Hifuu Club Activity Record ~ The Sealed Esoteric History is a Touhou Project fanime series made by the Chinese circle Kyoto Fantasy Troupe
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The series focuses on Renko Usami and Maribel Hearn of the Secret Sealing Club from Touhou – ZUN's Music Collection, as their research leads them to explore the backstories for various members of the Touhou cast.
Outside of the fanime, Kyoto Fantasy Troupe also made mangas that are related towards the story of the fanime, said mangas being:
- The Sealed Estoeric History -Prologue-: a two-parts manga that is the "prequel" of the main story, the first part follows the steps of Ghostly Field Club as Renko and Maribel explores the Graveyard of Rendaino in search of boundaries; while the second part is an original story in which Renko and Maribel explores the Hakurei Shrine and find "The Chronicles of Gensokyo".
- The Sealed Estoeric History Remembrance of the Moon: a story set before the events of "Moon", in which details more of the past of Kaguya Hourasai and Eirin Yagokoro, and how they ended up being exiled of the moon.
- The Sealed Estoeric History -Wish- Wind Chase: A prequel of "wish", in which explains in more detail why Renko and Maribel went towards Suwa exactly.
- bLank Memoir code:Okina: A story that details more about Lafcardio Hearn, and why she went towards japan.
- Hysteria from the Growing Pain of the Hearns: A story in which Lafcardio somehow ended up in Renko and Maribel's Future, and interacts with her decendant.
The Sealed Esoteric History contains examples of:
- Adaptation Expansion: The whole series serves as an expansion of various Touhou lore that's only been referenced here and there. Additionally, it also fleshes out character backstories in various ways. As an example, it adds to Flandre by showing her and Remilia's early life, how they were outsiders among their kin in youth with Flandre being hit especially hard and then they had to flee when the witch-hunts kicked off. Eventually they found shelter with a nun who sadly ended up targeted by the hunts and killed in front of Flandre resulting in the awakening of her powers and decent into madness.
- All There in the Manual: How did Renko and Maribel managed to get a copy of "The Chronicles of Gensokyo"? This is anwsered in the 2-parter doujin "The Sealed Esoteric History: Prelude" (part 2).
- Ascended Extra: Renko and Maribel are the focus of the series as opposed to Reimu and Marisa like most other Touhou fanime projects. Lampshaded at the end of the first and second episodes where Reimu gets upset that she didn't appear and Marisa has to remind her that they're not the main characters of this particular series.
- Attack! Attack... Retreat! Retreat!: During the war on the Moon Capital in the first episode, Suika sended the Youkai Army to attack the Lunarians while Yukari was busy on understanding the border of the Capital. Little did they knew was that the Lunarians were more stronger than they, and after losing a few of their brethen, the remaining youkai (as well Suika) had to run away from them before they got totally wipeout.
- Bland-Name Product: During Episode two "Wish", Renko and Maribel found some cans littered on a small shrine and decided to pick them up to toss them at a trash can. Said cans are named "Dr. Lattercy".
- The Cameo: Two women resembling Reimu and Marisa are seen during part of the first episode (which amusingly invalidates Reimu's complaints in The Stinger about not appearing).
- During the second episode, when Renko and Maribel grabed the empty cans from the little shrine, you can spot a Chirumiru milk carton inside of it.
- At episode three, when Renko and Maribel came inside the cafe, you see some fine art pieces of various Touhou characters on the wall, courtesy of Amibazh.
- Cliffhanger: episode 3 ends with Renko and Maribel being separated after entering Merry's "dream", with her seeing through the eyes of Lafcardio and Renko being lost inside the Scarlet Castle's dungeons, meanwhile Lafcardio was subdued to a Curb-Stomp Battle agaisnt Remilia, with the probabilities of survival not being on her favor..
- Cuddle Bug: In the credits, Renko can be seen running ahead of Maribel, and after Merry manage to walk where Renko is, she would run at Merry to give her a big hug.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: The first episode depicts Yukari's attempt to invade the Lunar Capital and well... it doesn't go so well.
- Darker and Edgier: The second episode is this, through in a more subdued tone than you would expect, if you take into consideration the personalities of the characters involved here: The whole drama involving the Kochiya clan revolves on the fact that, even if Suwako and Kanako are very nice people, in the same way, as goddesses, they demand respect and sacrifice from their followers, even if their actions, unintentionally, are causing serious, permanent damage to other unrelated people, like Sanae's sister Yayoi, since, unlike her sister, who cannot age in Gensokyo, on the other hand she had to grow up without her sister, causing her serious emotional damage to her, turning her into a sad, miserable older woman, while Sanae remains a teen in Gensokyo.
- Early-Installment Weirdness: It has been stated that the first episode is meant more as an opening for the series than an actual episode, so differences are to be expected later down the line.
- Encyclopedia Exposita: The Chronicles of Gensokyo, being the book that Renko and Maribel found at the Hakurei Shrine that they use to discover the truth of Gensokyo.
- Framing Device: Most of the episodes have the Secret Sealing Club telling the stories that happened in the Chronicles of Gensokyo (like in episode 1 with the story of the Lunarians) or being listeners to people that have ties with someone from gensokyo (like in episode 2 with Yayoi being a sister for Sanae and explaining what the Kochiya clan did during it's run.)
- Genki Girl: Usami Renko is seen always chipper and full of energy out of the Secret Sealing Club duo. She also seems to be EasilyImpressed by natural beauty like the back garden at Yayoi's house in episode 2.
- Hiding Behind Your Bangs: Lafcadio Hearn uses her hair to cover up her left eye to conceal her heterochromia.
- Historical Domain Character: During the third episode (as well the 2 mangas bLank Memoir: Code Okina and Hysteria from the Growing Pain of the Hearns) we are introduced to Lafcardio Hearn, who's relation with Maribel and Yukari (who they are based on Lafcardio), are unknown. Al beit, this Lafcardio is a bit more "female" than you may originally know though.
- Next Sunday A.D.: The series takes place in the near future, just like how the original cd dramas envisioned it. Despite that, not a long of things have changed that much.
- Not So Stoic: Maribel Hearn was standing on some rocks near at pond, saying to Renko that she's more careful than her (after seeing Renko running exited after seeing the garden for the first time), Renko responded that she's better than Merry, little did Merry would know is that she slipped up when placing her step, causing her to fall. Luckily, before she fell to the water, Renko was there to catch her, but due to the weight in pulling her made them both fall down to the ground. Renko said in a defeated tone that she's more reliable than her, Merry responded in a equality defeated tone a thanks to that.
- Obliviously Evil: Surprisingly enough, Kanako Yasaka and Suwako Moriya in episode 2, as they are not aware that taking Yayoi's sister Sanae from her really harmed her emotionally during all her life.
- Original Character: The series creates new characters to fill in roles necessary for the backstories of the pre-existing Touhou cast, such as other Lunarians in the first episode to fill up the royal family and infantry, the second episode introduces Sanae's sister Yayoi so that someone will be able to tell Renko and Maribel about Sanae's past, and the third episode introduces Lafcadio Hearn who is traveling Europe and is seen through Maribel's eyes.
- Origins Episode: The main idea behind the series is that it develops the backstories of various Touhou characters based off of canon information and filling in the gaps with original content.
- Product Placement: During episode 1, there is a shot showcasing posters for several Yonder Voice albums, the group that creates the music for this series.
- School Uniforms are the New Black: Downplayed, but Renko's summer clothing in episode 3◊ makes it look like she's wearing a Sailor Uniform of the Summer variant.
- The Stinger: The first three episodes feature scenes after the credits in which Reimu complains about her absence and Marisa tries to comfort her. In the third episode, Rinosukke joins in.. only to be left out after both Reimu and Marisa leave Kourindou.
- Sudden Soundtrack Stop: During episode 3, Renko invites Maribel to a cafe to continue their chat, while a calm piano song plays. When maribel sees the waistress after she delivers her and renko's drink, Merry see that she (kinda) is like the maid she saw in her dreams, and gets up, making the waistress question her if something was off. During that, the music stops with the piano slighty going off-key.
- Sweet Polly Oliver: Lafcadio Hearn who shows up in the third episode dresses as a young boy as she travels across Europe. Sakuya from the same episode downplays it as while she is dressed in male clothing as well, she doesn't try to hide that she is a woman.
