The Touhou invasion is complete.

The old 'Compendium was a big success, with discussions about almost all Touhou characters imaginable, lacking only completely nameless characters and Kasen, who was only just introduced in a manga and is still shrouded in mystery. It has amassed 212 pages and over 5250 posts. Perceptions were shaped, much was learned. The original post is updated and now contains links to all the characters' profiles and discussions.

Now it's time to take things to the next level!

The mission:
The TCAI-Compendium was good, but there's always room for improvement. The aim is to make this thread a fun place for creative discussion and the discussion of creativity, as well as to create an easy starting point for any newcomers to the series to learn all they want to about the characters they are curious about.

The modus operandi:
The appeal of Touhou lies in its nature as a series with great potential surrounded by one of the largest and most productive fandoms in the world. While canon exists, it is not nearly as rigid as in other works. The richness in potential invites fans to create their own visions of the world of Gensoukyou and its inhabitants – and this freedom is something our new thread will embrace.

What this means is: Anyone reading this thread may formulate an essay, big or small, describing their view of a character. The form is entirely free. All it needs is a little summary/title of some sort that should be no longer than three lines at most. Think of it this way: If you were in charge of a big Touhou production, how would you do things, what would your vision be like? Nobody will complain and no canon will interfere with your image. Gensokyo is your oyster.

Every character's profile will contain a regularly updated section for these Alternate Character Interpretations (ACIs), which will be displayed by their summary/title. In addition to that, this post will have its own section compiling the contributions of all who contributed. This way, creativity is not only encouraged, but readers can easily read up on a certain user's complete collection of ideas if their curiosity was piqued.

In order to enhance informativeness, profiles will remain largely the same, but will also contain possibly interesting information about spell cards and songs. They'll strive to be concise and fun to read, but will also contain links to Touhou Wiki for anyone who wants to learn more.

The Rules:

Discussion:

• We're moving through the characters one step at a time. The beginning of a new discussion and end of the old one is marked by a new profile being posted.
• No one will shoot you for sharing your thoughts on a character who had already been discussed. Going off-topic for a bit is okay. The order is only there to ensure that the thread has some direction. But if you have more general thoughts to share, consider posting in the general thread instead.
• The next topic of discussion will be voted on at the end of the current one.
• Discussions should alternate between popular and less popular subjects. For this purpose, all characters, as well as many locations, are divded into a "tier list". Popular subjects make up the upper two tiers, less popular subjects and locales, the lower two. This is more of a guideline that is meant to ensure that everyone gets the coverage they deserve and the thread doesn't peter out in the end because only unpopular subjects are left to discuss.
• "Canon" is something that can be discussed freely. Please take care to differentiate between discussing what is canon, and discussing what is a good alternative interpretation.
• Be civil. Don't take arguments against your ideas to be affronts to your person. Don't act like people's ideas make them deserving of affronts. This is not a rule so much as just common sense.

Alternate Character Interpretations:

• A freeform essay in which you may display your ideas of a certain character. If you see a character differently from canon, share it. If you have a strong idea of what a certain character is like, canon-like or not, share it. If you've created your own fanwork, or if you're playing with ideas for one, or if you just like to imagine what you'd do it like, share it. Even if you just have a crazy, off-the-wall idea for a different take on a character that you think is really cool, share it.
• The essay itself is freeform, but please give it a title or summary as well. A summary shouldn't be any longer than two lines. Less should be sufficient unless you're particularly ambitious.
• The essay will then be linked: 1) under your name at the bottom of this post, and 2) by its descriptive title in the character's profile.
• Alternate Character Interpretations should follow the flow of discussion. Posting ones for characters already discussed is fine. If you really want to write about one who hasn't been discussed yet, it's time to do some campaigning for votes.

Profile Format:

---

Character's title in the game they are a boss in, if applicable
Character Name with link to the character's Touhou Wiki page

Appearance(/Voice): this space will be filled with fanart that users find depict the character very well

Theme:
This Is A Character's Theme Song*

ZUN writes comments for his songs into the games. Clicking on the hottip will reveal them!

Stage: "Stage Name"
"Stage blurb"
bgm: This Is The Song Playing In The Stage*

ZUN writes comments for his songs into the games. Clicking on the hottip will reveal them! Oh boy!

Spellcard Motif: a short description of the recurring motif in spell cards, with a wiki link to them
Notable spellcards:
This Is A Signature Spell Card, The Rest Are Notable For Other Reasons, Probably For A Cool Name

Write-up:
A little essay on all the basic things you might want to know about a character that is hopefully easy and entertaining to read.

Relations:

• Characters somehow related to this one are listed here.
• You can bet that any of these will have been used as a reason for shipping, too.

Alternate Character Interpretations:
A cleverly written summary of a user's ACI, which is no longer than three lines and totally grabs the attention of anyone who reads it. If they want to find out more, they can click the link.
– by This Troper

---

Tier List:

Very Popular:
Tengu Tier
Eirin Yagokoro, Kanako Yasaka, Momiji Inubashiri, Nazrin, Nitori Kawashiro, Yuuka Kazami

Less Popular:
Kappa Tier
Mima, Cpt. Minamitsu Murasa, Nue Houjuu, Shou Toramaru, Rinnosuke

Fairy Tier
Hatate Himekaido, Ichirin Kumoi, Lily White/Black, Shinki, Tokiko, Yumemi Okazaki, all remaining PC-98 characters

Stage Select
Eientei, Human Village, Makai, Netherworld, Youkai Mountain

Profiles:

Places:
Bhava-Agra

Gensokyo

Lunar Capital

The Underground

Scarlet Devil Mansion

People:
Hieda no Akyuu

Alice Margatroid

Aya Shameimaru

Byakuren Hijiri

Chen

Cirno

Daiyousei

Iku Nagae

Hina Kagiyama

Kaguya Houraisan

Kasen Ibara

Kisume

Kogasa Tatara

Koishi Komeiji

Komachi Onozuka

Kyouko Kasodani

Letty Whiterock

Lunasa, Lyrica and Merlin Prismriver

Maribel and Renko

Marisa Kirisame

Marisa's hat

Medicine Melancholy

Hong Meiling

Mystia Lorelei

Parsee Mizuhashi

Philosopher's Stone

Ran Yakumo

Reimu Hakurei

Remilia Scarlet

Reisen Udongein Inaba

Rin Kaenbyou

Satori Komeiji

Suika Ibuki

Suwako Moriya

Tenshi Hinanawi

Tewi Inaba

Utsuho Reiuji

Toyohime and Yorihime Watatsuki

Wriggle Nightbug

Yamame Kurodani

Yukari Yakumo

Yuugi Hoshiguma

User Contributions:

Ace of Scarabs
Utsuho

asterism
Akyuu, Lunasa, Lyrica, Meiling, Merlin, Kyouko, Maribel and Renko, Meiling, Parsee, Prismriver Sisters, Scarlet Devil Mansion, Suwako, Utsuho, Wriggle

Bocaj:
Akyuu, Alice, Cirno, Gensokyo, Kisume, Komachi, Marisa, Medicine, Meiling, Mystia 1, Mystia 2, Prismriver Sisters, Reimu, Reisen, Reisen II, Remilia, Suika, Tewi, Wriggle, Yamame

Chagen 46
Chen

Clarste:
Aya, Chen, Gensokyo, Koishi, Komachi, Watatsuki Sisters, Philosopher's Stone, Prismriver Sisters, Reimu, Remilia, Satori, Tenshi, The Underground, Utsuho, Wriggle, Yukari

Cynicmuffin
Parsee, Reimu, Suwako

Durazno:
Alice, Chen, Gensokyo, Kyouko, Marisa, Mystia, Rin, Tengu Village, Yamame

Dragonexx
Cirno, Suwako

Enlong
Kasen

Exuno
Reimu

Fawriel:
Akyuu, Alice, Gensokyo, Kisume, Koishi, Letty, Parsee, Ran, Reimu, Satori 1, Satori 2, Suika, The Underground, Utsuho and Rin, Yamame, Yukari, Yuugi

Flame Haze 17
Maribel and Renko

hassanico:
Meiling

Higanbana:
Gensokyo, Reimu

Horselesshorseman
Alice, Gensokyo, Iku, Kisume, Kogasa, Komachi, Kyouko, Medicine, Meiling, Mystia, Parsee, Prismriver Sisters, Rin, Satori, Scarlet Devil Mansion, Suika, Tenshi, Utsuho, Yuugi

Hylarn
Gensokyo, Kasen, Koishi, Komachi, Marisa, Yukari

JacktheSnowman
Suwako

KH fujoshigirl 98
Alice, Medicine, Meiling

Kyler Thatch
Chen, Ran and Yukari, Gensokyo, Hina, Meiling, Utsuho, Yamame

Metaflare
Akyuu, Alice, Aya, Byakuren, Iku, Kisume, Meiling, Mystia, Prismriver Sisters, Suika, Tenshi, Yuugi

Mode
Chen, Marisa, Yukari

Otherarrow
Akyuu 1, Akyuu 2, Aya, Byakuren, Cirno, Scarlet Devil Mansion, Iku, Maribel & Renko, Maribel and Renko again, Meiling, Mystia, Prismriver Sisters, Remilia, Suwako, Tenshi, Watasuki Sisters, Wriggle, Yuugi

Pulse
Akyuu, Alice, Aya, Bhava-Agra, Byakuren, Cirno, Daiyousei, Hina, Iku, Kisume, Kyouko, Meiling, Mystia, Parsee, Prismriver Sisters, Prismriver Sisters again, Reimu, Remilia 1, Remilia 2, Rin, Satori, Scarlet Devil Mansion, Suwako, Tenshi, Wriggle 1, Wriggle 2, Yuugi

raigakuren
Cirno, Iku, Prismriver Sisters, Remilia, Suika

Raz Fox
Aya, Chen, Gensokyo, Hina, Kasen, Koishi, Komachi, Lunar Capital, Reimu, Reisen, Rin, Tewi, Yukari

Ruki Motomiya
Reimu

stardf29
Alice, Utsuho

sorcerymon
Medicine

Stark Maximum:
Reimu

SuperDimensionMan:
Marisa's hat

Swasfews
Tewi and Reisen

Tacitus
Alice, Cirno, Maribel and Renko 1, Maribel and Renko 2, Marisa, Meiling, Suwako, Tenshi, The Underground, Yuugi

TARDISES
Parsee

The Chubby Destroyer
Chen, Lunar Capital, Reimu, Tenshi, Utsuho, Yamame

WORLD Tree
Gensokyo, Komachi, Reimu, Yukari

Xion Ga Taosenai
Gensokyo, Reimu

yarrunmace:
Alice, Aya, Byakuren, Chen, Daiyousei, Gensokyo, Hina, Kisume, Kogasa 1, Kogasa 2, Kogasa and Letty, Koishi, Letty, Letty again, Lunar Capital, Marisa, Marisa (abridged), Medicine, Meiling, Mystia, Parsee, Prismriver Sisters, Reimu, Reimu 2, Reisen, Reisen and Tewi, Rin, Satori, Scarlet Devil Mansion, Suika, Tenshi, Tewi, Utsuho, Wriggle, Yamame, Yukari, Yuugi 1, Yuugi 2

zealotglob
Alice, Yuuka

Write-up compilations:

Eyes Unseeing by Fawriel
(recommended reading order)
Nobody.
This small world of ours
Green Eyes
Hitori no Onigashima
Welcome to the Underground
Sealed Eyes
A pair of strong hands
Heroes of a New Era

Girls Going Solo by asterism
(proper reading order)
Lunasa
Merlin
Lyrica

---

Girls work hard now and are preparing. Please watch warmly until it is ready.

edited 9th Mar '12 10:41:45 AM by Fawriel

Gensokyo

Appearance:
Dark and mysterious:
Dark and light, rain and flora, night and love*

^{image accompanied by music on Youtube}

Warm and sweet:
Path and warmth, river and land, man and nature
Vast and beautiful:
Earth and sky, water and adventure, height and depth

Themes:
Title themes: A Sacred Lot(HRtP)*

^{This is pretty awesomely reborn, I think. And yet, it really takes me back...}

, Record of the Sealing of an Oriental Demon ~ Pure Land Mandala(SoEW)*

^{The title theme. It's a pretty long song for a title theme, so the play demo will start if you try to listen to the whole thing. Hm, I wonder where the East is.}

, A Dream Transcending Space Time(PoDD)*

^{This is the title music. Suddenly it doesn't seem too Touhou-like, right?　Even if I do say so myself, for someone who's made music with such an unsuitable atmosphere I don't look too worried, I've been thinking lately. But lately, maybe it's because I've become accustomed to such an atmosphere, or maybe I actually am in this kind of atmosphere. I feel my game has to be like this or it's no good. In any case, right from the beginning I'm already talking about music like this. Oh no!}

, Gensokyo ~ Lotus Land Story(LLS)*

^{It's the usual. Though we've just about had enough (^^;;　I wonder what makes this a Japanese-style song. Hm, well, I do like the song itself quite a bit, but ... Not much else, aside from the fact that it doesn't really match the title screen (^^;;; Well, I suppose even that (not matching the title picture) is a trademark of this series (^^; (Not really)}

, Wondrous Romance ~ Mystic Square(MS)*

^{As usual, the title theme. This is the song that really determined the direction of the rest of the game's music. Not bad, huh? (^^}

, Scarlet Beyond a Crimson Dream(EoSD)*

^{The title theme. It's Japanese, because it's Touhou (Eastern). No, really. However, it's not like the game is (^^; This doesn't sound like a shooting game piece. Furthermore, is a title theme really necessary at all? :)}

, Mystic Dream ~ Snow or Cherry Petal(PCB)*

^{The title theme from previous games, done in a Japanese style while keeping its essence. This song is meant to belie the tense atmosphere of "Now, let the Danmaku begin!". Frankly, I think this song isn't necessary, but it's also meant to restrain the player's excitement while awaiting Danmaku.}

, Memory of Forgathering Dream(IaMP)*

^{The music for opening and title scene. Like other Touhou, it starts off gentle, and doesn't really pick up. I tried to enhance the value of existence with this opening theme I didn't plan to compose at first but managed to do at last. I hope you hear it at least one time. The key feeling of this song is "This is what the Touhou world is like".}

, Eternal Night Vignette ~ Eastern Night(IN)*

^{This is the title screen theme. This title song conjures up the same images as previous games. I feel it's more fantastical, but it's very Gensokyo. Does "fantastical" really convey "Gensokyo-like"? Well, as far as title themes go, this is one of my favorites.}

, Kaeidzuka ~ Higan Retour(PoFV)*

^{The title screen theme. It's the same old tune, yep. This is probably one of the silliest parts of the game itself, but it's remained constant over time. Maybe it's not silly enough. But this is Gensokyo.}

, Sealed Gods(MoF)*

^{This is the title theme. The same song as ever... I tried to make it really majestic, as befitting for a Japanese-style God. It's a pretty queer and unusual rhythm, but it all comes through if you keep listening to it. Especially, say, while you're debugging the game.}

, Sky of Scarlet Perception(SWR), Awakening of Earth Spirits(SA)*

^{This is the title theme. Well, it's the same feeling as always. One thing that's very cave-like about caves is the sounds that echo around in them, so I did my best to make it cave-like. Caves are great.}

, A Shadow in the Blue Sky(UFO)*

^{This is the title screen theme. Well, it's the same feeling as always. I tried to give it a particularly affected air. I want to look up at the sky while I'm walking, but I'm afraid people will think I'm weird, so I look straight ahead when I walk.}

, Did You See That Shadow?(Hisoutensoku)
Also possibly qualify: World of Empty Dreams(HRtP)*

^{I wonder just where the world of empty dreams is? I don't think it's anywhere in the void of space, but ...}

, Paradise ~ Deep Mountain(PCB)*

^{This theme was composed with an image of a natural paradise that has yet to be discovered by humans. However, I personally didn't want it to be healing music, so I made it somewhat rhythmical. Therefore it doesn't have even the slightest hint of relaxed feelings (^^;}

, Broken Moon(IaMP)*

^{Theme for conversation that has a fake Japanese taste. I hope it excites you. It has only main-like part so as to understand easily. It seems to be used for the conversation of the final stage, but it's too bad it doesn't really connect well to the last boss music.}

, The Gensokyo the Gods Loved(MoF)*

^{This is the third stage theme. It's the first tune you hear after infiltrating Youkai Mountain. It's bursting with the heavy verses of Gensokyo. I prepared the best melodious tune I could for the beautiful valley the youkai reside in. I hope I have managed to convey a rather liberal feeling, in contrast to the darker stage two theme.}

Write-up:
A round character does not exist in a vaccuum. Like any human being, they are shaped by their surroundings. Even beyond that, the same character can be shown in an entirely different light depending on the flavor of the setting itself. So, let's have a look at the setting of Touhou: Gensokyo. What is this place? Well, time for a quick history lesson.

In the old times, the world was filled with youkai, gods and other such beings. These creatures have a very special connection to humans: Youkai cannot live without the fear of the people, while gods cannot live without their faith. As technological advances lightened up the darkness of the world, the fear faded away, and with it the need for faith. The creatures of fantasy and illusion were in danger of vanishing from the world forever.

Thus, in 1884, a barrier was created around Gensokyo, a vast landlocked valley in Japan that was teeming with youkai. Only the descendents of a few brave warriors who would keep their menace in check make up the human population in this land. Since the erection of the barrier, the dynamic between the two parties has changed. Youkai are the natural enemies of man, but they need man to continue living. Out of sheer necessity, harmony was born: Humans and youkai live in constant conflict, but the conflict is almost entirely a facade to retain the natural order. Danmaku duels are non-fatal, human abductions are a game, and on rare occasions, monsters shop in the human village and humans are invited into the halls of devils for a cup of tea.

To try to establish a truly canon view of Gensokyo is almost futile, as the most reliable source of information is the perfectly subjective view of Hieda no Akyuu that she has written down in Perfect Memento in Strict Sense. Most fans will accept the summary given above, but like any other aspect of the series, the setting is malleable.

Even in canon, the feeling given by the setting is hard to pinpoint. A comment ZUN made for Story of Eastern Wonderland's first stage theme summarizes it rather well:
"This game ... even though the story is a joke, the music is so serious, and the enemies are so hard.　I like that kind of mismatch."
In newer games, the plots have actually become fairly dark, but the presentation remains light-hearted and doesn't take itself seriously. It's quite clear that ZUN primarily considers Gensokyo to be the setting of a series of videogames, and it's clearly written to facilitate this. Perhaps the most obvious proof of this is the nature of fairies in Gensokyo: They are defined as being mischievous nature spirits who like to get in the way of people, die painlessly and quickly resurrect with no ill effects, and like to gather around particularly powerful creatures. In other words, the perfect mooks.

Between this presentation that is both serious and silly and the identity of Gensokyo as a place of beauty filled with monsters... is it a silly place? A beautiful one? A fearsome one? Is life adventurous, terrible, whimsical?

The answer is: Yes. All of it.

Relevant links:

• Perfect Memento in Strict Sense (including descriptions of particular areas)
• Monologue (Hieda no Akyuu musing about Gensokyo)
• Spell card rules

Alternate Character Setting Interpretations:
Gensokyo, the land where you could ship an astronaut with a bunny girl and have it make some amount of sense.
-by Bocaj

Gensokyo is not a paradise because of youkai tea parties or magical fun, but because it allows humans to be humans and youkai to be youkai.
-by Clarste

Bringing the Strange Closer
-by Durazno

A land of otherworldly beauty and perfect strangeness. A land alive and evolving. Gensokyo, a land of dreams – good and bad.
-by Fawriel

Only a dream
-by Higanbana

Integrating the opposed
-by Hylarn

Gensokyo: like real life, only different
-by Kyler Thatch

Gensokyo ~ Fairy Tale World
-by Raz Fox

Eastern Wonderland
-by WORLD Tree

Where do you go when you've got no place to go?
-by Xion Ga Taosenai

Views of Gensokyo
-by yarrunmace

edited 8th May '11 1:25:38 PM by Fawriel

I remember someone on Youtube saying that Broken Moon should really be Gensokyo's theme, not Suika's. Actually, his exact words were "screw you, Suika. This is Gensokyo's theme song. You can keep Missing Power as your theme song you greedy drunkard", and it makes a bit of sense, considering stuff like the fact that just about every pre-battle theme in SWR is a remix of it, but I digress.

It's kind of odd, Gensokyo is said to be a paradise, and yet it's full of man-eating monsters. Except it's said that that doesn't happen much, but then again, that suggests that it ''does' happen sometimes. Then again, the main human settlement has a defender giving it the best kind of protection. Plus, you know, even with the danger, some people would think it a paradise just for all the fantastic and supernatural things that happens there. Maybe that's why it's called a paradise?

And then there's the fact that in really recent years, even the danger of danmaku has been reduced to a really awesome nonlethal martial art. Emphasis on art.

edited 4th Dec '10 1:56:48 PM by Enlong

I also recall reading somewhere (the PCB prologue?) that it's not dangerous because all the humans are capable enough to defend themselves against the youkai on their own. I'd guess that that only includes the low-level youkai, though. Possibly not even the first stage ones.

Also, guess I might as well add Broken Moon. One more stone ain't gonna topple that wall of links.

Man, now I want to see Rinnosuke, or that Gin lookalike from that one artwork defending themselves against youkai.

Oh, and I don't think I've mentioned my hilarious mental image of Sakuya accosting random humans and making them bleed enough to fill a measuring cup for the mistresses' meals yet today. I imagine that a lot of scary-but-ultimately-nonlethal attacks happen daily.

edited 4th Dec '10 2:24:10 PM by Enlong

Why is this in the anime subforum?

Because the old thread was.

... And the old thread was because discussing the characters really has little to do with the games themselves.

Sakuya: "Hi." *blade*

Villager: "Oh not again."

Now I'm picturing Eirin and the Scarlet household having trade relations.

Eirin: "Ah, I had another operation again today. A huge mess. Didn't make it."

Sakuya: "My mistress will be delighted."

edited 4th Dec '10 2:43:22 PM by Fawriel

The bit about humans being stronger than the average youkai was in PMiSS. PCB's intro was mostly pretty dark, actually. Luckily PMiSS retconned most of it away.

See, when I red that second exchange of yours, I thought it was going to go in this direction:

Eirin: "Ah, I had another operation again today. A huge mess. Didn't make it. Again."

Kaguya: *still covered in her own blood* "I'm starting to think you enjoy messing up."

Trade relations are interesting to consider, actually. I doubt you would get much by offering the Scarlets blood, however; even without Enlong's awesome image, Sakuya's probably pretty good at collecting that stuff for free, and she only has to get enough for their light appetites.

That is, unless Xion is right an the Scarlet Devil Mansion is actually a vast hidden city full of youkai.

Going by Perfect Memento, most of the Scarlet's food is kidnapped from the outside world.

Bah. Well, Remilia's a light eater, and Flandre only has the stuff in drinks and pastries, so maybe some of them survive.

...

Now I'm imagining a potential business niche in giving suicidal people a pleasant exit by being eaten by a vampire loli or lovingly choked by a maid.

Sakuya could probably even kill someone perfectly painlessly by stopping time.

Of course, if suicidal people from the outside world were brought to Gensokyo, they could actually start a new life there, so that would be pretty cruel if you think about it.

Hmm, jokes aside, I'm not a fan of the whole eating people stuff, either. Not even abducting people who won't be missed. Well, maybe people who are dying/dead anyway. But it's not like youkai need to eat humans, they're just... a delicacy.  ^*

^{Nonsense. They taste just like chicken!}

I could imagine that some of the more primitive (or inexperienced) youkai running around would want to get their hands on some human meat, but those would also be the easiest to take care of.

... Actually, what's the "official" stance on non-humanoid youkai?

The Saigyou Ayakashi is a completely non-anthropomorphic plant (from my understanding, "youkai" and "ayakashi" are roughly similar, though I think youkai are stronger), and it's explicitly referred to as "[a] youkai cherry blossom".

I think vampires do need blood. They have a number of other unusual weaknesses, after all.

"You're one of those, right?

Can't stand sunlight or odorous vegetables,

or silver things.

You know, the masters of the night with tons of weaknesses for some reason..."

edited 4th Dec '10 4:49:01 PM by Enlong

There was a CYOA on touhou project that had Remilia mention that there were no shortage of volunteers from the village willing to have their blood sucked.

That'd work for Remi, the celebrity, but Flan isn't so popular.

Clearly Remilia asks for a little extra as a nosh for later. The lovestruck/anemic youth agrees and Remilia gives the spare blood to Sakuya to bake into Flandre's various foods.

Except maybe with Reimu and Marisa, this isn't going to come up again for a long time, but it's apropos to some of the title themes, so I might as well mention it now: ZUN's comments on the music from the first four games are all from the Music Room in Mystic Square, which is why he talks about them in the past tense.

(And the versions of the music from Highly Responsive to Prayers that are in that Music Room are all arrangements, but that isn't important right now.)

I think we're supposed to be done arguing about canon, but I'm pretty sure that monsters shopping in the village and humans being invited for tea are the exceptions and not the general case. While Akyuu's certainly an unreliable narrator, I think her descriptions of human-youkai relations are most likely to resemble truth, since she is a resident of the village herself. Ran's shopping trips are treated with surprise and wariness by the villagers, and I'm pretty sure only Reimu gets invited to tea.

If there's one thing you have to remember about the setting, it's that the human characters we see are weird. Reimu is the almighty shrine maiden guarding Gensokyo from reality who gets few human visitors to her shrine because people see it as open to youkai guests, which is scary. Marisa is a hermit who's semi-estranged from her family because she chose to study magic by herself in the forest. Sakuya obviously works for a vampire and Sanae is a living god. None of them are at all indicative of what the average human would be like in Gensokyo. The residents are all implied to be competent monster hunters who can hold their own, but that doesn't mean they're having tea with youkai.

I do suppose Gensokyo's species living in segregated communities makes the most sense, given current relations. A youkai getting funny looks every time it interacts with humans doesn't exactly spell a friendly atmosphere.

Of course, who knows how Byakuren's influence will change all this?

Ran getting funny looks might have more to do with the fact that she's Yukari's shikigami. Yukari is probably viewed with no end of suspicion depending on how much forbidden templating she does.

I'm pretty sure the general populace has no idea who Yukari is. As far as I can tell, no one knows anything about what happens in the games except the people who participate in them. They certainly don't know that Reimu is going off and saving the day every time.

Edit: The suspicion of Ran was quoted as something like "She's a fox... but she's buying things! Wut." So it's clearly not based on recognition of her nature.

edited 4th Dec '10 7:36:06 PM by Clarste