be told apart from a normal human by a casual observer.
    Their body temperature isn't low, and the only living things that can become ghosts are humans.
    As a large number of ghosts are unable to traverse the river, they remain in the realms of the living, or cross over to the Netherworld or to Hell.
    In any case, there is absolutely no chance of reincarnation.
    If you become a ghost one day, until you accomplish your objective or your body is ceremoniously buried, you won't achieve nirvana (*1).
    Ghosts can easily influence the human heart with just their voices, so it is dangerous to carelessly talk to one.
    Ghosts who carry grudges are a particularly dangerous threat, so you should somehow find the body (*2) and have the burial ceremony.
    Therefore, a ghost's weak point is its body (*3).
    Ghosts hide their corpses and never reveal them to people.
    They don't have bodies of flesh, but they aren't as insubstantial as phantoms, so they can touch things.
    On the other hand, they find it difficult to pass through objects (*4).
    However, since they don't have physical bodies, even if they can touch objects, they cannot be injured."
  215. ↑ 215.0 215.1 Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Page 82-83 Ghost "Potential Harm
    Madness, Getting Turned into a Phantom
    The scariest thing is that they live alongside humans and can't be discerned as ghosts by the untrained eye.
    Even if the ghosts don't have any ill will, if you're touched by one of the dead, before you know it you'll be beckoned by death.
    Also, there are cases in which the ghost is a family member or friend, so people hesitate to hold a memorial ceremony and instead go on living together.
    At first, it may seem like a happy thing to continue living together after someone dies, but the ghost is disconnected from the cycle of reincarnation, not only will they wander for eternity, but they'll soon realize that their entire family has died.
    Even more frightening are ghosts who carry grudges.
    They take on the form of humans and deceive the living. Until the grudge is fulfilled they will haunt people to death."
  216. ↑ Touhou 7.5: Immaterial and Missing Power Reimu Good Ending (Ending No. 3)
  217. ↑ 217.0 217.1 217.2 217.3 217.4 217.5 Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Page 60-61 Beast Youkai "Characteristics
    Though at first glance they seem to be regular animals, these creatures are intelligent enough to understand human speech and have extraordinary physical abilities. Some of them can also use sorcery.
    This kind of creature is termed a beast youkai.
    Many of them act as leaders for ordinary animals.
    A defining feature of beast youkai is that they are very corporeally inclined.
    Their physical prowess is outstanding (*1), but should their bodies be destroyed, they will have great difficulty regenerating.
    Unlike normal youkai, they're resistant against mental attacks (*2).
    Ordinarily, their appearance, dispostion, and abilities are heavily influenced by the animal from which they originated.
    They feel a strong sense of solidarity with the rest of their respective species, and will tolerate no harm to any of their kin.
    Their diets tend to be omnivorous with a preference for meat, especially human flesh.
    It is said that an animal that has eaten enough virtuous humans becomes a beast youkai (*3).
    Many of them are very ferocious, and since the frequency of encountering one is somewhat high, you must be careful of this type of youkai.
    Also, more tails generally means higher youkai power, so you can use this to estimate their strength."
  218. ↑ Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Page 60-61 Beast Youkai "Potential Harm
    Injury, Predation
    Most of their danger comes from direct attacks.
    Even if they can only scratch with their sharp claws or bite with their teeth, they are a threat to humans.
    It's possible to be injured even if you don't directly get involved with beast youkai. For example, if you catch a rabbit, a youkai rabbit may take revenge on you if it notices.
    Also, you must be even more careful of beast youkai that can use sorcery."
  219. ↑ 219.0 219.1 Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Page 60-61 Beast Youkai "1: Swift feet, the ability to jump high, having great strength, being able to see even in the dark, to see and hear things from afar, having delicious meat, etc.
    2: They're airheads.
    3: Monks who've done a lot of training would be suitable targets."
  220. ↑ Touhou 17: Wily Beast and Weakest Creature Stage 5
  221. ↑ Touhou 17: Wily Beast and Weakest Creature Stage 5
  222. ↑ Touhou 17: Wily Beast and Weakest Creature
  223. ↑ Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Page 60-61 Beast Youkai "Countermeasures
    Because of the difference in physical abilities, humans are at an overwhelming disadvantage in a frontal attack.
    However, because they tend to lack intelligence, they often fall into traps set by humans.
    Sometimes they'll get caught in rabbit traps.
    If one of them is threatening to fight you, it's probably because it's hungry.
    If you have food on hand, there's a good chance you can escape by offering it to them and running.
    In the worst case, if you don't have any food on hand, or you meet them one after another and you've just given away your food, all you can do is pray."
  224. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria Dim. Dream Rikako Ending
  225. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria Dim. Dream Rikako Ending
  226. ↑ 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!
    ..."
  227. ↑ 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."
  228. ↑ 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. :-)"
  229. ↑ 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. (^^;"
  230. ↑ 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.""
  231. ↑ 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>."
  232. ↑ 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."
  233. ↑ 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."
  234. ↑ 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."
  235. ↑ 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.""
  236. ↑ Touhou Sangetsusei ~ Strange and Bright Nature Deity Chapter 12
  237. ↑ 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.
  238. ↑ 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!"
  239. ↑ 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."
  240. ↑ 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?"
  241. ↑ 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?"
  242. ↑ Touhou Project - Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Reimu Profile
  243. ↑ Touhou Project - Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Reimu Profile
  244. ↑ Touhou Project - Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Reimu Profile
  245. ↑ 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."
  246. ↑ Touhou Project - Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Unresolved Materials Draft of Spell Card Rules
  247. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Kana vs Chiyuri
  248. ↑ Touhou 03: Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream Cutscene: Reimu vs Chiyuri
  249. ↑ Touhou 05: Mystic Square Good Ending #1
  250. ↑ Touhou 6: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Stage 5
  251. ↑ Touhou 07: Perfect Cherry Blossom Extra Stage
  252. ↑ Touhou 8: Imperishable Night Extra Stage
  253. ↑ Meiji University talkshow "Dawn of Touhou" "Q: Who's the strongest in Gensokyo?
    ZUN: "Absolutely, ...isn't it Reimu? Although it seems obvious.""
  254. ↑ Touhou 15: Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom Stage 2
  255. ↑ Touhou 15: Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom Stage 4
  256. ↑ Touhou 16: Hidden Star in Four Seasons Stage 6
  257. ↑ Touhou 17: Wily Beast and Weakest Creature Extra Stage
  258. ↑ Touhou 18: Unconnected Marketeers Stage 2
  259. ↑ Touhou 18: Unconnected Marketeers Stage 3
  260. ↑ 260.0 260.1 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."
  261. ↑ Touhou 11: Subterranean Animism Stage 2
  262. ↑ Touhou 11: Subterranean Animism Stage 2
  263. ↑ 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…"
  264. ↑ 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."
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