The Touhou Project is a series of self-published video games that are mainly produced by Team Shanghai Alice. The first entry of the series, Highly Responsive to Prayers, was released for the PC-98 in late 1996. Many of these games are considered danmaku (bullet hell) games and require players to maneuver through difficult patterns of projectiles. As it gained popularity among fans, many different kinds of merchandise inspired by characters from the various games have been produced, figures being one of the most prominent. Out of the many dozens, if not hundreds of Touhou Project figures made to date, some of the most popular ones include the “Touhou Lost Word Reimu Hakurei: Priestess of the Hakurei Shrine 1/8 Scale Figure”, the “Touhou Project Sakuya Izayoi: Korindo Ver. Non-Scale Figure”, and the “Touhou Project Flandre Scarlet: Sister of the Devil 1/8 Scale Figure (Re-Run).

Touhou Lost Word Reimu Hakurei: Priestess of the Hakurei Shrine 1/8 Scale Figure

This figure features one of the most prominent characters in the entire Touhou Project, Reimu Hakurei. Its design is taken from Touhou Lost Word, a mobile gacha spin-off of the Touhou Project. The figure is posed as if Reimu is in the middle of battle, as several different effects around the figure note that she is using her various abilities. This action is further emphasized by her red and white shrine maiden outfit, which has long, flowing sleeves that are blown straight up into the air. In one hand, she is holding several ofuda (Shinto paper talismans), while in the other, she grasps her purification rod. Swirls of blue, green, and red energy also give the figure a beautiful variety of colors.

• Release Date: September 2021
• Manufacturer: Good Smile Company
• Sculptor: Turunoyakata
• Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, 1/8 scale ABS and PVC figure with base
• Height (Approx.): 260 mm

Touhou Project Sakura Izayoi: Korindo Ver. Non-Scale Figure

Sakuya Izayoi, the head maid of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, is recreated in the adorable figure by QuesQ. In it, she wears her classic blue and white maid uniform and is accented with a big yellow bow on her chest. In one hand, she elegantly balances a tray with a tea set on it. Her other hand is holding a knife, her weapon of choice. Her braided silver hair also contrasts greatly with her dark blue outfit. Sakuya also has a large, happy smile on her face, as if to show her eagerness to serve her mistress, Remilia Scarlet.

• Manufacturer: QuesQ
• Sculptor: i-con (Aiiro Sorairo
• Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, non-scale ABS and PVC figure with stand
• Height (Approx.): 17 cm

Touhou Project Flandre Scarlet: Sister of the Devil 1/8 Scale Figure (Re-run)

This figure is a to-scale recreation of Flandre Scarlet, the younger sister of Remilia. It has her in a rather dynamic pose, with one leg raised and the other on the ground as if she were in the middle of a jump. She also wields her wand behind her. This figure also shows Flandre in her standard costume: a red and white dress with a white cap and red shoes. Behind Flandre is her unusual, yet instantly recognizable wings, which have several crystals in a rainbow of different colors hanging off of them. Her wide-open smile reveals two long fangs, showing her vampiric background. The base of this figure is made up of several gray tiles with a skull and several knives sticking out of it, further adding to Flandre’s intimidating appearance.

• Release Date: March 2021
• Manufacturer: QuestQ
• Sculptor: Keroriso
• Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, 1/8 scale figure
• Height (Approx.): 240 mm

The Touhou Project Story

The Touhou Project takes place in a fictional world called Gensokyo, which is heavily inspired by medieval Japan and Japanese folklore. Gensokyo was once a part of Japan many years ago but was sealed away along with the many yokai that lived there. An important landmark in Gensokyo is the Hakurei Shrine, which is believed to be the only gate between Gensokyo and the real world. Reimu Hakurei, the only shrine maiden of Hakurei Shrine, is often asked to help discover the origins of unusual things happening throughout the city. Many characters in the series come in the form of Bosses that Reimu has to defeat in order to get to whatever the cause of the disturbance in Gensokyo is. Some of the more popular characters are Patchouli Knowledge, Cirno, Remilia Scarlet, and so on.

The Touhou Project Series Development

Although the Touhou Project is made by Team Shanghai Alice, this group only consists of a single known member, a man that goes by the name “ZUN”. As such, ZUN is considered to have created nearly every aspect of the main Touhou Project by himself. This endeavor began in 1996, where he created the first Touhou Project game, Highly Responsive to Prayers. There are currently 29 entries in the main Touhou Project, though this total includes several spin-off fighting games that were co-produced by both ZUN and Twilight Frontier. One particularly notable aspect of the Touhou Project, however, is that as a massively popular indie game, the series has an incredible amount of fan-created games, music, manga, drama CDs, art, and many other creative works that help increase the popularity of the Touhou Project even more.

Links

Touhou Lost Word Reimu Hakurei: Priestess of the Hakurei Shrine 1/8 Scale Figure
Touhou Project Sakuya Iyazoi: Korindo Ver. Non-Scale Figure
Touhou Project Flandre Scarlet: Sister of the Devil 1/8 Scale Figure (Re-run)
Touhou Project Label
Reimu Hakurei Label
Sakuya Izayoi Label
Remilia Scarlet Label
Flandre Scarlet Label