Understanding the Touhou 12 Cast (Touhou Writing Advice)

Written Version: docs.google.co...
"Touhou 12: Undefined Fantastic Object" features a plethora of interesting characters, and almost all of them are connected to the game's story. Who is the "Myouren Gang"? We'll find out today in the first episode of "Touhou Writing Advice"!
Episode 3 of the 5K Five!
Touhou Writing Advice Logo Created by c4lin0: / c4lin0
Byakuren Thumbnail Art Drawn by Quarium: qu...
Extra Stage Gameplay Provided by Bat Mox: ba...
My Community Discord: / discord
Outro Music arranged by Wookywok: / wookywok
My Patreon: / megapig9001
Music not from Touhou 12:
Captain Murasa (Piano Cover): • 東方 [Piano] Captain Murasa
Emotional Skyscraper ~ Cosmic Mind (Easy Piano) cover by Arcade Rabbit: • [Easy Piano] UFO Byaku...
Sources Used:
Touhou 12: Undefined Fantastic Object
Touhou 13: Ten Desires
Touhou 13.5: Hopeless Masquerade
Touhou 15.5: Antimony of Common Flowers
Touhou 17.5: Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrows
Wild and Horned Hermit
Symposium of Post-mysticism
Strange Creators of Outer Worlds (Character Reviews)
Forbidden Scrollery
Lotus Eaters
Who's Who of Humans & Youkai
Touhou Wiki
"My Awaited Won't Come" MV by Butaotome (Sad Kogasa Picture): • 【東方ヴォーカルPV】待チ人ハ来ズ。【豚乙...
General Touhou Character Artwork drawn by Dairi.
"Storm" Sound Effect by Mike Koeing
#Touhou #TouhouProject

[@Eclipsed_Embers]

I feel like people (maybe even including Zun himself) kind of misunderstand Kogasa and the important role she plays in the game, sure she isn't really connected to the buddhists but she has bigger symbolic meaning. the main aim of Byakuren is to have peace between yokai and humans. typically if you look at past games yokai were pretty dangerous, humans had reason to fear them, even relatively benign ones like Mystia still attack the playable characters for seemingly no good reason. Kogasa on the other hand is pretty innocent and quite frankly pathetic in comparison to other yokai. she's the exact kind of yokai that needs people like Byakuren and the Myouren Temple to protect them, I feel like Touhou 12 needed at least one yokai like her for this purpose.

[@DarknessInStraya]

Big agree, I actually think she’s the second most important character in the game because of this (behind Byakuren). You could take it even further, and say that she’s the example of a Youkai which proves that Youkai ought to be given a chance at existence (which Gensokyo itself affords). It would be easy to question Gensokyo’s, I guess you could call it right to exist, if all the Youkai were like Parsee or Yukari (or even Murasa given her past), but Kogasa is this game’s major proof that Byakuren was right to protect Youkai in the first place.

[@jerrythemike3584]

It proves that the only actual way for Youkais and Humans to co-exist is to kill all of them! There can be no inequality or conflict if both are too dead to screw the other, and killing all of them is the most fair thing to do.

[@covereddonuts1279]

@@DarknessInStrayabut from what I understand don’t yokai and humans need to fear and hate eachother in order to stay alive? I mean isn’t that why keine teaches kids in the human village to be afraid of yokai despite the agreement created with all the sages in gensokoyo?

[@HaxeRain]

@@covereddonuts1279 Youkai need human beliefs to exist just like gods do with the faith, and from how we've seen, these beliefs can alter and morph the impressions over youkai, since not all youkai stories are of creatures you have to fear either, an example, is also Kogasa, the beliefs on her changed overtime and it altered her existence, where she can now do blacksmith work, and actually has done so in repairing Reimu needles, its just no one comes to question much this and a lot of touhou incidents and resolutions are ultimately in favor of mantaining the status quo between human and youkai, with small steps in bridging that

[@Brawler_1337]

I love how that one frame of Byakuren smiling at the player (the pose in the thumbnail) has become a redraw challenge of sorts. She looks like an excited little kid, which contrasts wonderfully with her mature figure.

[@ArmoredarmadilloX]

That actually goes along with Buddhism's core goal; Re-achieving innocence. I assume her child-like joy and happiness is a sign that she's achieved this grand goal of sorts.

[@jvts8916]

I think another important aspect of the Myouren Temple faction is that their rivalry with the Taoist faction is surprisingly friendly. By 15.5 Byakuren, Miko and their two main subordinates are fine with teaming up in order to solve a (seemingly) minor incident, to the point that Ichirin and Futo's unique take on perfect possession ends becoming essential for Yukari's plan for solving the incident. Side note: Kogasa's my favourite joke character in Touhou.

[@youraverageperson6211]

That Ichirin fact about wanting to be a beloved Monk like Hijiri, was really impressive. The only mention of it is her lose quote with Doremy

[@omegarathalos6046]

Sure Minamitsu was very confident in 17.5, but we can all agree that Flandre was the real MVP of that game.

[@Megapig9001]

Honestly I think Kutaka was my favorite lol. Of the playable characters Flandre definitely leaves the biggest impression though

[@metalwolfzx]

As a (hopefully respectful) heads-up @Megapig9001, Mamizou's not a Tanooki, but rather a completely different entity called a "Bake-Dankuki". (Don't ask me what the difference is between them though)

[@spritepepsiplushes8353]

@@metalwolfzx the difference between them is similar to the difference between rocks and stones

[@Dreigonix]

I am so glad that not only do we finally have playable Flandre after 20+ years, we have playable Flandre _in the central story role._

[@AstroChara]

@@metalwolfzx bake-danuki is basically a youkai tanuki I think

[@dollythepuppet5211]

A little thing about Kogasa, she’s not just a random umbrella, she’s based off a Yokai called the Kasa-Obake, which is an umbrella with a single eye and a mouth and one leg, which clearly describes the umbrella

[@123Todayy]

ALSO. Her heterochromia means that when she closes her blue eye she matches color with her umbrella

[@elephantt2077]

I wish Touhou had more characters like Unzan. Sure, Touhou is nothing without female casts, but there's something about buff, stout and bearded characters like D&D dwarves that add a bit of quirkiness to the overall themes -Or I could just play Deep Rock Galactics instead-

[@vyllix8546]

Yeaaahh, there's many tropes that are mainly male in nature, that's why only female characters is kind of a big limitation, not even many inhuman characters... I guess it has to be this way since this is Touhou's whole shtick

[@joeknuts7912]

I feel like Yuugi fits this... At least if you interpret her design like that. There are some pretty masculine touhou girls, but not really any that are buff. I don't see why not either, as a big part of touhou is the fact that a characters gender doesn't define who they are.

[@stardust-reverie]

ROCK AND STONE BROTHERS

[@BinglesP]

@@joeknuts7912 *slams table* YES! WE NEED YUUGI TRANS ARC

[@kaminozt-t1436]

im happy someone is making videos like this, while seeing the characters with their fanon personalities is fun, i still want to see more fan works that are closer to the canon

[@syncswim]

My headcanon about Myouren Temple is that other Gensokyo residents see some irony in the fact that for a person preaching peace, Byakuren sure has amassed what's essentially the biggest and scariest army of powerful youkai compared any of the other local religions.

[@Touhou20246]

I just want to ask if I am the only one who criers when I read or hear byakuren Hijjiri,s backstory because I feel her pain due to the fact that I lost my favorite grandpa in 2016 and my favorite grandma around 2019 to 2020.

[@AJSdanmakufu]

Loving this series! There's so much stuff in Touhou lore that despite being a fan for a decade now, there's many things that I either don't know or have just forgotten. These insights will be very helpful in my own writing going forward!

[@TunaKitty63]

This video has been very useful! I've been working on a D&D campaign taking place in the world of touhou, and this really helped me get a hang of the TH12 crew.

[@BinglesP]

Byakuren is one of my favorite Touhou characters. Her whole story is inspiring and emotional without being too preachy. Not to mention, she's beautiful as she is. She is one of the main reasons why I think the whole "all youkai need fear from humanity to survive" thing is the one part of Touhou that I genuinely dislike, apart from the fact that it just seems unnecessary and brings more plot holes than it covers. Of course, humans and youkai should have some push in the story to both exist, but isn't any kind of belief or emotion(her love for them included) good enough to give humans their side of the edge?

[@johnathansfacew8528]

Byakuren is mentioned by Kogasa in 17.5 as hiring assassins in Flandre's easy route mistaking her to be one of them. Is that mentioned in any of written works or anywhere else? I just found it odd seeing that mentioned in the game. She might have changed a bit or maybe she is really good at hiding a darker side to herself if she's got assassins running around.

[@Megapig9001]

From what I get in context: It seems like Flandre refers to Byakuren’s staff as “assassins”. It’s played as a gag where Flandre thinks Kogasa is working for Hijiri (hence the “how her tastes have changed” line). I read it as Flandre thinking everyone else was hired by someone, like how Okina hired her.

[@johnathansfacew8528]

@@Megapig9001 Ah that makes more sense just something lost in translation. Thank you for the clarity.

[@Pinkdam]

It would be funny if Byakuren became like the 'old man of the mountain' and burned fancy incense to give youkai a taste of Nirvana so they would work for her.

[@shikitohnogaming]

I’ve just discovered this series and already want more of it. I’m a big touhou nerd and it feels like with every video like this I’m actually learning alot more, so thank you

[@waterhorse928]

This is exactly what I needed! I love the way you present the context concisely and then offer some suggestions based on how you interpret it! Plus some suggestions based on how the fandom decided to interpret it so you aren't out of the loop. I love the way you worded it throughout that makes it clear when you are making a suggestion so that I still feel free to write the characters as I want. It's all set up to be as little as a hindrance as possible while making the most of my time. It's really good! Thank you!

[@Pinkdam]

Thanks a bunch, this was a really nice little overview and very helpful as a starting point, particularly for understanding the reams of fanwork which rely on an understanding of the characters to appreciate.

[@shrooby]

What a great idea for a series! And it did do its job in getting my mind thinking about potential stories. Looking forward to hearing about whatever topic comes next

[@monkeyman3257]

Keep in mind that there has been some retcons! As of foul detective satori and UDoALG Nazrin does live at the temple, and both Shou and Nazrin were both underground before touhou 12

[@yogsothoth915]

I think we could all stand to learn from Shou and her freaking sweet bending lasers of awe and terror...

[@zoomspilo6798]

This series is going to be a dream for me, I really like writing about Touhou but I'm not very well versed in a lot of the characters (especially newer games). Absolutely love it, keep up the good work!

[@BinglesP]

Same for me, though for a different reason; I think I know well enough about the Touhou cast(at least up to HSiFS or so), but I have clinical anxiety, so I can't always motivate myself to do it out of fear of doing it 'wrong' somehow. These give me inspiration as a refresher. Either way, I'm happy this series exists for both kinds we fit into!

[@KIIROCORE]

@@BinglesPohh god felt but like with media in general … i swear i see people be like “people characterize this character poorly so much!!” or “the themes of this story get misinterpreted by so much of the fandom!!” in social circles im in a lot and while i understand their annoyances towards it istg every time i see someone talk abt that kind of thing im like “oh god do. do i do that”

[@apatheticshiro8238]

This is a really well done video I hope you make more like these

[@giladmachluf3663]

Touhou Writing Advice is not something I thought would be necessary when I clicked. I later realized that was a very wrong way of thinking. That being said, good job.

[@Robert-vk7je]

This was helpful, thank you! I'm excited for more videos of this kind. :)

[@BenersantheBread]

Could you do similar videos on PCB and IN? They're my favourite games in the series. *And I'm totally not biased because I haven't played a lot of the latter games and therefore don't understand the hype behind some of the characters, which would almost definitely be cleared pretty much as soon as I read up on them like it did with Okuu and Koishi*

[@HyperVanilo]

He did say this will be a new series and will cover every games

[@BinglesP]

SAME!!! Also because I already go most of the games from 1-15.5 on my computer(and some fangames) and idk if my computer could possibly fit any more.

[@raikaria3090]

Fun fact: ZUN has said in a radio interview that the canon route in UFO is Marisa B; making it one of the few games with not just a canon character but specifically a shot-type. [I think only WBaWC and DDC have canon shot-types in games where characters have multiple shots] Also; since you mention 17.5; it's worth mentioning that while Kogasa was not afflitaed with the ground in 12; Kogasa has become their friend now; even going out of her way to try and help Murasa; and Murasa not wanting Kogasa to get hurt. [Also Kogasa apparently knows Byakuren uses assassins] Also the implication that writing Kogasa as anything but cute is possible.

[@CyberDagger003]

Interesting. Has ZUN ever mentioned any canon routes for other games?

[@raikaria3090]

@@CyberDagger003I think PMiSS outright says that Reimu; and Reimu alone solved the Vampire incident. [Although Reimu A/B isn't clear] This is supported by Touhou 17.5 as well. This isn't an actual ZUN statement but it's PMiSS so a canon work. It's also said somewhere Reimu solved PCB; although this one doesn't explicitly say alone. Reimu also has gotten the credit for the IN incident, but interestingly it's said she refuses to speak about what happened. I can't remember the source for this off the top of my head. I should mention that specifically ZUN said Marisa B is the "true route" in UFO because Marisa B's ending directly leads into the EX stage. You also have Touhou 18 confirmed as Marisa [100BM outright says this]; the aformentioned Reimu-Eagle for 17 [17.5 outright says this]

[@KissoneKinoma]

I'm Byakuren's Motorcycle. She rides me so she doesnt have to walk or fly anywhere. I carry her, so she can carry the team.

[@Set666Abominae]

I love the UFO cast. They really show just how multifaceted and thematic ZUN’s character writing can be, and this has only continued as we’ve seen more of them in the fighting games and manga. There have been a few interesting changes since 12 came out: - I do find it rather amusing that, in his usual way of inverting audience expectations, Nazrin has been revealed more and more as a slacker who constantly gets it in the ear from a stricter Shou. It’s even remarked at one point that the latter’s job is “to nag”. - Kogasa has been depicted as being closer and closer to the temple group, even if she’s not actually a member. You can see from how Murasa interacts with her in 17.5, and then the group more widely in Cheating Detective, that they’re all very well acquainted. When Byakuren chastises the temple group for their blunders when it was thought she was possessed, she seemed to include Kogasa in as well, and the latter seemed to get this. It’s also hinted that she’s friends with Kyouko, showing particular worry about her being possessed, and then relief at her recovery. I hope their friendship gets explored more down the line, because they both represent two stages in a similar journey: Kyouko was a fading youkai who found new meaning through the temple, and Kogasa is also at risk of fading, but is still yet to make that leap. - Byakuren has been shown to be terrifyingly powerful, so much so that another incredibly strong character, who I won’t name because of spoilers, is warned they might be out of their depth if they go against her in the events of Cheating Detective. At the same time, she’s also been shown to have a bit of a sillier streak, especially when she’s remarking to Ichirin that they should have some fun getting Reimu to train whilst she’s staying at the temple. - poor Ichirin has been exposed as a bit of an airhead, both in her utterly incompetent pairing with Futo in 15.5, and in Cheating Detective when Byakuren asks an almost rhetorical question, and she manages to get it wildly wrong, leading to one of the few times the former shows exasperation. I very much got the impression in 15.5 that she and Futo were being written both as comedic relief, but also as being reflective of one another as the less-than-sharpest underlings of Gensokyo’s religious leaders. I think my favourite way to interpret the Myoren Temple group, and Byakuren in particular, is genuinely good and well meaning characters who are doomed to fail because of Gensokyo’s laws. Gensokyo can only exist through an antagonistic relationship between humans and youkai, which Byakuren ultimately, and very understandably, wants to see changed through peaceful co-existence. She can’t win, because it would be the end of Gensokyo, but no one can fault her for he beliefs (unlike someone like Sanae, and a lesser extent Miko, who would disregard the balance purely to gather more faith). It’d be interesting to see this conflict come to a head with Reimu and Yukari, who both know they have to maintain the balance, but also have gone out of their way to try and accommodate as much within its limits as possible (such as when they both should have exterminated Kosuzu or Sumireko, but went to great lengths to ultimately protect them).

[@Nodegama]

Excellent video! Very helpful. Is there really that little "actual" canon about Kogasa? I could've sworn there was a bit more with her relationship with Nue, being a Mid-boss in her extra stage. I assume that must be fan-canon I picked up threw other stories ^.^

[@Megapig9001]

There was this one time She offered her blacksmithing skills to Reimu, repaired her needles, and then Reimu threw them at her so she didn’t have to pay. That was really funny and sad

[@omegarathalos6046]

@@Megapig9001 in Touhou LostWord, it's implied that Kogasa was the one who made Nemuno's knife base on a line from said yamanba, even though may not be canon. And besides, I wouldn't mind asking her to make a sword for me.

[@Megapig9001]

@@omegarathalos6046 yeah but LostWord isn’t canon

[@satsukir1n]

@@Megapig9001 reimu is no longer my favourite miko marisa is?

[@duykhangtran4406]

Well Kogasa did tried to be a baby sitter because she heard of Marry Poppin

[@flandrescarletdevil5844]

Well if you might be able to do more with the rest of Touhou...also Kyoko is also part of the Myouren Temple Gang...so how would you suggest describing her character to be written?

[@Megapig9001]

Kyouko is what I’d call a general representation of Byakuren’s Youkai Followers: A Youkai who found herself entranced by the temple’s preachings. Since she’s so new, she doesn’t really get everything about the teachings, but she does her best to learn. But, she’s still very much her own person. She loves music, and sings in a punk rock band with Mystia despite her disapproval. All in all, Kyouko has a very cheery disposition and balances her religious studies with having fun.

[@Dreigonix]

I ship Kogasa and Nue _hard,_ and one of my favorite dynamics to write in Touhou is Nue (the setting’s equivalent of Cthulhu) teaching Kogasa (a cute ghost whose understanding of horror begins and ends with jumpscares) how to be scary. >.>

[@alicepiper7455]

Have you made videos like this for any other Touhou games? If not, please do! This is very helpful.

[@mikubrot]

nazrin is now in 19 hehe

[@abd-animation-22]

Now do this for all of the games

[@mrhades113]

I really like this kind of video.

[@xClownpiece]

will there be another video like this one sometime soon?

[@Megapig9001]

I have two scripts for Writing Advice that are fairly far along. In terms of game specific casts there’s not another Touhou game im as adept with writing for compared to 12, so I’d need some writing practice first

[@xClownpiece]

@@Megapig9001thanks!

[@bruhbruh5178]

@@Megapig9001 yeah i would really love to see a video in such format :)

[@someperson1978]

I enjoyed this video a lot! Can I ask when you're gonna be releasing the next video and which topic you'll be covering next?

[@Megapig9001]

Glad you liked it! Don’t quite know yet, but I might cover a topic more general. There’s a lot of differences between writing for a Touhou Fangame versus writing a general Touhou Story, so I might talk about that.

[@someperson1978]

@@Megapig9001 Looking forward to it!

[@KaylaaYukooo]

i didnt know the lore in touhou 12 were that deep

[@lowestpaper4186]

He?! 9:49, (don’t take this too hard just confused)

[@KIIROCORE]

nothing is referred to by “he” here wdym..??

[@palameno]

10:38 oinkkk

[@DsiakMondala]

haha the rat is funny

[@Orzeczenie.]

Funni rat

[@_sarq]

would’ve been nice to include mamizou and kyouko as an addendum considering how directly they’re connected to 12’s cast, but considering this is “understanding the touhou 12 cast” and not “understanding the myouren temple cast” i can see why you didn’t

[@Megapig9001]

Kyouko was the one I heavily considered, but I decided to keep it to just 12 mainly because a lot of Official and fanworks also do (Manga Chapters tend to focus on the people from 12 mainly, and then you have great 12 fanworks like White Lotus)

[@guncatto2625]

This... could prove useful. Cuz I'm writing a Terraria Calamity Mod X Touhou Project... More. I'm far too big of a calamity fan then a touhou fan.

[@oscara1573]

Shou my beloved

[@randommaster06]

People over here saying ZUN doesn't have sects in Touhou games.

[@Countier_]

i like funny rat

[@baconpancakes4942]

Why does he call Shou a he?

[@DJruslan4ic]

Shou looks like a boy

[@KIIROCORE]

he doesn’t though????