IOSYS's remix of Alice's leitmotif, and possibly the best-known Touhou meme. "Precious things" has since been adopted as the official euphemism for anything that Marisa steals, from books to Special Moves to virginity.
"Take it easy!" (literally "do it slowly"), this is the Catch Phrase of the Yukkuris, disembodied heads in the likeness of Touhou characters, the original image pictured above (though some types of Yukkuri get different catch phrases, such as Chen's "I get it!" and Remilia's "Uu! Uu!). Probably the largest Touhou meme of all, with gargantuan amounts of fanon even by the impressive standards of Touhou.
The meme is so popular it has its own Wiki and a series of comics. It's also one of the most divisive memes - many fans absolutely hate yukkuris.
One of Cirno's spellcards in The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil, possessing a big honking blind spot directly in front of her.
There are a few videos demonstrating similar (if less reliable or blaringly obvious) blindspots in other spellcards. No matter who is being mocked, these videos are always titled "Ice Sign: "Icicle Fall" -Easy-" and use Cirno's theme. Some targets include Kaguya, Mokou, and Mystia.
Probably not officially a meme, but there is a seriesofvideos with two guys getting an increasingly large group of people to dance with them to Cirno's Perfect Math Class.
Said by Cirno in her route in Phantasmagoria of Flower View, it has been adopted as her Catch Phrase and a summary of her woefully inaccurate assessment of her strength. While she is definitely the strongest fairy, that isn't saying all that much.
"I'm a genius!" Explanation
In retaliation to those calling Cirno stupid, fans have decided that Cirno is, in fact, a genius. Whether it is used mockingly or genuinely depends on the work, though again, she genuinely is surprisingly intelligent for a fairy.
September the 9th, 2009 (the 9th of the 9th of 2009) was celebrated as Cirno Day by her fans, also known as the strongest day ever.
Atai Cirno. Explanation
Cirno's use of "atai", a contracted form of the Japanese Pronoun "atashi". In English translations, this is occasionally rendered as "eye", as in "Eye'm the strongest!" (as a type of Funetik Aksent to indicate she's a baka), but is well on its way to being a Discredited Meme.
"I'll cryo-freeze you together with some English beef!" Explanation
One of Cirno's many, many failed attempts at a Badass Boast, this one the most popular due to being the first.
Team 9 Explanation
An entirely fan-made Cast Herd, led by Cirno (hence the name) and consisting of herself, Mystia, Wriggle, and Rumia, with occasionally also Daiyousei and Chen. They are depicted as basically a group of children, impetuous but determined, playing with each other and pranking everyone else.
Utsuho's warning screen and sirens that accompany each of her spellcards in Subterranean Animism. Included in many drawings depicting Utsuho and musical arranges of her theme.
Sakuya has timehax abilities, uses knives, and while she isn't a vampire herself, she is very closely associated with two. The comparisons with Dio Brando were inevitable, and helped along by ZUN's many other Jojo's references.
"Caved" refers to "horu", which can be interpreted as "violated anally" in Japanese. To say "I GOT CAVED BY EX-KEINE!" is roughly equal to saying "I GOT ASS-RAPED BY EX-KEINE!". (specifically, with her horns.)
From a Happy Flame Time doujin, Cold Wind but Warm Winter, in which she gets drunk and demands that Kanako call her a good girl and pat her head. Used for basically any situation, genuinely when she's doing something good and ironically when she's doing something bad.
Due to a few lines from the Undefined Fantastic Object demo after Sanae's defeat of Kogasa, fans came to the conclusion that Sanae is developing a sadistic streak.
At the end of Sanae B's extra, Sanae invites Nue to the Moriya Shrine. This has somehow evolved into this instead...
Sanae has become more belligerent, unstable, unreliable, and generally like a resident of Gensoukyou with each appearance, leading to the conclusion that simply moving to Gensoukyou is breaking her grip on reality, leading to this line, which Sanae says in Subterranean Animism.
Gensoukyou: The land where common sense is a weakness. Explanation
Sanae has become stronger as she loses her sanity, going from Stage 5 Boss to Ex-Mid-Boss to playable character, leading to this conclusion.
Her appearances in numerous games and being playable in TH12, TH12.3 and TH13 have caused fans to draw parallels to how Aya became playable in many of the previous games by doing sexual favors for ZUN (see "Aya is ZUN's girlfriend" below). Futhermore, since she's often portrayed as a ditzy teenage girl who's been exposed to all the ills of the modern-day world, her image amongst Japanese fans has also shifted from a pure, goody-to-shoes girl to that of an indiscriminate nymphomaniac. This has caused many doujin artists to make her the subject of more H-doujins and hentai pictures than most other Touhou characters.
Fanart of Nitori drawn as a missile are common, due to her Boss Subtitle being "Super Youkai Warhead". Cemented by Subterranean Animism, her connection to Marisa giving the latter (unguided) missiles, the only weapon in the game that is even vaguely technological.
Kaguya spends almost all her time in Eientei, leading to this. Fanartists often depict her engaging in typical hikikomori activities like wearing a track suit, posting on Image Boards, and playing console games and MMORPGs. Kaguya is therefore the Touhou character most likely to be seen in fanart using a computer, even though canonically Gensoukyou doesn't have mainline electricity or any way to reach the internet.
Patchouli is even more of a hikikomori than Kaguya, spending at least a century in her library, though fan portrayals of her this way are less common. Rather famously, the two of them got along really well when they met in Life Of Maid.
From the way ZUN talked about the Apollo Project concealing a war between the Humans and the Lunarians, Neil Armstrong has become a totally awesome dude who could take on Yorihime the Moonbitch - and WIN.
With the latest announcement that NASA has sent a missile into the side of the moon, it seems like the Lunar War is starting up again. Yorihime must be annoyed.
Reisen is just a useless little bunny, only good for her sex appeal. Explanation
From the doujin "Drunkards in Eientei" by Omchicken, this is used both to mock Reisen and as acknowledgement of the enormous amounts of Perverse Sexual Lust towards her.
A combination meme that references both Unzan's status as one of the only MANLY characters in Touhou, as well as Ichirin being massively overshadowed in popularity by him.
Ran is the amazing Suppa Tenko!Explanation
Depictions of Ran as an exhibitionist are absurdly common.
Eirin is a phenomenal genius that could probably make a potion or drug for anything, and is sometimes considered to be the cause of some piece of madness.
Yukari's power is limited only by her sloth, and the potential of the presense of an easily bored, not easily amused quasi-god has not been overlooked by the fans.
The Moriya trio have been more active and ambitious than anyone else, directly and indirectly responsible for the plots of five games, and it is speculated they have many more planned.
The entire joke was spawned after this doujin panel with Reimu explaining to Marisa the potential culprits, and Marisa replying with this line. This meme is very popular on Danbooru.
Reimu's Designated Hero status is often Flanderized to the point of being a psychotic sadist, her dialogue choices in some games not helping one bit (especially in Undefined Fantastic Object).
ξ・∀・) Explanation
This represents Merupo, a Fan Nickname for Merlin Prismriver and the Game-Breaking Bug she became known for, able to kill the player after being defeated. It originates from "Nurupo", a way of abbreviating "Null Pointer Exception."
Fandom constantly joke that armpits are their only known form of arousal, inspired by how nearly every fan-depiction of Reimu has her wearing clothes that expose her armpits (her official character portraits could be interpreted either way).
Aya has a starring role in multiple games, either as a playable character, a Boss, or a minor character, leading to jokes that Aya is giving ZUN sexual favours as bribes. It probably doesn't help that, when a photo of ZUN and his wife showed up, it was noted that (a) they apparently had met just after Imperishable Night was finished, and (b) outside of her glasses, she looks kind of like Aya...
Nico Nico Douga meme that parodies the Fight! Ippatsu Juuden-chan ending sequence, and many versions exist using characters from other series besides Touhou.
Though technically more resembling the Buddha, Byakuren's habit of saving youkai and advocating peace between them and humans has led to her being closely compared to Jesus Christ, leading to Fan Nicknames such as Youkai Jesus and Youchrist.
But stealing is still bad, Byakuren. Explanation
Her bullet patterns are clearly inspired by other characters... and outright stealing Shinki's attack.
A stock reaction phrase in response to impossibly cute situations fanworks stick the characters in. Mainly used on Pixiv and by extension Danbooru so far, but doujin works seem to be spreading it around now. Originated from thisTsukihime doujinshi by Hiroyuki (the same author who gave us "A cat is fine too").
From her bizarre character profile in Kioh Gyoku (it may be A Worldwide Punomenon, as Yuuka is a flower youkai and Moe means "to bud"). Yuuka is depicted as Moe, prompting this phrase, about as often as she is depicted as being Ax Crazy, with further mutation combining the two to create the also popular Cute and Psycho portrayal. Youkai moe can also be applied to any moe picture of the characters.
Kogasa is the new youkai moe~ Explanation
The first Ensemble Darkhorse of Undefined Fantastic Object, fans latched onto Kogasa due to extreme cuteness and massive Woobie points. Additionally, Kogasa has an umbrella much like Yuuka, hence the meme.
Surprise~! :P Explanation
Kogasa's extremely meta use of her "power to surprise people" ability has resulted in her surprising fans far more than she does other characters, prompting this line and variations (for example "Wild Kogasa used SURPRISE!", or "Well I'm surprised.")
Actually based off another parody video for a different canon, but seems to have displaced the original. Besides, the song in the video is based on Eirin's theme, not Meiling's.
Suwako's Nice Hat is often associated with the Hypnotoad meme, depicted as an independant entity using Suwako as her puppet.
In Imperishable Night the player often moves to the top of the screen to automatically collect all point items currently on-screen, and because Wriggle introduces herself by flying down from the top unsuspecting players get a kick in the face by her, leading to this meme. Further mutation associates her with Kamen Rider on occasion, due to Wriggle being an insect and the insect-themed armor of nearly all Riders up to Kamen Rider Den-O.
Alright, Patchy! Let's do that bedtop sport for indoor types! Explanation
A line by Remilia from the Can't Fix the Helmet doujinshi "A Talk in Bed".
"Mukyu~" Explanation
Patchouli says this after being defeated in Marisa's route in Immaterial and Missing Power, subsequently adopted as her Catch Phrase, or just when someone wants to make her cute.
Pretty much Japanese only, but: Shinki's ponytail has been depicted as an ahoge. And it sprouts legs
Sanae's appearance as a playable character in UFO has led to fanarts of Sakuya trying to reclaim her role as a playable character, or at least reacting to the fact that has been apparently replaced. Originated from ANGELTYPE doujin.
Reisen+Youmu=Reimu slowly made its way to meme status.
Fan-portrayals of Remilia as an Elegant Gothic Lolita, emphasis on the elegant, are highly common, not helped by the fact she can act as such before devolving into a spoiled, petulant brat. Certain lines involving "miserable piles of secrets" are usually not far behind.
Inevitably, subversions of the above were created, with Remilia acting composed and aloof only to collapse into tears (or a variant) soon after. Sometimes also involves her ducking pose in the fighting games.
In the fangame Touhou Soccer, the cast use their mighty powers to play soccer, this adopted as the only possible explanation for the ball still being intact after the beatings it receives.
Foul! She kicked the ball! Explanation
The omnipresent use of superpowered magical attacks on the poor ball leads to the joke that in Gensokyan soccer, kicking the ball is against the rules. A few characters do it anyways, though they all kick the ball in a superpowered way (Mokou, Aya, Wriggle, Ran, MANnosuke...)
Refers to the Mooks known as kedama (fuzzball). Often drawn with an odd expression on their faces, their resemblance to the F.O.E. orbs in Etrian Odyssey (fueled by an IOSYS video depicting them) have been picked up on by parts of the fanbase.
A shadow art video, using a song based on Elly's theme from Lotus Land Story, reached viral status and spread to an unbelievable scale, even by Touhou standards.
Good evening, and you are watching the CIRNONEWSNETWORK. Explanation
CNN got their source wrong when they discussed the Bad Apple!! shadow art video, believing another version of the video (made to look like a slideshow animation) to be a "making of" video, prompting jokes about their competency such as this (another, less popular one being that they hired Aya for the segment). Segment can be found here.
Rule #9 of the internet: If it exists, there is a Touhouversion of it. Explanation
Touhou fans are notorious of crossing over and/or fusing Touhou with absolutely everything. The list behind that link is nowhere even close to being complete in listing them all.
From one of Ao Usagi's typically impenetrable creations, used jokingly as an explanation for anything Nazrin does. A classic example of a Forced Meme, with even people on the very page that spawned it sick of hearing about it.
Because she's a TINY TINY CLEVER COMMANDER Explanation
The name of Nazrin's theme, occasionally used to refer to Nazrin in general.
M = Masochist, S = Sadist. Yuuka's portrayal as a sexual sadist that can nonetheless attract anyone is almost endemic, compatible with both her Moe portrayals and her Ax Crazy portrayals.
Tenshi's portrayal as a masochist is similarly endemic, not helped at all by the explanation for Scarlet Weather Rhapsody being that she was bored and wanted someone to beat her up.
The classchange videos of Aoshima cross Touhou with Seiken Densetsu 3. They are quite famous with fans of the actual game. Then there are the random Touhou videos...
"Paruparuparuparu..." Explanation
Parsee is portrayed as being jealous of everything and compelled to say so, which isn't that far from her actual personality. The meme here is that she does so using a mantra of her own name. A common variation is for other characters to get jealous of something or another, and begin muttering "paru paru" as well.
In response to the main menu screenshot. The joke goes she's been hanging out with Letty too long. Started by bloggers, who've never seen her appearance in the Touhou Sangetsusei comics. Speaking of Letty...
Fat Letty. Explanation
As a boss character in Perfect Cherry Blossom, her hitbox is larger than that of the other boss characters. She's the Stage 1 boss, so this is logical. This has turned into some fanart depicting Letty as being rather large herself. Naturally, the alternate fan explanation holds that only part of her is large.
A relatively famous Pixiv artist drew Hatate as a depressed, dressing-in-black yandere who cuts herself. The pictures and fanon personality spread, some even making Hatate as an outright yandere underneath her canon personality.
Aside from her small story route in Scarlet Weather Rhapsody Sakuya has been completely absent, despite being playable for three consecutive mainline games. Although she still exists, when Youmu, of all people, returned to player character status in Ten Desires, while Sakuya remains in obscurity, the comparisons with Mima were inevitable.
A Finnish meme that was assimilated into the Touhou memeplex after a Finnish Touhou fancomic used it. Thus, a common response to images of Chen with a fish is now "Kahen kilon siika!"
"Sirkku". Explanation
How Cirno is known in Finland, partly because it's a common Finnish name, partly because Finnish people just can't pronounce "Cirno" properly; C is not a common letter in Finnish, leaving the pronounciation unclear to someone unfamiliar with the name. Sirno? Kirno? Tsirno? Chirno?
Yoshika Miyako: Cabbie of the Dead Explanation
In her portrait Yoshika's cap looks like a taxi driver's, and her sprite, with her arms jutting out in front of her and moving up and down slightly, makes it appears as if she has an invisible steering wheel, resulting in jokes like this.
Zombie Meiling. Explanation
Yoshika's hat has a star on it, like Meiling's, and while she isn't Chinese she is a Chinese Vampire, almost immediately leading to this comparison.
Hina's :D grin in Mountain of Faith is incredibly derpy and goofy looking, even for ZUN's notoriously bad art in that game, and attained some notoriety with fans on both sides of the pond.
Reimu eats grass/leaves. Explanation
Some fan depictions exaggerate Reimu's Perpetual Poverty to the point where she has to eat weeds to survive. In one doujin she serves grass with rice to Sanae. When the latter gets angry, thinking she's being mocked, Reimu says that she specifically chose the better grass from the yard for her.
Nearly every character wears a hat or hair decorations of some kind. Thus, this line was included in a parody of ZUN's design process, and it and variations were subsequently adopted as a joking response for any question involving Nice Hats or similar.
ZUN and alcohol. Explanation
ZUN's love of alcohol is legendary. Pictures of him without some sort of alcohol are almost non-existent, one of which, of him having a great honking beer glass, gained some infamy, and he claimed/admitted to being drunk for some of Imperishable Night's development. Inevitably, Flanderizations asserting that he would accept beer as payment, or drinks enough to challenge Suika, are incredibly widespread.
A Fan Nickname for certain depictions of Alice, which depict her as a Butt MonkeyUnlucky Everydude steamrolled by the Reimu/Marisa pairing, an evil bitch, or a jerkass ignored for Reimu/Marisa or the other pairings.
Inaba of the Inaba. Explanation
One of the official mangas is named "Inaba of the Moon and Inaba of the Earth". Snowclone titles put just about anything in place of "the moon" and "the earth" to have the title refer to any other story, with "Inaba" staying in place as an Inherently Funny Word.
Now do it with Marisa. Explanation
A common response to superplay videos, since Marisa is a lower-tier character in most games. There are many variations depending on the actual video, all sharing the theme of "do it even better".
*Scarlet Devil Mansion explodes* This is now a Touhou manga. Explanation
A Danbooru meme that stems from this comic by Bomber Grape. Nowadays, any Touhou Doujin that gets uploaded to Danbooru and features the Scarlet Devil Mansion, the Hakurei shrine offertory box, or in some cases, anything at all exploding will have comments with the phrase.
