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Touhou Project

Touhou Project (東方Project, lit. “Eastern Project”) is a large collection of Japanese works centered around a danmaku video game series by the doujin circle, “Team Shanghai Alice” (上海アリス幻樂団),1) though it's often credited to “Jun'ya Ōta” (太田順也) or “ZUN” instead.

It began development in 1995, but wasn't shown to the public until 1996.2) The series receives significant praise for its music, fascinating visuals, unique stories, and having an absurdly huge cast of human and humanoid characters with plenty of supplemental lore in the print works.

Overview

For the most part, Touhou Project is set in a fictional, closed off land hidden within the mountains of Japan called “Gensōkyō” (幻想郷, lit. “Fantasy Land”) and most of the games are about resolving incidents or shenanigans caused by supernatural beings in their universe. However, this isn't a strict formula and some of the works simply try to expand on daily life in Gensōkyō.

List of works

PC-98 games

While attending Tokyo Denki University, ZUN joined a doujin circle called “Amusement Makers” and he'd use “ZUN Soft” as his brand name. In order to differentiate these works from the later works, they're often referred to as the “old works” (旧作, kyūsaku) or “PC-98 version” (PC-98版, pīshī kyūhachi ban) in Japanese discussions, while the English community simply uses “PC-98 games” instead.

No. Work name Release date
01
(HRtP)
Touhou Reiiden(Wondrous Tale) ~ Highly Responsive to Prayers
東方靈異伝 〜 Highly Responsive to Prayers
1996-11-0X
(Hatoyama Matsuri)
02
(SoEW)
Touhou Fuumaroku(Demon-Sealing Record) ~ Story of Eastern Wonderland
東方封魔録 〜 the Story of Eastern Wonderland
1997-08-15
(Comiket 52)
03
(PoDD)
Touhou Yumejikuu(Space-Time Dream) ~ Phantasmagoria of Dimm. Dream
東方夢時空 〜 Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream
1997-12-29
(Comiket 53)
04
(LLS)
Touhou Gensoukyou(Fantasy Land) ~ Lotus Land Story
東方幻想郷 〜 Lotus Land Story
1998-08-14
(Comiket 54)
05
(MS)
Touhou Kaikidan(Bizarre Romantic Story) ~ Mystic Square
東方怪綺談 〜 Mystic Square
1998-12-30
(Comiket 55)

Windows games

After a long pause, ZUN would resume activities under the doujin circle, “Team Shanghai Alice”, and start to work with Microsoft Windows computers, thus the term: “Windows version” (Windows版, Uindouzu-ban). In addition, he'd collaborate with the doujin circle, “Twilight Frontier” (黄昏フロンティア, Tasogare Furontia), for fighting games and other non-standard works.

No. Work name Release date
The Early Trilogy
06
(EoSD)
Touhou Koumakyou(Scarlet Devil Land) ~ the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil.
東方紅魔郷 〜 the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil.
2002-08-11
(Comiket 62)
07
(PCB)
Touhou Youyoumu(Ghostly Dream) ~ Perfect Cherry Blossom
東方妖々夢 〜 Perfect Cherry Blossom
2003-08-17
(Comiket 64)
07.5
(IaMP)
Touhou Suimusou(Gathering Reverie) ~ Immaterial and Missing Power.
東方萃夢想 〜 Immaterial and Missing Power.
2004-12-30
(Comiket 67)
08
(IN)
Touhou Eiyashou(Eternal Night Vignette) ~ Imperishable Night
東方永夜抄 〜 Imperishable Night
2004-08-15
(Comiket 66)
09
(PoFV)
Touhou Kaeidzuka(Flower Reflecting Mound) ~ Phantasmagoria of Flower View
東方花映塚 〜 Phantasmagoria of Flower View
2005-08-14
(Comiket 68)
09.5
(StB)
Touhou Bunkachou(Word Flower Album) ~ Shoot the Bullet
東方文花帖 〜 Shoot the Bullet
2005-12-30
(Comiket 69)
Story of Religions and Gods
10
(MoF)
Touhou Fuujinroku(Wind God Chronicles) ~ Mountain of Faith
東方風神録 〜 Mountain of Faith
2007-08-17
(Comiket 72)
10.5
(SWR)
Touhou Hisouten(Scarlet Perception Heaven) ~ Scarlet Weather Rhapsody
東方緋想天 〜 Scarlet Weather Rhapsody
2008-05-25
(Reitaisai 5)
11
(SA)
Touhou Chireiden(Earth Spirit Palace) ~ Subterranean Animism
東方地霊殿 〜 Subterranean Animism
2008-08-16
(Comiket 74)
12
(UFO)
Touhou Seirensen(Star Lotus Ship) ~ Undefined Fantastic Object
東方星蓮船 〜 Undefined Fantastic Object
2009-08-15
(Comiket 76)
12.3
(Soku)
Touhou Hisoutensoku(Unperceiving of Natural Law) ~ Choudokyuu Ginyoru no Nazo o Oe(Chase the Enigma of the Gargantuan Guignol)
東方非想天則 超弩級ギニョルの謎を追え
12.5
(DS)
Double Spoiler ~ Touhou Bunkachou(Word Flower Album)
ダブルスポイラー 〜 東方文花帖
2010-03-14
(Reitaisai 7)
12.8 Yousei Daisensou(Great Fairy Wars) ~ Touhou Sangetsusei(Three Fairies)
妖精大戦争 〜 東方三月精
2010-08-14
(Comiket 78)
13
(TD)
Touhou Shinreibyou(Divine Spirit Mausoleum) ~ Ten Desires
東方神霊廟 〜 Ten Desires
2011-08-13
(Comiket 80)
13.5
(HM)
Touhou Shinkirou(Heart Elegant Tower) ~ Hopeless Masquerade
東方心綺楼 〜 Hopeless Masquerade
2013-05-26
(Reitaisai 10)
Story of Hierarchy and Balance
14
(DDC)
Touhou Kishinjou(Shining Needle Castle) ~ Double Dealing Character
東方輝針城 〜 Double Dealing Character
2013-08-12
(Comiket 84)
14.3
(ISC)
Danmaku Amanojaku ~ Impossible Spell Card
弾幕アマノジャク 〜 Impossible Spell Card
2014-05-11
(Reitaisai 11)
14.5
(ULiL)
Touhou Shinpiroku(Deep Secret Record) ~ Urban Legend in Limbo
東方深秘録 ~ Urban Legend in Limbo
2015-05-10
(Reitaisai 12)
15
(LoLK)
Touhou Kanjuden(Ultramarine Orb Tale) ~ Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom
東方紺珠伝 ~ Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom
2015-08-14
(Comiket 88)
15.5
(AoCF)
Touhou Hyouibana(Spirit Possession Bloom) ~ Antinomy of Common Flowers
東方憑依華 ~ Antinomy of Common Flowers
2017-12-29
(Comiket 93)
16
(HSiFS)
Touhou Tenkuushou(Heavenly Jade Dipper) ~ Hidden Star in Four Seasons
東方天空璋 ~ Hidden Star in Four Seasons
2017-08-13
(Comiket 92)
16.5
(VD)
Hifuu(Secret Sealing) Nightmare Diary ~ Violet Defector
秘封ナイトメアダイアリー ~ Violet Detector
2018-08-10
(Comiket 94)
17
(WBaWC)
Touhou Kikeijuu(Oni-Shaped Beast) ~ Wily Beast and Weakest Creature
東方鬼形獣 ~ Wily Beast and Weakest Creature
2019-08-12
(Comiket 96)
17.5 Touhou Gouyoku Ibun(Strange Tale of Avarice) ~ Suibotsushita Chinshuu Jigoku(Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow)
東方剛欲異聞 ~ 水没した沈愁地獄
2021-10-24
(Steam)
18
(UM)
Touhou Kouryuudou(Rainbow Dragon's Den) ~ Unconnected Marketeers
東方虹龍洞 〜 Unconnected Marketeers
2021-05-04
(Steam)
18.5 Bulletphilia-tachi no Yami-Ichiba(Bulletphiles' Black Market) ~ 100th Black Market
バレットフィリア達の闇市場 〜 100th Black Market
2022-08-14
(Comiket 100)
19
(UDoALG)
Touhou Juuouen(Beast King's Garden) ~ Unfinished Dream of All Living Ghost
東方獣王園 〜 Unfinished Dream of All Living Ghost
2023-08-13
(C102, Steam)

Literature

gantt %%{init: {'theme':'dark'}}%% title Timeline of Touhou Literature dateFormat YYYY-MM-DD axisFormat %Y todayMarker off section Touhou
Kourindou CoLA (Rinnosuke) : 2004-01-05, 2007-10-26 CoLA (Sumireko) : active, 2015-09-30, 2024-01-31 section Touhou Sangetsusei EaLND : 2005-03-26, 2006-03-25 SaBND : 2006-05-26, 2009-01-26 OSP : 2009-05-26, 2012-02-25 VFiS : 2016-01-27, 2019-09-26 section Touhou
Bunka/Gumon BAiJR : 2005-08-11, 30d PMiSS : 2006-12-27, 30d SoPM : 2012-04-27, 30d AFiEU : 2017-03-30, 30d section Touhou Shikoubana SDV : 2005-10-01, 30d section Touhou Bougetsushou SSiB : 2007-05-09, 2009-04-09 CiLR : 2007-06-25, 2009-06-25 IotEIotM : 2007-06-22, 2009-12-22 section The Grimoire of Marisa : 2009-07-28, 30d Usami : 2019-04-27, 30d section Touhou Ibarakasen WaHH : 2010-07-24, 2020-06-29 section Touhou Suzunaan FS : 2012-10-26, 2017-07-26 section Touhou Gairai Ihen SCoOW : active, 2015-09-30, 2024-01-31 section Touhou Chikireiden FDS : active, 2019-10-28, 2024-05-01 section Touhou Suichouka LE : active, 2019-11-26, 2024-05-01


This section is a placeholder. Maybe. Everything past this point in the article is a bit rushed.

  • Touhou Kourindou ~ Curiosities of Lotus Asia (2004-2007, 2015–)
  • Touhou Sangetsusei
    • Touhou Sangetsusei ~ Eastern and Little Nature Deity (2005–2006)
    • Touhou Sangetsusei ~ Strange and Bright Nature Deity (2006–2009)
    • Touhou Sangetsusei ~ Oriental Sacred Place (2009–2012)
    • Touhou Sangetsusei ~ Visionary Fairies in Shrine (2016–2019)
  • Touhou Bunka/Gumon
    • Touhou Bunkachou ~ Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red (2005)
    • Touhou Gumon Shiki ~ Perfect Memento in Strict Sense (2006)
    • Touhou Gumon Kuju ~ Symposium of Post-Mysticism (2012)
    • Touhou Bunka Shinpou ~ Alternative Facts in Eastern Utopia (2017)
  • Touhou Shikoubana ~ Seasonal Dream Vision (2005)
  • Touhou Bougetsushou
    • Touhou Bougetsushou ~ Silent Sinner in Blue (2007–2009)
    • Touhou Bougetsushou ~ Cage in Lunatic Runagate (2008–2009)
    • Touhou Bougetsushou ~ Inaba of the Moon and Inaba of the Earth (2007–2009)
  • The Grimores
    • The Grimoire of Marisa (2009)
    • The Grimoire of Sumireko (2019)
  • Touhou Ibarakasen ~ Wild and Horned Hermit (2010–2019)
  • Touhou Suzunaan ~ Forbidden Scrollery (2012–2017)
  • Touhou Gairai Ihen ~ Strange Creators of Outer World (2015–)
  • Touhou Chikireiden ~ Hansoku Tantei Satori (2019–)
  • Touhou Suichouka ~ Lotus Eater-tachi no Suisei (2019–)

Notes

  • ZUN stated that Touhou Project is “not a series” in the past, but later admits that it kinda is one.3)4)
    • I would interpret this as ZUN trying to make each game “standalone” and avoid continuity so it'd be easy for newcomers to simply join in without needing any prior knowledge.
  • While Touhou Project is copyrighted by Team Shanghai Alice, it's well known that Touhou Project is fairly generous with somewhat loose guidelines when it comes to derivative fan works.5)
  • The alternate English name, Project Shrine Maiden, is seen on the cover art of the first few Windows games, but it was changed to “Touhou Project” starting with Touhou Kaeidzuka (Phantasmagoria of Flower View) in 2005. Most foreign communities borrow the “Touhou Project” notation, but certain ones have their own variant of the name in their own language.
    • In Chinese, it's called “东方Project” (Dōngfāng Project) for “Eastern Project”.
    • In Korean, it's called “동방 프로젝트” (Dongbang Project) for “Eastern Project”.
    • In Thai, it's called “โทโฮโปรเจค” (Thoḥo Porcekh).

See also

Please use the front page for this.


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1)
“Shanhai Arisu Gengakudan” (上海アリス幻樂団) is often translated to “Team Shanghai Alice”, but it may be translated to “Shanghai Alice Phantasmus” due to how the kanji can be interpreted.
2)
Touhou Reiiden finished development in 1995, but it wasn't actually shown to the public until September 1996 at the 20th Hatoyama Matsuri and later released on August 15, 1997 at Comiket 52 alongside Touhou Fuumaroku, so the official “start” of the series may differ depending on who you ask.
5)
"Copyrights". Touhou Wiki.
touhou_project.txt · Last modified: 2024-09-27 16:31:42 by namelessrumia