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The New New Touhou Character Alternate Interpretation Compendium

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Otherarrow Since: Jul, 2010
#401: Dec 9th 2013 at 12:11:36 PM

Since she seems to be on good terms with her dead grandmother, I wouldn't be surprised if that got her enough for a ride (even if a long one. Like you said, the system isn't necessarily fair)

Don't PM me. We don't like being PMed.
Tacitus Since: Jan, 2001
#402: Dec 9th 2013 at 9:28:28 PM

The length of the journey is supposed to be directly proportional to the value of the passenger's life. That's kinda why she has her distance power. Giving them an incorrect distance is more than merely slacking, it's doing her job badly and messing with the appropriate rewards of a well-deserved afterlife.

Her PoFV profile says it varies by mood, game dialogue says it depends on the soul being ferried, take your pick.

Of course, she also has to pitch people into the drink sometimes.

That's an Akyuu Fact, though. Probably violates environmental codes against dumping, anyway. All those souls go somewhere, y'know! Gum up the river system, get in the groundwater, mess with the deltas.

...Wait, so how did they cross the Sanzu before?

They're ghosts and can probably fly?

"Look, I know you're excited about being freed from your earthly bonds, but we spent a lot of good money on this boat, so get down here!"

Huh. Now we can wonder why they don't fly out of the river if they're dumped into it. Maybe there's something in the water...

That raises a thought... how does she know how long it's supposed to be?

Shinigami eyes?

For some reason I can't help but feel there is simply something wicked in her. Maybe I just like messed up characters.

Marinade someone in death for eons, in the company of humanity's worst, and maybe things stick to ya?

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insult you. It was just poor timing on my end.

No offense was taken, I'm much too dwarfish to begrudge someone a good grumble. If I'd felt properly insulted, you'd only know about it once I started bricking you up in the wine cellar.

I'd have to invite you over to help me build a wine cellar first, though. Then we'd have to get some wine to store in it. See, revenge is more trouble than it's worth.

Diamite Rainy Echoes Since: Jul, 2013
Rainy Echoes
#403: Dec 9th 2013 at 11:39:43 PM

Komachi Onozuka:

A shinigami whose job is to ferry the souls of the departed across the Sanzu River. A very relaxed person.

Komachi, everyone's favorite redhead. Her relaxed nature makes me think that she's Gensokyo's living embodiment of taking it easy. Of course, if your boss is a high judge, taking it easy too much can be bad.tongue

While she can be easygoing, being in this line of work for a long time may have given her a cynical outlook on life. I kinda get the feeling that she thinks what Kasen's doing is futile, for example. Also, even though it's not a part of her job, she clearly does not like those who flaunt their longevity in people's faces. Especially if it comes at the expense of others. Isn't that right, Tenshi? Her easygoing nature belies a deep thinker. Of course, she loves relaxing so much that it's a genuine part of her.

She fights by throwing her hard-earned cash away. Of course, she can get it back by cutting the distance. Heh, since she fights with coin, she should've been able to toss burning coin at her opponents.tongue

...Heh hehhh, It's just me, but if Touhou ever gets an animenote , I imagine Komachi being voiced by Yumi Uchiyama or Ayane Sakura, because of recent roles.

Hylarn (Don’t ask)
#404: Dec 9th 2013 at 11:49:21 PM

I imagine Komachi being voiced by Yumi Uchiyama or Ayane Sakura, because of recent roles.

Youko I can see, but I don't think she really has all that much in common with Natsumi

edited 10th Dec '13 2:00:21 AM by Hylarn

danna45 Owner of Dead End from Wagnaria Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Owner of Dead End
#405: Dec 10th 2013 at 1:49:22 AM

Talking of voices, I remember finding this voice patch for the Hisoutensoku fighting game, and Komachi's voice in that was pretty good. I tried downloading it and trying it out, but for some reason instead it plays Ragna the Bloodedge's voice(Which is probably why I associate Komachi with him). Anyways, the video itself:

Komachi's shown at the 2:17 minute mark, and whoever's voice that is, I think it fits her perfectly.

edited 10th Dec '13 1:51:10 AM by danna45

"And you must be Jonathan Joestar!" - Sue
ninryu Crown Prince from The Outside World Since: May, 2011 Relationship Status: Longing for my OTP
Crown Prince
#406: Dec 10th 2013 at 1:53:40 AM

Huh. Now we can wonder why they don't fly out of the river if they're dumped into it. Maybe there's something in the water...
The Sanzu River is heavily implied to be filled with mysterious monsters, aside from being an endless pit of dark water.

Hylarn (Don’t ask)
#407: Dec 10th 2013 at 2:08:51 AM

'Soku voice patch

Wow, some of those are terrible. Not Komachi, though. She's about right

Antimatter625 Baring hearts for years from my secret place Since: Jan, 2012
Baring hearts for years
#408: Dec 10th 2013 at 3:50:17 AM

and can freely tell people like Celestials and Hermits what they should be doing.

Actually, this reminds me. She tells Kasen that the reaper shinigami are a lie perpetuated by The Man, but if its such a wekk kept secret, what did Kasen do to earn the right to be privy to that information? Given that hermits -> celestials and that celestials seem to believe the reaper thing, Kasen receiving that tidbit is interesting, whether or not its true.

Huh. Now we can wonder why they don't fly out of the river if they're dumped into it. Maybe there's something in the water...

See, if I -had- to guess, its basically that the river is literally infinite in width without a shinigami to bring the shores nearer eachother, and the boats let them share this power with their passengers. So a soul dumped into the river can never escape, and indeed, would never be found again. It would also explain why they don't just fly across to begin with. Anyone who tried would find it quite impossible. The invention of Shinigami just was a public announcement, rather than them coming into being at the time they were made legends by humanity, I'd assume. They probably didn't bother with the scythes before it started being expected to carry them, though.

That's an Akyuu Fact, though.

True, but you know, given her circumstances, she's actually at least as reliable a source as Komachi about this topic. She works for the ministry a lot, remember.

The Sanzu River is heavily implied to be filled with mysterious monsters, aside from being an endless pit of dark water.

I'm pretty sure it's said somewhere (maybe not in Touhou Lore specifically, I dunno), that you also sink in it. So... yeah. Super-extra impossible to cross normally.

I write some fanfiction. Satori's Tale is done... but I'm not.
Tacitus Since: Jan, 2001
#410: Dec 10th 2013 at 10:10:00 PM

No buoyancy, huh? So what stops you from implacable man-ing along the riverbottom to get to the other side? Also, no official mention of what stops you from flying.

The Sanzu River is heavily implied to be filled with mysterious monsters, aside from being an endless pit of dark water.

See, if I -had- to guess, its basically that the river is literally infinite in width without a shinigami to bring the shores nearer eachother, and the boats let them share this power with their passengers. So a soul dumped into the river can never escape, and indeed, would never be found again. It would also explain why they don't just fly across to begin with. Anyone who tried would find it quite impossible. The invention of Shinigami just was a public announcement, rather than them coming into being at the time they were made legends by humanity, I'd assume. They probably didn't bother with the scythes before it started being expected to carry them, though.

While the latter explanation makes perfect sense, I'm inclined for the former, so we can make it a River Twygz situation.

That's an Akyuu Fact, though.

True, but you know, given her circumstances, she's actually at least as reliable a source as Komachi about this topic. She works for the ministry a lot, remember.

Oh of course, and they certainly stand to gain from convincing people to stuff as many coins into their family's corpses as possible. Might be able to start stocking the vending machines in Higan again.

shiroimahotsukai White Mage with a Twist from Somewhere Since: Oct, 2010
White Mage with a Twist
#411: Dec 10th 2013 at 11:22:43 PM

I can't help wondering whether the whole scyth thing was a misunderstanding. Some reaper's been called in on vacation due to a manpower crisis RIGHT in the middle of finally getting the harvest in. Some poor poet has a near-death experience and suddenly everyone's asking "So where's the guy with the scythe?" and nothing was ever the same again.

Komaachi seems the type to carry on one-sided conversations just to make the spirit feel slightly less worried about crossing a river from which there is no escape if you fall in. I mean, imagine if you'd drowned or something, gotta be frightening.

I think I remember reading that she shortens the distance with their hearts to hear them or something though I'm not sure where that was.

The eyes are the windows that let us gaze upon the soul.
Durazno Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#412: Dec 11th 2013 at 12:40:56 AM

It's also possible that there are shinigami whose job it is to periodically fish souls out of the river (perhaps fileting the prehistoric monsters that ate them) to bring them before the yama for judgment.

Antimatter625 Baring hearts for years from my secret place Since: Jan, 2012
Baring hearts for years
#413: Dec 11th 2013 at 7:24:11 AM

So what stops you from implacable man-ing along the riverbottom to get to the other side?

That niggling doubt in your mind that

1: No one who's fallen in the river is heard from again, and

2: There may not be a bottom. Indefinite width and all suggests it might be as deep as it 'needs to be' as well.

Oh of course, and they certainly stand to gain from convincing people to stuff as many coins into their family's corpses as possible.

Indeed. Point being, Akyuu is 'on Komachi's side', if there is one.

It's also possible that there are shinigami whose job it is to periodically fish souls out of the river (perhaps fileting the prehistoric monsters that ate them) to bring them before the yama for judgment.

I think the idea is that if they're that irredeemably worthless, then it's a waste of time to have the judge work on their case. There are a finite number of judges, after all. It's kinda like a basic security check where standard procedure is probably before running you through the metal detector, they shoot you dead if you're carrying four submachine guns, two assault rifles, and a light machine gun, all loaded and in plain sight or in hand, and with the safeties off (And probably in the middle of firing), along with twenty grenades, ammo enough to make Rambo feel insecure, and a bottle of shampoo from a local hotel.

Running someone through the metal detector at that point is kind of a waste of everybody's time. Thus, the Sanzu-dumping.

edited 11th Dec '13 7:26:15 AM by Antimatter625

I write some fanfiction. Satori's Tale is done... but I'm not.
Hylarn (Don’t ask)
Clarste One Winged Egret Since: Jun, 2009 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
One Winged Egret
#415: Dec 12th 2013 at 3:37:52 PM

Anything else to say here?

Komachi is super cool and I want to be her when I grow up.

Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#416: Dec 12th 2013 at 3:57:33 PM

Aren't you already grown up?

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
Clarste One Winged Egret Since: Jun, 2009 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
One Winged Egret
#417: Dec 12th 2013 at 4:01:57 PM

You'd think so, but I have my doubts.

shiroimahotsukai White Mage with a Twist from Somewhere Since: Oct, 2010
White Mage with a Twist
#418: Dec 12th 2013 at 4:23:05 PM

Do you think her scythe is customized to have that little spirit tail thing at the end or did she just swing it at a rock one day after heavy overtime?

The eyes are the windows that let us gaze upon the soul.
Tacitus Since: Jan, 2001
#420: Dec 12th 2013 at 10:35:30 PM

[up][up] I can't imagine how you'd get a shape like that from a blunt impact, and it'd be hard to do through conventional smithing, I'd think. Maybe the metal gets warped by the otherworldly materials it occasionally cuts through? Or is it even metal at all?

A thought I had was what exactly Komachi would talk about while boating about. Shinigami are "made" entities, yes? Spawned by the higher powers to fulfill a cosmic duty? So she doesn't have anything like a mortal life to draw from, only her existence as a fairywoman. So her conversation topics could be 1) work or 2) gossip about what she saw while avoiding work.

Might explain things.

[up] A good musicdump, but...

One of the first Touhou remixes I heard, helped me get into the stuff.

TrueShadow1 Since: Dec, 2012
#421: Dec 13th 2013 at 2:49:18 AM

I don't think there has been any information as to where Shinigami came from. They could be like the Yama, beings that originate from something else entirely.

Durazno Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#422: Dec 13th 2013 at 7:42:57 AM

I also rather like this one. I remember sending it to Faw long, long ago in a melancholy time.

edited 13th Dec '13 7:44:24 AM by Durazno

Tacitus Since: Jan, 2001
#423: Dec 13th 2013 at 11:18:01 PM

Yeah, that one's good too. Not sure why Rumia makes an appearance, but she does like to wander.

Now, the problem with picdumping an "eyes up here" character like Komachi is that a lot of fanart seems to focus on the most prominent part of her anatomy, with the rest being filled in as an afterthought. But there's still some good stuff, there always is.

She's the one on the left. The one on the right is her boss.
Grinnin' monochrome
Winkin' monochrome
Takin' a page from Reimu's book
At a kinda pervy angle
Guess she just landed, I'm not sure how anyone would balance like that
There's no dignified way to ride in that thing
Someday I'll be able to distinguish different east Asian countries' architecture
Again, she's not that kind of reaper
Soakin' those feet
Is Komachi gonna have to scythe a bitch?
Chargin' up
There needs to be an "absurdly_oversized_weapon" tag
Drippy
Some characters can really pull off a pipe
Go kimono go!
I'm having trouble not seeing Mikuru
There's more of this than you might expect
A taste of that doujin, I guess
An interesting test of her immortality
Can't tell if it's affection or aggression
Back in black
A dangerous place to nap
She's quite carry-able
Just being cute together
A less advertised, but still vital, shinigami duty
A silly little battle is about to begin
Putting the fear of death in those who crush mountains
The wind-up
Two-headed scythe?
Did she just slice a Rumia?
Could be a tattoo or van decal
Wait a second...
And there was much rejoicing
She seems pretty well-adjusted given her job
Quite otherworldly
Taking in the big sky

Diamite Rainy Echoes Since: Jul, 2013
Rainy Echoes
#424: Dec 13th 2013 at 11:56:31 PM

A less advertised, but still vital, shinigami duty

Ah yes, messaging. An effective tactic to get on Eiki's good side. For a good minute or five afterwards.tongue

Some characters can really pull off a pipe

I can definitely see Komachi getting some expensive-looking pipe, sitting stylishly and getting her smoke on. In fact...

There's more of this than you might expect

Mokou can grab a smoking buddy or two.tongue

Just being cute together

They really do love each other.smile

edited 18th Dec '13 11:20:05 AM by Diamite

Tacitus Since: Jan, 2001
#425: Dec 14th 2013 at 10:58:44 PM

Maybe I should've mentioned the last picdump only covered forty pages or so... at any rate, here's the rest.

Needs an accompanying picture of Eiki giving a lecture
Ruffles
Hope she's floating and not about to stab herself in the foot
Guess Japanese coinage looks a lot like CDs
Sunset ferrywoman
In the rain
Emo mode engaged
So many colors!
That scythe looks disconcertingly like a bit from a W40k model
Cleavage... jewelry? Or is that her "purse?"
Maybe there's a ton of Youmus running around off-camera
Neat kimono design
Pink tree
Red flowers
Pink trees and red flowers
Live A-Round
Letting the hair down
Floatin' lanterns
Coin, bird, fireflies
Okay, I've changed my mind about walking across the river bottom
Posin' by the spider lilies
Doggy!
Banpai Akira!
Takin' it easy
Wasn't this in some of the musicdump vids?
Red-black
Does she have scythe hair?
She brought back-up
Hopefully not about to reap the whole city
A pretty metal boat
Badassing it up with her pal Mokou
Kasen is not sure about this
Just try to ignore Yuugi spilling out of her kimono in the bottom half there
Aw, this one makes me sad
Might have taken a wrong turn into another afterlife
Watercolor
As if she needed a bodyguard
Cutin' it up with her boss
Potentially challenging your sexuality with her boss
Enjoyin' the light show
Don't look now, but there's a giant yama behind you
Reverse Marshmallow Hell?
Adorable if you read it as a case of mistaken identity
So who's in the ferry below?
No idea what the story is here
Reversed!
They'll probably save this for the season finale
Girls in mugs!
The yama is uncertain
If you're diabetic, don't click this link
Getting overloaded here
Hot boat on boat action
Either a cute outing with friends, or a tragic accident has just killed a large chunk of the cast

Unless the conversation jerks back to life halfway across the river, we'll start talking about Sara tomorrow.

edited 14th Dec '13 10:59:04 PM by Tacitus


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