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[[Aya Shameimaru]], a [[tengu]] reporter, decides to change her reporting style to more closely match examples of [[Wikipedia:Clickbait|clickbait]] magazines from the [[Outside World]] in an attempt to further her publication's appeal. To that end, she attempts to import the topical rhetoric of the [[Wikipedia:2016_United_States_presidential_election|2016 United States Presidential Election]] and other hot-button political issues into Gensokyo.<ref>[[Alternative Facts in Eastern Utopia]] - [[Alternative_Facts_in_Eastern_Utopia/Afterword|ZUN's Afterword]]</ref>
[[Aya Shameimaru]], a [[tengu]] reporter, decides to change her reporting style to more closely match examples of [[Wikipedia:Clickbait|clickbait]] magazines from the [[Outside World]] in an attempt to further her publication's appeal. To that end, she attempts to import the topical rhetoric of the [[Wikipedia:2016_United_States_presidential_election|2016 United States Presidential Election]] and other hot-button political issues into Gensokyo.<ref>[[Alternative Facts in Eastern Utopia]] - [[Alternative_Facts_in_Eastern_Utopia/Afterword|ZUN's Afterword]]</ref>


Aya interviews many residents of Gensokyo about their opinions around immigration and alleged "foreign threats" to Gensokyo, as well as other current events. In keeping with the 'tabloid' theme, she relies heavily on [[Wikipedia:leading_questions|leading questions]] in an attempt to manufacture an answer that would best fit her narrative that Gensokyo is at risk of foreign invasion of some sort, going so far as to imply [[Yukari Yakumo]] and [[Reimu Hakurei]] are collaborators with these alleged "foreign threats." Despite Aya's attempts to steer the conversation to that end, neither of them seem concerned about the new "immigrants" such as [[Clownpiece]] and [[Sumireko Usami]], with Yukari stating that Gensokyo is "accepting of everyone."<ref>''[[Alternative Facts in Eastern Utopia]]'' - [[Alternative_Facts_in_Eastern_Utopia/Article_and_Interview/Yukari_Yakumo|Yukari Yakumo's Interview]]</ref>
Aya interviews many residents of Gensokyo about their opinions around immigration and alleged "foreign threats" to Gensokyo, as well as other current events. In keeping with the 'tabloid' theme, she relies heavily on [[Wikipedia:loaded_questions|loaded questions]] in an attempt to manufacture an answer that would best fit her narrative that Gensokyo is at risk of foreign invasion of some sort, going so far as to imply [[Yukari Yakumo]] and [[Reimu Hakurei]] are collaborators with these alleged "foreign threats." Despite Aya's attempts to steer the conversation to that end, neither of them seem concerned about the new "immigrants" such as [[Clownpiece]] and [[Sumireko Usami]], with Yukari stating that Gensokyo is "accepting of everyone."<ref>''[[Alternative Facts in Eastern Utopia]]'' - [[Alternative_Facts_in_Eastern_Utopia/Article_and_Interview/Yukari_Yakumo|Yukari Yakumo's Interview]]</ref>


During a particularly in-depth and intense conversation with [[Hecatia Lapislazuli]], in which the Goddess harshly chides Aya for her [[Wikipedia:Yellow_journalism|yellow journalism]], Hecatia warns Aya that [[Wikipedia:Isolationism|isolationism]] would result in the stagnation and eventual decay of Gensokyo, comparing such an ideology to one held by the antagonistic [[Lunar Kingdom]]. Hecatia also suggests that the surge in isolationist attitudes that might result from Aya's publication would be advantageous to the [[Lunarians]] by limiting Gensokyo's cultural evolution. This interview in particular seems to convince Aya to ultimately not publish the current iteration of ''Bunbunharu Shinpou'', becoming similarly concerned about Lunarian influence.
During a particularly in-depth and intense conversation with [[Hecatia Lapislazuli]], in which the Goddess harshly chides Aya for her [[Wikipedia:Yellow_journalism|yellow journalism]], Hecatia warns Aya that [[Wikipedia:Isolationism|isolationism]] would result in the stagnation and eventual decay of Gensokyo, comparing such an ideology to one held by the antagonistic [[Lunar Kingdom]]. Hecatia also suggests that the surge in isolationist attitudes that might result from Aya's publication would be advantageous to the [[Lunarians]] by limiting Gensokyo's cultural evolution. This interview in particular seems to convince Aya to ultimately not publish the current iteration of ''Bunbunharu Shinpou'', becoming similarly concerned about Lunarian influence.

Revision as of 03:17, 24 May 2021

東方文果真報 (とうほぶんかしんぽう)
Alternative Facts in Eastern Utopia
Alternative Facts in Eastern Utopia
Developer

Team Shanghai Alice

Publisher

Kadokawa

Released

2017-03-30

Genre

Official Book

Writers

ZUN

Illustrators

Aoi Aioi
Genji Asai
Aya Azuma
Toshihira Arata
ALISON
Amamiya Tokuhisa
Suichuu Hanabi
TOKIAME
nyanya
Haniwa
Hiiragi Akio
Hitori
Masakichi
Mizutaki

ISBN

9784048928625


Touhou Bunka Shinpou(Word's End True Report) ~ Alternative Facts in Eastern Utopia (東方文果真報 ~ Alternative Facts in Eastern Utopia) is an official Touhou book released on March 30, 2017. It is presented as Aya Shameimaru's attempt to create a tabloid magazine in the style of those from the Outside World,[1] which she eventually cancelled and left unpublished.[2] The book features in-universe articles, interviews and advertisements similar to the earlier Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red, but in a significantly more chaotic and haphazard format. In fact, the magazine Bunbunharu Weekly or "文々春新報 (Bunbunharu Shinpou lit. "Aya's Periodical News Report") follows the name and design of 週刊文春 (Shuukan Bunshun lit. "Weekly Magazine of Literature Periodical"), a notorious high-circulation tabloid published weekly in Japan.

Plot

Aya Shameimaru, a tengu reporter, decides to change her reporting style to more closely match examples of clickbait magazines from the Outside World in an attempt to further her publication's appeal. To that end, she attempts to import the topical rhetoric of the 2016 United States Presidential Election and other hot-button political issues into Gensokyo.[3]

Aya interviews many residents of Gensokyo about their opinions around immigration and alleged "foreign threats" to Gensokyo, as well as other current events. In keeping with the 'tabloid' theme, she relies heavily on loaded questions in an attempt to manufacture an answer that would best fit her narrative that Gensokyo is at risk of foreign invasion of some sort, going so far as to imply Yukari Yakumo and Reimu Hakurei are collaborators with these alleged "foreign threats." Despite Aya's attempts to steer the conversation to that end, neither of them seem concerned about the new "immigrants" such as Clownpiece and Sumireko Usami, with Yukari stating that Gensokyo is "accepting of everyone."[4]

During a particularly in-depth and intense conversation with Hecatia Lapislazuli, in which the Goddess harshly chides Aya for her yellow journalism, Hecatia warns Aya that isolationism would result in the stagnation and eventual decay of Gensokyo, comparing such an ideology to one held by the antagonistic Lunar Kingdom. Hecatia also suggests that the surge in isolationist attitudes that might result from Aya's publication would be advantageous to the Lunarians by limiting Gensokyo's cultural evolution. This interview in particular seems to convince Aya to ultimately not publish the current iteration of Bunbunharu Shinpou, becoming similarly concerned about Lunarian influence.

In a journal-style afterword, Aya explains the rationale for many of her leading questions and outright fabrications, appearing to be less of a true believer of the rhetoric she was leveraging, and viewing it more as a way to make her publication "more exciting and attractive" for potential readers. Additionally, she felt pressure to compete with Hatate Himekaidou's Kakashi Spirit News publication, or face irrelevance in Gensokyo's sphere of journalism.

Press

Details regarding the book, including its release date, were announced in the 3rd volume of Strange Creators of Outer World. Preorders opened shortly after.

Read online (complete)

MangaDex: Touhou Bunka Shinpou ~ Alternative Facts in Eastern Utopia.

Released by Reality Dreamers.

Direct Download

AFiEU complete book

Download

Contents

Bunbunharu Weekly

Self Reflection

Afterword by ZUN

Gallery

References

  1. Curiosities of Lotus Asia - Chapter 30
  2. Forbidden Scrollery - Chapter 49
  3. Alternative Facts in Eastern Utopia - ZUN's Afterword
  4. Alternative Facts in Eastern Utopia - Yukari Yakumo's Interview
  5. On the book, the number of page is misprinted as it starts from pg. 20.
  6. On the book, the number of page is misprinted as it starts from pg. 36.