Moriya shrine

It is the world where all the events of the story take place. Gensokyo is the fictional place where the entire Touhou series takes place. The culture of the place is reminiscent in some ways of Feudal Japan, with many elements of folklore included. Gensokyo, long ago, was originally an isolated and haunted region of Japan. The youkai that lived there began to terrorize the surrounding lands; because of this, powerful and heroic humans were sent to exorcise and exterminate them. The endless battle continued until 1884 AD, when Gensokyo was separated from the increasingly scientific and skeptical real world with the creation of the Hakurei Barrier, separating Gensokyo from the real human world. Since then, there has been little contact between our cultures. Currently, the only known bridge between Gensokyo and the real world is the Hakurei Shrine, which stands isolated along the edge of the barrier in the distant mountains to the far east. Gensokyo is mostly populated by youkai (which includes oni, tengus, kappa, and others), but a sizable population of humans, rabbits, and other species such as fairies live there as well. Some of these inhabitants came here to hide, escape, and/or find refuge, as nowhere else would have accepted them. Many of them simply like the darkness. Gensokyo is the area encompassed by the Hakurei Barrier, a territory with a Mediterranean climate at least ten kilometers in diameter, though the exact size has not been stated in canon materials. Some notable features of the region are: Youkai Mountain with a kappa community at its base, and a tengu community at the top, and the Moriya Shrine near the lake at the top, The Magical Forest, The Bamboo Grove of Doom where Eientei is located, The Lake of Mist, which surrounds the Scarlet Devil Mansion, the Human Village, and the Sanzu River which separates Gensokyo from Higan.

Gensokyo is separated from the outside world by the Great Hakurei Barrier, a barrier that isolates Gensokyo from the outside world and allows youkai to survive within it even when humans outside no longer believe in them. Sometime in the 15th century, the youkai now known as Yukari Yakumo laid the foundation for the barrier with her "Youkai Expansion Project," transforming Gensokyo into a haven for youkai by enchanting it to attract the fantastical and repel the mundane. The Barrier was proposed by Yukari and the other Sages of Gensokyo.

Humans from outside are not protected by the rules of the Spellcard, therefore they can be easy prey for the youkai, but they can choose to become citizens of the Human Village or ask the priestess of the Hakurei shrine to send them back home.

Even today, it is still possible for youkai, gods, and even entire places to cross the border and enter Gensokyo.

As a "limit of common sense," the barrier is designed to affect only living beings and their creations, allowing the passage of natural forces (thus, the barrier is permeable to sunlight, and the rivers of Gensokyo are connected to those of the Outside World). The space at the edges of the barrier is non-Euclidean; humans who attempt to leave it will repeatedly encounter the same reference points, never straying far from their starting point.

Gensokyo is known as a highly dangerous place for humans, containing a vast number of youkai and their various forms. There are youkai, or malevolent spirits, that disregard the rules of Spellcard duels and are capable of hunting humans without mercy. While it's more common to prey on humans from outside the city, it's equally likely to happen to a native human. Cases of youkai killings are very common in the daily lives of Gensokyo's humans, especially at night.

The Forest of Magic (魔法の森 Mahou no Mori) is a place in Gensokyo that serves as a focal point for all things evil, sinister, and repulsive, located not far from the Human Village. It is the home of Marisa Kirisame and Alice Margatroid.

It's called the "Forest of Magic" because of the large number of hallucinogenic mushrooms that grow there. Many wizards live in this forest to enhance their magical powers with these mushrooms. The forest has areas of land where the sun never shines, making them dark and damp, ideal for the mushrooms to grow endlessly.

It is a place whose true nature is obscured by strange rumors and bizarre occurrences. The forest environment is extremely dangerous for both humans and youkai, and both types generally find it unsettling. Spores of monstrous fungi dance in the air, and the health of a normal human would deteriorate simply by breathing here, not to mention the man-eating plants and the inevitable, horrific misfortune that is sure to befall anyone who even considers venturing into the forest. However, if one could withstand the noxious fumes emitted by the monstrous fungi, then it would be a safe and secluded place to isolate oneself, or a rather pleasant place to live for people who dislike being disturbed.

The Bamboo Forest of the Lost (迷いの竹林 Mayoi no Chikurin) is a vast forest full of bamboo trees and a normally dangerous area due to the amount of Youkai inside and the ease of getting lost inside. It is said to be located in the opposite direction to Youkai Mountain when one is looking for the Human Village. The forest is seen in several stages of Imperishable Night, Phantasmagoria of Flower View and Scarlet Weather Rhapsody. In Double Dealing Character you can find Kagerou Imaizumi in this forest. Inside it is the Eientei mansion and all its inhabitants, such as Kaguya Houraisan or Eirin Yagokoro.

Mokou lives here helping people who get lost, while Tewi and other rabbits can be seen wandering around the forest.

Eientei (永遠亭, lit. "House of Eternity") is the name of a large, ancient Japanese mansion hidden deep within the Bamboo Forest of the Lost. It has corridors that lead to the far reaches of the sky. It was created by Eirin Yagokoro for Kaguya Houraisan.

Eientei is currently occupied by a large group. Kaguya Houraisan and Eirin Yagokoro have been hiding there since their exile from the Moon. Other occupants include rabbits, many of them, all under the command of Tewi Inaba, who protects Kaguya and Eirin from intruders.

Most of Gensokyo is unaware that the residents of Eientei are from the Moon. The residents of Eientei and the few non-residents who know this keep it a secret. The average human and youkai know Kaguya as the princess of Eientei and her lady.

Every month, on the night of the full moon, the residents of Eientei celebrate the Moon Festival (例月祭 Reigetsusai), during which mochi infused with crushed medicinal herbs is offered. Making mochi is therefore the main occupation of the Earth Rabbits. Eientei has also hosted a lunar exhibition at least twice, displaying lunar artifacts. These include the American flag planted on the moon, lunar rocks, an oxcart that once could fly (but is now pulled by a real ox), a glittering kimono, a lunar rover, and many other relics.

Both humans and youkai can go to Eientei to receive Eirin's medical services. Fujiwara no Mokou usually offers escort through the Bamboo Forest of the Lost. The Eientei group's medicine supply service is called "Hourai Pharmacy".

The Scarlet Devil Mansion (紅魔館, koumakankan ), often abbreviated as SDM (Scarlet Devil Mansion) in English, is the elegant Victorian-style mansion of the Scarlet family. It is located on a small island in the middle of a lake somewhere in Gensokyo. It has relatively few windows for a building of its size, which is an advantage considering the nature of its main inhabitants, Remilia and Flandre Scarlet (they are vampires). Besides the vampire sisters, the mansion is also home to a large staff working for the Scarlets. The most powerful staff members are Hong Meiling, who is in charge of guarding the entrance; Patchouli Knowledge, who acts as librarian and private tutor; and Sakuya Izayoi, who is the head maid and acts as Remilia's personal attendant.

The interior of the Scarlet Devil Mansion is much larger than it appears from the outside. This is due to Sakuya's ability to manipulate time and space.

The Scarlet Devil Mansion is the location of most of the levels in Embodiment of Scarlet Devil; level 4 takes place in the library, levels 5 and Extra take place in the hallways, and the final level takes place on the roof balcony.

Misty Lake (霧の湖 Kiri no Mizuumi) is a large lake located at the foot of Youkai Mountain. Many fairies and youkai seem to gather here, especially during the summer, given the abundant water. The lake and its surroundings appear to be the home of Cirno, Daiyousei, and Wakasagihime.

Commonly, when someone says "The Lake" (湖 mizuumi), they are referring to Misty Lake. The lake's water comes from a river that originates in Youkai Mountain. While the Scarlet Devil's Mansion was originally located on an island within Misty Lake, in later installments and works, it is said that the mansion is situated on a shore next to the lake, rather than on an island. Around noon each day, a strange fog envelops the entire lake, obscuring visibility. The origin of this fog is unknown, but it seems that, due to the poor visibility, the lake is not as large as one might think: it would take approximately an hour to walk the entire length of the river, so its circumference can be estimated at about 5 km. The lake is also home to enormous monstrous fish, which can occasionally be caught on nights of the new moon. This has made the lake popular with anglers seeking to catch these types of fish. These fish measure between 2 and 5 fathoms (essentially, up to 9 meters), and the largest measures 10 fathoms (this is believed to be an exaggeration).

A Master of the Lake also lives there. However, his home is so deep that only fish and amphibians can dive in.

It is said that the creatures cannot live in the lake, which makes it all the more obvious.

The Sanzu River (三途の河 Sanzu no Kawa, literally "River of Three Ways," also translated into British English as the Sanzu River) is the mist-shrouded river that the souls of the dead must cross to reach Higan, where they await judgment. Part of the riverbank is accessible from Gensokyo, although the source, mouth, and opposite bank lie outside of it. Only the dead can cross the river in a shinigami's boat if they can pay; everything except the shinigami and their boats will sink. The river is populated by the ghosts of extinct marine life, including those from prehistoric times.

Komachi Onozuka can be seen transporting souls here when she's not loitering. In Japanese Buddhist tradition, the Sanzu River is said to have three crossings whose danger varies according to the number of sins committed by the soul during its lifetime (hence its name). However, this concept isn't used in Touhou: Komachi uses her distance manipulation power to vary the river's width according to the sinfulness of the souls.

Hakugyokurou (白玉楼, lit. "White Jade Tower") is a ghostly shrine overlooking the Underworld. It is well-known in the afterlife for its cherry blossom gardens, and many ghosts come to see them every spring.

The term Hakugyokurou comes from Chinese legends of the Tang Dynasty. It was said to be the place where artists went after death. Li He, a Tang Dynasty poet, heard a voice in a dream he had while dying; the voice told him, "Hakugyokurou has been completely built, so come and record its details." This story is the origin of Hakugyokurou.

Yuyuko Saigyouji is the lady of Hakugyokurou, and Youmu Konpaku is her gardener. The enormous youkai cherry tree, the Saigyou Ayakashi, can also be found dormant in the gardens of Hakugyokurou.

The mansion is a beautiful structure, surrounded by walls and staircases with designs from the mainland, and features a Japanese-style residence and a Zen garden on its top level. The entrance to the mansion is a very long staircase called "Hakugyokurou Staircase" (白玉楼階段 Hakugyokurou Kaidan).

Hakurei Shrine (博麗神社, Hakurei Jinja) is a small, neglected Shinto shrine (神社) nestled in the eastern mountains, the isolated home of Reimu. It exists on the border between the real world and Gensokyo. It is accessible from both sides, but certain unknown circumstances must be met to travel from one to the other. The shrine is inhabited by Reimu Hakurei, Suika Ibuki, and Yuugi Hoshiguma. It is also apparently a popular hangout for all the other girls Reimu and her companions defeated throughout the Touhou Games. Very few humans ever visit this shrine, and even fewer (almost none) leave offerings. It has stood for generations, currently thirteen. Due to its age, the shrine offers little protection from the cold.

Structurally, the temple is old-fashioned, resembling a Shinto shrine, and offers little protection from the cold. The cherry grove behind the shrine is a particularly popular spot for viewing the blossoms in spring. There is a large donation box for visitors to leave money, but because visitors are few, it is usually empty. The Yin-Yang Orb, a powerful weapon that only members of the Hakurei clan bloodline can use, is also kept here. The orb is said to be the temple's greatest treasure.

The Human Village (人間の里) is where most of the humans of Gensokyo live. Although some youkai also visit the shop, it is the safest place in all of Gensokyo to live. Humans from the outside world who stumble upon Gensokyo and decide to stay often have no choice but to live here, as they would be unable to handle the youkai outside the village. The village itself has a powerful protector, Keine Kamishirasawa, who is able to conceal the history of the village's existence for its protection.

Officially, youkai do not interfere in village affairs, and villagers tend to be uneasy about youkai walking the streets unless they have a good reason to be there. Beneath the surface, many youkai visit the village in disguise or vie for influence (Mamizando Futatsuiwa being a notable example), but anything that actually causes problems for the villagers is off-limits. Some disguised youkai, like Sekibanki, actually live in the village. The youkai seek to avoid anything that might cause the human population of Gensokyo to unite around a strong leader and directly challenge their authority over Gensokyo.

The humans of the village mostly avoid involvement in youkai activities, although some humans have felt uneasy about the youkai's dominance in Gensokyo. In the recent past, rumors circulated about a secret society that sought to uncover secrets from research into the origins of human and youkai residence in Gensokyo, with the goal of asserting human control and banishing the youkai from the land.

The Human Village is located in the central part of Gensokyo. The village has the appearance of a Japanese town from the Edo period, with houses made of wood, tatami floors, wooden roofs, and each room divided by Fusuma doors, agricultural fields of rice or wheat, and in the center several shops and stores.

Moriya Shrine (守矢の神社, Moriya no jinja) came from the outside world and was transported to Gensokyo by Kanako Yasaka during the beginning of the events of Mountain of Faith. The shrine is currently located somewhere near the top of Youkai Mountain with a lake that was also transported with it. As noted in Silent Sinner in Blue, a distinctively thick shimenawa hangs across the building's entrance, larger than the one at Hakurei Shrine. (As an aside, we can see the same design at Suwa Grand Shrine, the original inspiration for Moriya Shrine. The real Moriya Shrine—with a different kanji, 洩矢神社—also exists near Suwa Grand Shrine.)

This temple is home to Sanae Kochiya, whose role is similar to that of a Miko, and her resident gods Kanako Yasaka and Suwako Moriya.

The Human Village: Located near Hakurei Shrine, it's the only place where yokai won't appear, only at night, and it's safe to stay home.
Hakurei Shrine: This is a sacred place located near the village, with Reimu, a miko (shrine maiden), serving as the shrine caretaker.
Wizard Dad: There are two wizards living here: a witch and a seven-colored puppet witch.
The Red Demon Mansion: This is a very large castle and mansion guarded by yokai at the gate, and inhabited by vampires, humans, and fairies.
Hell: This place is inhabited by Oni giants and many Yokai.
Hell of the Bloody Pit: (This is a hellish place with floors and pits filled with blood. Currently, there are no characters here; awaiting further updates....)
Moriya Shrine: This shrine is located on Mount Yokai and is home to the Moriya clan and the god of wind.
Lunar City: (Currently, there are no characters yet; awaiting further updates...)
phenomenon
Bizarre Events: Occasionally, strange and unusual events may occur, and the user, Reimu, or other important characters will be watching to see what's happening.
Solar eclipse phenomenon: (On this blood moon night, yokai and other creatures will become significantly stronger and difficult to subdue by normal means, and the vampires in the Red Demon Mansion will emerge to do something.)
Hell and the Vortex of Souls: Upon reaching Hell, the first person you'll encounter is Yuugi. In the Vortex of Souls, there will be three people: Satori, along with her pets Okuu and Orin.

Youkai Mountain (妖怪の山 Youkai no Yama) is the largest mountain and volcano in Gensokyo. As its name suggests, it is inhabited almost exclusively by youkai, primarily kappa and tengu, and where humans are generally not welcome.

Initially described in Perfect Memento in Strict Sense, it later became a key location in Mountain of Faith when the Moriya Temple was transported near the top of the mountain.

Youkai Mountain is a rocky outcrop covered by a large expanse of forest called the Great Youkai Forest at its foot, with waterfalls and rivers flowing from the lakes at the top of the mountain. It is known to have been a very active volcano in the past, but it has been a long time since its last eruption. Smoke can still be seen rising from the mountain from time to time. Commonly, when someone says "The Mountain" (山 yama), they are usually referring to Youkai Mountain.

It has served as the home of youkai since long before the time of man and is a major threat to humans. Consisting of a close-knit society of kappa and tengu, the mountain is closed to outsiders, and its inhabitants lead peaceful communal lives. Outsiders who attempt to climb the mountain, youkai or humans, are relentlessly pursued by tengu patrols. Because outsiders are not allowed in, and because kappa and tengu hold their secrets so closely, many things about the mountain remain a mystery to other inhabitants of Gensokyo. Furthermore, the ruins on the western side of the mountain are inaccessible to both humans and youkai.

Kanako backstory

One of the gods of Yamato (the precursor of the modern Japanese state), Kanako took over the kingdom ruled by the native goddess Suwako Moriya by holding out a thin vine that immediately rusted all of Suwako's iron weapons. However, the inhabitants of Suwako's kingdom found it difficult to accept their new deity. In order to consolidate her newfound realm, she borrowed Suwako's powers. In reality, Suwako still ruled, while Kanako was their deity in name only.

However, as time went on humans eventually began to disbelieve in the concept of eternity, which Kanako in part represented. They grew stronger and invented ways of getting around the agricultural problems posed by harsh rain and wind. As their belief in science and information grew, their faith in gods like Kanako waned, and thus did her power.

In order to solve this problem, Kanako decided that the most appropriate course of action would be to abandon the human world and gather faith in Gensokyo. It ended up working out quite well, and she started to be worshiped as the deity of the Youkai Mountain. She then realized that, after observing the Hakurei Shrine which, although low on faith, was frequently visited by youkai was the main reason she had been accepted so quickly.

Kanako, however, did not foresee the power of those who lived on the mountain, such as the kappa and tengu, growing greater through their worship of her. Worried about the power balance in Gensokyo, she resolved to rein in more believers from elsewhere, and thus decided to use the Hakurei Shrine for her own ends.

all of Kanako abilities & Occupation & Possessions Abilities
Ability to create heavenliness
Kanako's ability specifically refers to the element of Qian (乾), the "sky" of Bagua in Taoist philosophy. Qian is associated with creation, leadership, overtness, reliability, and acting first rather than reacting to others. Suwako Moriya's ability to create Kun (坤, earth), refers to the opposite element.

She is at least called "wind god", so it may be a power to manipulate wind, rain, and weather. For Kanako to be a god of agriculture, to manipulate the wind and rain and make the soil plentiful would definitely be a way to quickly and easily gather faith.

In Symposium of Post-mysticism, it's stated that this ability of hers is still very much a mystery. She has been seen altering the terrain with Suwako's help, opening holes to the underground, and even creating large structures. She helped build the Myouren Temple, as well. & Occupation
Kanako is currently the deity of the Moriya Shrine, and lives with Suwako Moriya, the de facto ruler of the shrine, and Sanae Kochiya, a wind priestess. She generally seems to spend her time implementing new ways to gain faith from those who live outside the Youkai Mountain. She tries to control nuclear fusion and does so by feeding Yatagarasu to Utsuho Reiuji and creating a nuclear fusion reactor leading to the underground, which indirectly caused the events of Subterranean Animism, Undefined Fantastic Object, Touhou Hisoutensoku, and Ten Desires. Kanako would later successfully have a ropeway going from the foot of Youkai Mountain near the Human Village to Moriya Shrine in Wild and Horned Hermit. & her Possessions
Kanako's shimenawa represents the figure of an entwined snake, which in turn represents resurrection, rebirth, and eternity through the repeated shedding of its own skin. She also possesses onbashira, which she apparently uses in traditional festivals to toss off of cliffs, and also in combat in Sunken Fossil World.

Kanako Personality
Kanako is an ambitious woman who treats religion like a business, using whatever means bring her the most "profit" - that profit being faith. She has a natural presence that can seem intimidating or suspicious at times, but also reliable. Unusually for a god she has little respect for tradition - she demands little formality in her worship, and encourages scientific progress. It is somewhat strange for a deity to be knowledgeable and interested in science.

She has no hostility towards humans, although as is the case with all deities, she may curse them if they are disrespectful. She also seems to be rather short-tempered, but she is vulnerable to gifts. Kanako is also a skilled negotiator. & she is an ambitious, charismatic, and pragmatic goddess from the Touhou Project series who treats religious faith like a business, aiming to maximize "profit". As the cunning and often intimidating deity of the Moriya Shrine, she disregards tradition in favor of scientific progress and technology.
This video provides a detailed overview of Kanako Yasaka's personality and background:
Key Personality Traits
Ambitious & Strategic: She moves her shrine to Gensokyo to secure new sources of faith, acting as a "magnificent baddie" or, as some users on Reddit suggest, a cunning mastermind.
Progressive & Non-Traditional: Unlike typical deities, she promotes science, technology (like nuclear fusion), and innovation.
Reliable yet Intimidating: While often perceived as suspicious due to her schemes, she is fundamentally reliable and not inherently hostile towards humans.
Short-Tempered & Proud: She can be hot-headed and proud, often acting with extreme methods to secure her reputation, note Villains Wiki and Sexypedia.
Negotiator: She is a skilled negotiator who forms alliances (like Suwako Moriya) to ensure her goals are met.

Kanako Yasaka
While Suwako claims to still hold a grudge against Kanako for taking over her shrine, her own faith actually increased as a result. By now they've become good friends.

Sanae Kochiya
Sanae acts as a wind priestess under Suwako and is able to summon her. Sanae is also Suwako's descendant.

Utsuho Reiuji
She was presumably present when Kanako presented the Yatagarasu to Utsuho.

Mishaguji
Suwako was the one who tamed the Mishaguji, and she's the only one who can control them.

Hisoutensoku
It's implied that Suwako was involved in Hisoutensoku's construction.

all of Suwako other abilities and combos

Ability & Combat Frog Features
Summoning: She can summon large frogs, including during combat and in her abilities.
Stone Frog God: A special attack where a frog-shaped boulder bursts from the ground.
Water Frog God: A move where she takes off her hat to launch an explosive frog towards opponents.
Rain-calling Frog: She can call down rain that covers a large area.
Frog Leap: In combat, she uses a "frog leap" motion to move forward and grab opponents.
Metamorphosis: She can extend her tongue and limbs, resembling a frog's physical flexibility.

Hair
Her hair is long, straight, and incredibly thick, with a dark purple or magenta color (sometimes with a blue tint). It falls down to her knees. The ends of her hair curl slightly outward. Due to its length, she often throws it over her shoulder.

Eyes
Bright red or maroon, with a piercing, domineering gaze. In some official works, the pupils have a vertical slit, hinting at her connection to snakes.

Hair Accessories
The most prominent feature is the large red ribbon (bow) on the top of her head, tied in a butterfly shape with long, dangling ends. The ribbon is often embroidered with a golden pattern resembling a zipper or snake scales. Additionally, there are two thin red ties that hold the side strands in place.

Clothes
She doesn't have a standard miko costume; it's more of a ceremonial divine attire:
· The top part: A white shirt with wide, loose sleeves that fall almost to the ground. The hem of the shirt is tucked into the skirt, but a long train is released from the back.
· The skirt: Long, reaching the ankles, and red (or maroon) in color, with many folds and vertical white stripes.
· The sash (obi): A thick golden or yellow belt that wraps around the waist, creating a contrast with the red and white.
· Neck and shoulders: Open, like Sane, but it looks more severe — not playful, more like a warrior's robe.

Footwear
High wooden gat (sandals) with thick soles, white in color, with red straps. They make her look even taller and more majestic.

Attributes / Weapon
She almost always carries a long ritual sword (katana) in a scabbard. The blade is often depicted with a divine aura or snake patterns. In some official works (such as Hisoutensoku), she fights with this sword. Instead of a gohei, it is a symbol of power and war.

Suwako Personality
Suwako typically acts friendly and cheerful but although she feigns ignorance, Suwako is just as capable of scheming as Kanako. In contrast to Kanako, Suwako is more laid back and mischievous. Despite her young look, she is a god that has lived for over 2,300 years and is wise and even cunning. She enjoys competing against others, and loses gracefully. Combined with her rarely leaving the shrine, her intentions can be hard to read. She doesn't come out of her own volition often. Whether it is because she is bad at marketing faith by herself or some other reason is one of the mysteries of the Moriya Shrine. and she is a 2,300-year-old Native God from the Touhou Project series known for a cheerful, laid-back, and youthful personality that hides her immense wisdom and cunning. While appearing friendly and mischievous, she is a capable schemer who enjoys competing, often acting as a playful mentor to Sanae Kochiya.
Key Personality Traits
Laid-back & Mischievous: Often acts carefree and enjoys lighthearted competition, but can be serious, strategic, and "get down to business" when needed.
Childish Yet Wise: Despite her young, child-like appearance, she has over two millennia of experience, making her knowledgeable and sometimes hard to read.
Gracious & Confident: A former sovereign who lost her kingdom to Kanako Yasaka, she surrendered gracefully and maintains a solid, cooperative partnership with her rather than holding grudges.
Affectionate & Protective: She can be motherly and strict, especially concerning her descendants and friends, displaying strong protective instincts.
Mysterious Intentions: She rarely leaves the Moriya Shrine, making her true goals and thoughts difficult to discern.

Suwako backstory

It is revealed that during ancient times, Suwako was a ruler of a small kingdom and controlled the Mishaguji, who were curse gods that had obtained enormous amounts of faith, cursing births, harvests, militaries, and many other things. Only Suwako was able to tame them. However, gods from the Yamato (Ancient Japan) invaded her kingdom, saying that they were going to unify all the kingdoms to create a single country known as Japan. Unwilling to let this happen, Suwako resisted and fought with the finest steel weapons of the time. However, Kanako held out a thin vine, and Suwako's large steel arsenal instantly rusted away. Suwako realized the difference in their divine powers and her defeat; she graciously forfeited and relieved her kingdom.

Suwako Moriya & Kanako Yasaka
Sanae serves as the Shrine Maiden of Kanako Yasaka and Suwako Moriya, and moves with them to Gensokyo. Sanae is also Suwako's distant descendant. During the events of Mountain of Faith, Kanako sends Sanae out to collect faith. Much like Yukari Yakumo's use of Ran and Chen, Sanae can summon Kanako and Suwako in her spell and skill cards in Touhou Hisoutensoku.

Reimu Hakurei
Sanae has a friendly rivalry with Reimu Hakurei. While she has no qualms about antagonizing Reimu when competing for gathering faith and visitors, she also encourages Reimu on her success at the Hakurei Shrine.[4] Sanae visits the Hakurei Shrine on numerous occasions, both in the Prologue of Undefined Fantastic Object and in Wild and Horned Hermit; she is even tasked with minding the shrine while Reimu is training with Kasen Ibaraki.[5] On one occasion, the two collaborated to make a profit by extorting the Myouren Temple.[6]

Marisa Kirisame
Sanae is friends with Marisa and frequently sees her when visiting the Hakurei Shrine.

Minor Relationships
Kasen Ibaraki
Sanae claims that she knew about Kasen before as they both live in the mountain, but they didn't interact until Wild and Horned Hermit chapter 2.

They are Biten
Although at first Biten attacks Sanae with the excuse of a rumor in Sanae's Scenario, after their fight they became good friends. [7] Biten affirmed that she wanted to “bridge the gap between the Kiketsu Family and the Moriya Shrine” and Sanae thought that Biten was “pure and innocent.”

Hair
Long, straight hair that reaches the middle of the thighs. The color is light sand or straw yellow, with a slight reddish tint. Two short strands frame the jaw, and the hair is tied into a low ponytail with a red ribbon.

Eyes
Large, round, bright yellow or golden, with vertical snake pupils (like Kanako, but more pronounced). The gaze is lively, curious, but sometimes there is an ancient wisdom.

Headgear
The most iconic detail is the huge sugegasa hat (a peasant straw hat). It is wide, flat, with low-slung brims. On the hat sits a huge frog (light green or yellow) - this is her personal attribute, a symbol of the deity of the swamps. The frog is alive (or very realistic) and often changes its position.

Outerwear
Wears a short sleeveless haori cape, maroon or purple, with a white border. Underneath is a white shirt with wide sleeves, which are collected at the wrists.

The bottom
A short skirt (above the knees) in a red and white plaid pattern (the so-called "cowboy" or "picnic" pattern). Over the skirt is an apron with patch pockets, tied in the back with a large bow.

Scarf / handkerchief
A voluminous red scarf with long ends hanging almost to the waist is wrapped around the neck. It gives her a slightly hiking, "adventurous" look.

Footwear
Low wooden gatos with two points, red in color, and no straps (they are simply worn on the bare foot).

Sanae Kochiya is a cheerful, energetic, and highly confident shrine maiden from the Touhou Project series who serves as a "living god" at the Moriya Shrine. Originally from the Outside World, she is a self-proclaimed "geek" fascinated by science and modern pop culture (like mecha), often acting as an earnest, slightly nerdy hero who enjoys solving incidents.
Touhou Wiki
Touhou Wiki
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This video introduces Sanae's personality and her role as a shrine maiden:
Related video thumbnail
58s

Magiftw
YouTube • Aug 25, 2016
Key Aspects of Sanae's Personality:
Energetic & Dutiful: She takes her job seriously, often more actively than Reimu Hakurei, and is dedicated to gaining faith for the Moriya Shrine.
Overconfident "Dork": While smart, her confidence can lead to overconfidence, and she often gets carried away, sometimes needing her colleagues to keep her in check.
Outside World Geek: Because she grew up outside Gensokyo, she is knowledgeable about modern technology, video games, and anime, which she brings up frequently.
Hero Mentality: She perceives herself as a hero in a fantasy story, making her enthusiastic about youkai extermination and solving incidents.
Confident and Sometimes Arrogant: Because she is an arahitogami (living god), she can be quite confident in her own power, occasionally to the point of being a bit of an airhead or condescending to those she views as inferior.
Touhou Wiki
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Sanae is confident, energetic and dutiful, sometimes too much so, and tends to get carried away easily or have trouble thinking for herself.[1] She also appears to be something of a geek, making references to popular culture and having knowledge of advanced scientific concepts. As someone who grew up in the Outside World, much of Gensokyo seems strange and novel to her; she finds great fun in "exterminating" youkai and solving incidents. As a result, she is rather knowledgeable about the outside world and modern living, although her attempts to explain scientific concepts usually just confuse the locals. Her knowledge on things like the youkai of Gensokyo, on the other hand, seems a bit lacking for a shrine maiden. She also may have somewhat of a complex about herself as an incident resolver, thinking foes won't take her as seriously as the other experienced youkai exterminators. The simple fact that she is adjusting to life in Gensokyo makes her an extremely rare case.

Sanae is full of herself : r/touhouSanae Kochiya, the "Miracle-Invoking Shrine Maiden" from the Touhou Project Fandom, utilizes spell cards themed around miracles, stars, and divine rituals, primarily as a playable character in Mountain of Faith, Touhou Hisoutensoku, and subsequent bullet-hell titles. Her signature spells include "Gray Thaumaturgy," "Sea Opening," and various "Esoterica" ​​rituals, often borrowing power from Kanako and Suwako.
Key Spell Cards (Hisoutensoku/General Appearances)
Esoteric "Forgotten Ritual"
Esoterica "Gray Thaumaturgy" (Star-shaped lasers)
Esoterica "Nine Syllable Stabs" (Creates nine boundaries)
Miracle "Daytime Guest Stars" (Summons stardust)
Miracle "Night With Overly-Bright Guest Stars"
Omikuji "Random Omikuji Barrage"
Prayer "Charm of Good Commerce"
Sea Opening "The Day the Sea Split"
Sea Opening "Moses' Miracle"
Night of the Supernova
Great Miracle: Yasaka's Divine Wind
Defective Miracle

Occupation
Sanae's occupation as a Wind Priestess involves serving as a priest who worships the god of wind. She is able to cause miracles, such as bringing wind and rain, through a mysterious technique. However, because she is worshiped and gathers faith herself, she is treated on the same level as gods and is considered a living god. In Mountain of Faith, she tells Reimu Hakurei, "I guess you could call me something like a Shrine Maiden", suggesting that her role may differ slightly. However, she is fundamentally treated as a Shrine Maiden, just like Reimu. Additionally, since Sanae is both a "god" and a human, she can continue living as a human even if she loses all her faith.

Possessions
Gohei
Sanae carries a gohei, also known as a purification rod, with her on incidents. She mainly used it to perform incantations and act as a bludgeoning weapon.

Abilities
Ability to cause miracles
Sanae possesses the ability to invoke miracles due to her divine heritage. Many of her spell cards are themed around miracles stemming from various religions or unlikely events. Her powers primarily involve weather manipulation and are often used in rituals, such as prayers for rain. The "miracles" that she can invoke are not related to good or bad fortune – they are merely events that have a very low chance of occurring. Before invoking a miracle, she needs time to prepare it proportional to how unlikely the miracle is. Simple ones can be invoked with a single word, while more complex ones may take days of preparation.

Abilities as a shrine maiden
Sanae is a Shrine Maiden, though of a different type compared to Reimu Hakurei. Similar to Reimu, she can summon gods and borrow their powers. However, she relies more heavily on this ability and can only summon her own patron gods: Kanako Yasaka and Suwako Moriya.