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{{Infobox Character
{{Infobox Character
| nameJp = {{ruby-ja|蓬莱山|ほうらいさん}} {{ruby-ja|輝夜|かぐや}}
| nameJp = {{ruby-ja||ほう}}{{ruby-ja|莱|らい}}{{ruby-ja|山|さん}} {{ruby-ja|輝|かぐ}}{{ruby-ja|夜|}}
| nameEn = Kaguya Houraisan
| nameEn = Kaguya Houraisan
| nameIPA = hoːɽaisaɴ kagɯja [[Media:Pronunciation_KaguyaHouraisan.ogg|(♫)]]
| nameIPA = hoːɽaisaɴ kagɯja [[Media:Pronunciation_KaguyaHouraisan.ogg|(♫)]]
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*''[[Hopeless Masquerade]]'' (Background Character)
*''[[Hopeless Masquerade]]'' (Background Character)
*''[[Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom]]'' (Backstory)
*''[[Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom]]'' (Backstory)
*''[[Antinomy of Common Flowers]]'' ({{Hidetext|Reisen+Doremy scenario ending}})
*''[[Antinomy of Common Flowers]]'' (Reisen+Doremy scenario ending)
*''[[Violet Detector]] (Nightmare Tuesday Boss)
*''[[Violet Detector]] (Nightmare Tuesday Boss)
| appPrintworks = *''[[Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red]]''
| appPrintworks = *''[[Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red]]''
**''[[Extra of the Wind]]'' (Cameo)
**''[[Extra of the Wind]]'' (Cameo)
*''[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]]'' (Article)
*''[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]]'' (Article)
*''[[Strange and Bright Nature Deity]]'' (Secondary Character)
*''[[Strange and Bright Nature Deity]]'' (Chapter 4 cameo, 8.5 cameo, 16.1 cameo, 18)
*''[[Silent Sinner in Blue]]'' (Secondary Character)
*''[[Silent Sinner in Blue]]'' (Secondary Character)
*''[[Cage in Lunatic Runagate]]'' (Secondary Character)
*''[[Cage in Lunatic Runagate]]'' (Secondary Character)
*''[[Inaba of the Moon and Inaba of the Earth]]'' (Main Character)
*''[[Wild and Horned Hermit]]'' (Chapter 27 cameo)
*''[[Wild and Horned Hermit]]'' (Chapter 27 cameo)
*''[[Forbidden Scrollery]]'' (Chapter 21 cameo)
*''[[Forbidden Scrollery]]'' (Chapter 21 cameo)
*''[[Strange Creators of Outer World]]'' Vol. 2 (Profile Section, Cross Review Section)
*''[[Strange Creators of Outer World]]'' Vol. 2 (Profile Section, Cross Review Section)
*''[[The Grimoire of Usami]]'' (Section 2-10)
*''[[The Grimoire of Usami]]'' (Section 2-10)
*''[[Foul Detective Satori]]'' (Chapter 10 cameo)
*''[[Foul Detective Satori]]'' (Chapter 10 cameo, chapter 12, 13, 14, 16 cameo)
}}
}}
{{quote|The human body houses a fragile, round soul. What those humans live on is a huge, round orb below. And, what the superior people live on... Is that lunatic orb behind me.|Kaguya Houraisan|[[Imperishable Night]] Stage 6}}
{{nihongo|'''Kaguya Houraisan'''|蓬莱山 輝夜|Houraisan Kaguya}} is the main antagonist of [[Imperishable Night]]. She was once a princess of the [[Lunarian]]s, a race of people living on the [[Moon]]. For the crime of creating the [[Hourai Elixir]], she and [[Eirin Yagokoro]] were exiled to the Earth, where they came to live in what would eventually become [[Gensokyo]]. She is currently the princess of [[Eientei]].
{{nihongo|'''Kaguya Houraisan'''|蓬莱山 輝夜|Houraisan Kaguya}} is the main antagonist of [[Imperishable Night]]. She was once a princess of the [[Lunarian]]s, a race of people living on the [[Moon]]. For the crime of creating the [[Hourai Elixir]], she and [[Eirin Yagokoro]] were exiled to the Earth, where they came to live in what would eventually become [[Gensokyo]]. She is currently the princess of [[Eientei]].


==General Information==
==General Information==
Kaguya first appeared as the true Final [[Boss]] in ''[[Imperishable Night]]'', then appeared as a [[stage]] 9 target in ''[[Shoot the Bullet]]''. She made a brief cameo in the Backstory of ''[[Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom]]''.
Kaguya first appeared as the true final [[boss]] in ''[[Imperishable Night]]'', then appeared as a [[stage]] 9 target in ''[[Shoot the Bullet]]''. She made a brief cameo in the backstory of ''[[Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom]]''.


===Personality===
===Personality===
Kaguya has a rather carefree personality. She apparently is refined in the art of conversation, but her spoken language is a bit dated. <ref name="PMiSSKaguya">''[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]]'': [[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense/Kaguya Houraisan|Kaguya]]</ref> She is also described as haughty and relatively wild.
Kaguya has a rather carefree personality, as she often sneaks out to visit the human village.<ref> [[Foul Detective Satori]] Chapter 16</ref> She apparently is refined in the art of conversation, but her spoken language is a bit dated.<ref name="PMiSSKaguya">''[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]]'': [[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense/Kaguya Houraisan|Kaguya]]</ref> She is also described as haughty and relatively wild.<ref>[[Touhou Bougetsushou]] ~ [[Silent Sinner in Blue]]</ref>


===Ability===
===Abilities===
;Manipulating eternity and the instantaneous
;Manipulating eternity and the instantaneous
[[File:GoMIllus-Kaguya.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Kaguya, as illustrated in ''[[The Grimoire of Marisa]]'']]
[[File:GoMIllus-Kaguya.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Kaguya, as illustrated in ''[[The Grimoire of Marisa]]'']]
Eternity is namely immutability, and it can be said that eternity rejects all change. Things that possess eternity indefinitely don't change, and also cannot be interfered by things outside of it. By using her ability on everything in Eientei, she made it so that living things stopped aging, objects would never break, and food would never spoil.<ref name=CiLR_Chapter2>[[Cage in Lunatic Runagate]] - Chapter 2</ref> Additionally, counting from when Kaguya came to [[Gensokyo]], she has lived hidden away definitely for hundreds of years, but until the Eternal Night incident, she continued having an existence in the interior of the [[Bamboo Forest of the Lost]] without anybody knowing about them. Also, the pure Japanese-style building [[Eientei]] can be seen not to have worn out at all, which can be said to (have been) due to this ability of eternity. After the Eternal Night incident, Kaguya removed the spell of eternity from Eientei, causing objects to break as normal, living things to age again, and food to spoil if not eaten in time.<ref name=CiLR_Chapter2 />  
Eternity is namely immutability, and it can be said that eternity rejects all change. Things that possess eternity indefinitely don't change, and also cannot be interfered by things outside of it. By using her ability on everything in Eientei, she made it so that living things stopped aging, objects would never break, and food would never spoil.<ref name=CiLR_Chapter2>[[Cage in Lunatic Runagate]] - Chapter 2</ref> Additionally, beginning from when Kaguya came to [[Gensokyo]], she has lived hidden away for hundreds of years, but until the Eternal Night incident, she continued having an existence in the interior of the [[Bamboo Forest of the Lost]] without anybody knowing about her. Also, the pure Japanese-style building [[Eientei]] can be seen not to have worn out at all, which can be said to have been due to this ability of eternity. After the Eternal Night incident, Kaguya removed the spell of eternity from Eientei, causing objects to break as normal, living things to age again, and food to spoil if not eaten in time.<ref name=CiLR_Chapter2 />  


Incidentally, as the [[Hourai Elixir]] made by Kaguya's ability of eternity is something that makes the consumer have a "body that rejects all change", it can't simply be said to be a kind of maximised, self-healing ability (due to this, it's said that a the whole-body can recover from a single hair, as for [[Fujiwara no Mokou]]). In the last [[spell card]] "''End of Imperishable Night''" which used this ability, it destroyed [[Reimu Hakurei]] and the others' spell of eternity, and forcibly called for dawn (''End of Imperishable Night -Rising World-'', where "Rising World" was a homophone to "dawn" as {{nihongo||夜明け|"yoake"}}).
Incidentally, as the [[Hourai Elixir]] made by Kaguya's ability of eternity is something that makes the consumer have a "body that rejects all change", it can simply be said to be a kind of maximised, self-healing ability (due to this, it's said that a the whole-body can recover from a single hair, as for [[Fujiwara no Mokou]]). In the last [[spell card]] "''End of Imperishable Night''" which used this ability, it destroyed [[Reimu Hakurei]] and the others' spell of eternity, and forcibly called for dawn (''End of Imperishable Night -Rising World-'', where "Rising World" was a homophone to "dawn" as {{nihongo||夜明け|"yoake"}}).


With "instantaneous", it's namely the gaps, the instant that's impossible to recognise the existence of anything else. Kaguya, in being able to manipulate the instantaneous, is able to mish-mash the needed "instants" and make them her own time. However, whatever she gathers together, since the fact that they're the "unrecognisable instant" can't be changed, she has no means of knowing what's within the instant. For this reason, in manipulating the instantaneous, Kaguya's able to spend "time the same as others'" and "time different from others'" simultaneously. [[Hieda no Akyuu]] presented this as "having parallel timelines at the same time." In the nineteenth chapter of ''[[Silent Sinner in Blue]]'', as the instantaneous is the smallest unit of time, time is able to accumulate countless instants. [[Watatsuki no Toyohime]] explained that to see time as continuous is due to the inability to recognise the instant.
With "instantaneous", it's namely the gaps, the instant that's impossible to recognise the existence of anything else. Kaguya, in being able to manipulate the instantaneous, is able to alter the needed "instants" and make them her own time. However, whatever she gathers together, since the fact that they're the "unrecognisable instant" can't be changed, she has no means of knowing what's within the instant. For this reason, in manipulating the instantaneous, Kaguya's able to spend "time the same as others'" and "time different from others'" simultaneously. [[Hieda no Akyuu]] presented this as "having parallel timelines at the same time." In the nineteenth chapter of ''[[Silent Sinner in Blue]]'', as the instantaneous is the smallest unit of time, time is able to accumulate countless instants. [[Watatsuki no Toyohime]] explained that to see time as continuous is due to the inability to recognise the instant.


Since her ability can be said to be the ability to manipulate "complete stop = eternity" and "extreme speed-up = instant", Akyuu also summarised it as an "ability to manipulate time". This seems very similar to [[Sakuya Izayoi]]'s "ability to manipulating time".
Since her ability can be said to be the ability to manipulate "complete stop = eternity" and "extreme speed-up = instant", Akyuu also summarised it as an "ability to manipulate time". This seems very similar to [[Sakuya Izayoi]]'s "ability to manipulate time".


==Backstory==
==Backstory==
[[File:CiLR Cover2.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Kaguya on the cover of ''[[Cage in Lunatic Runagate]]'']]
[[File:CiLR Cover2.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Kaguya on the cover of ''[[Cage in Lunatic Runagate]]'']]
[[File:Cilr1-118-scaled.jpg|thumb|200px|Illustration of Kaguya in ''CiLR'']]
Over a thousand years ago, Kaguya was born in the royal house of the [[Moon]] and was treated with utmost care as a princess. However, she got selfish, and managed to get [[Eirin Yagokoro]] to create the [[Hourai Elixir]] out of self-interest and consumed it. This was illegal, and she was executed. She was [[immortal]], so therefore she was executed many times, but as she could not permanently be killed, she was exiled to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. She was found by a bamboo cutter and dwelt among the humans she had once despised. Though the Lunarians looked upon humans with contempt, Kaguya came to love her new home. She enjoyed her life
Over a thousand years ago, Kaguya was born in the royal house of the [[Moon]] and was treated with utmost care as a princess. However, she got selfish, and managed to get [[Eirin Yagokoro]] to create the [[Hourai Elixir]] out of self-interest and consumed it. This was illegal, and she was executed. She was [[immortal]], so therefore she was executed many times; this was impossible, so she instead was exiled to Earth and forced to live among filthy humans as punishment. She was found by a bamboo cutter and dwelt among the humans she had once despised. Though the Lunarians looked upon humans with contempt, Kaguya came to love her new home. She enjoyed her life
on Earth for a while without problems, but as rumours of her beauty spread far and wide, she started to feel bad about it. Tales of her unearthly beauty led men from all across the land to seek her hand in marriage, [[Fujiwara no Mokou]]'s father being one of them, but none could successfully complete her trial of the Five Impossible Requests.
on Earth for a while without problems, but as rumours of her beauty spread far and wide, she started to feel bad about it. Tales of her unearthly beauty led men from all across the land to seek her hand in marriage, [[Fujiwara no Mokou]]'s father being one of them, but none could successfully complete her trial of the Five Impossible Requests.


Line 60: Line 59:


After years of exile, powerful emissaries arrived from the Moon; Kaguya had been forgiven of her crime and it had been decided that she should return. Kaguya, however, had grown to love life on Earth, which was far more emotional than the life she had on the Moon, and had no desire to return to the lunar capital permanently. Even so, Earth was filthy and life on Earth had its share of problems. She was torn between Earth and the moon, but she discovered Eirin to be an emissary. Eirin was apologetic to Kaguya since she wasn't punished for creating the elixir. Her desire for redemption was so strong that she was ready to do anything for Kaguya, so she decided to live on Earth with Kaguya. Eirin betrayed the other emissaries and helped Kaguya escape and fled to what would eventually be [[Gensokyo]]. Taking refuge in an ancient manor called [[Eientei]] hidden deep within the [[Bamboo Forest of the Lost]], the two Lunarians began a new exile.
After years of exile, powerful emissaries arrived from the Moon; Kaguya had been forgiven of her crime and it had been decided that she should return. Kaguya, however, had grown to love life on Earth, which was far more emotional than the life she had on the Moon, and had no desire to return to the lunar capital permanently. Even so, Earth was filthy and life on Earth had its share of problems. She was torn between Earth and the moon, but she discovered Eirin to be an emissary. Eirin was apologetic to Kaguya since she wasn't punished for creating the elixir. Her desire for redemption was so strong that she was ready to do anything for Kaguya, so she decided to live on Earth with Kaguya. Eirin betrayed the other emissaries and helped Kaguya escape and fled to what would eventually be [[Gensokyo]]. Taking refuge in an ancient manor called [[Eientei]] hidden deep within the [[Bamboo Forest of the Lost]], the two Lunarians began a new exile.
[[File:Cilr1-118-scaled.jpg|thumb|200px|Illustration of Kaguya in ''CiLR'']]
Eventually, the Moon stopped sending emissaries to fetch them; they had forgotten about the past and were living in peace. One day, an event took place that made them recall the past, a century since Gensokyo was sealed. On that day, a self-claimed Moon [[rabbit]] name [[Reisen Udongein Inaba]] ran into their home, who come because she heard rumors about Gensokyo. She then stated that [[human]]s were invading the Moon, sticking the [[Wikipedia:Flag of the United States|American flag]], on the moon and acting like the moon belonged to them, making it nearly impossible for people of the Moon to live there. The rabbit had escaped from the frontline of a war, leaving her allies behind. Kaguya remembered that she, too, was a Lunarian long ago, and they decided to allow Reisen to live with them. After several centuries of isolation, she was eventually reunited with Mokou, who had also used the Hourai Elixir to become immortal, and the two continued their feud, murdering each other on a nearly daily basis.


After a very long time, the Moon was no longer sending emissaries to fetch them; they had forgotten about the past and were living in peace. One day, an event took place that made them recall the past, a century since Gensokyo was sealed. On that day, a self-claimed Moon [[rabbit]] name [[Reisen Udongein Inaba]] ran into their home, who come because she heard rumours about Gensokyo. She then stated that [[human]]s are invading the Moon, sticking a flag, the [[Wikipedia:Flag of the United States|American flag]], on the moon and are acting like the moon belongs to them, becoming nearly impossible for people of the Moon to live there.The rabbit had escaped from the front line of a war, leaving her allies behind. Kaguya remembered that she, too, was a Lunarian long ago, and they decided to allow Reisen to live with them. After several centuries of isolation, she was eventually reunited with Mokou, who had also used the Hourai Elixir to become immortal, and the two continued their feud, murdering each other on a nearly daily basis.
A few decades have passed since then. On one night of a full Moon, Reisen received a transmission from other surviving moon rabbits, stating that a new war will be starting soon and Reisen needs to return. She doesn't want to, so Kaguya and Eirin defended her, but if they kill the emissaries, they'll have to go into hiding for a long time again. Eventually, Eirin came up with a plan to replace the real Moon with a fake one, thus making it no longer possible to travel between Earth and the Moon. Their only mistake was underestimating the power of Gensokyo's natives, who rely on the power of the moon, which caused the incident of ''Imperishable Night''. In the end, humans and youkai succeeded in dispelling the fake moon, and Gensokyo was already sealed by the [[Great Hakurei Barrier]]', so the Lunarians wouldn't have been able to enter Gensokyo to begin with. Kaguya, Eirin and Reisen were enjoying their peaceful life in Gensokyo.


A few decades have passed since then. On one night of a full Moon, Reisen received a transmission from other surviving moon rabbits, stating that a new war will be starting soon and Reisen needs to return. She doesn't want to, so Kaguya and Eirin defended her, but if they kill the emissaries, they'll have to go into hiding for a long time again. Eventually, Eirin came up with a plan to replace the real Moon with a fake one, thus making it no longer possible to travel between Earth and the Moon. Their only mistake was underestimating the power of Gensokyo's natives, who rely on the power of the moon, which is the incident of ''Imperishable Night''. In the end, humans and youkai succeeded in dispelling the fake moon, and Gensokyo was already sealed by the [[Great Hakurei Barrier]]', so the Lunarians wouldn't have been able to enter Gensokyo to begin with. Kaguya, Eirin and Reisen were enjoying their peaceful life in Gensokyo.
==Character Design==
 
==Character Basis==
[[File:PMiSS kaguya.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Kaguya, as illustrated in ''[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]]''.]]
[[File:PMiSS kaguya.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Kaguya, as illustrated in ''[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]]''.]]
===Origin===
===Origin===
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===Design===
===Design===
Kaguya is shown to have dark brown eyes and very long black hair in a [[wikipedia:Hime cut|hime cut]] style. She wears a pink shirt with many white bows, and a long, dark burgundy skirt decorated in yellow with bamboo and flower shapes. Her 5 Impossible Requests are seen floating around her, probably waiting for her order to engage in a [[spell card]] attack.
Kaguya is shown to have dark brown eyes and very long black hair in a [[wikipedia:Hime cut|hime cut]] style. She wears a pink shirt with many white bows, and a long, dark burgundy skirt decorated in plants and flowers representing the four seasons. Respectively, they are cherry blossoms<ref>https://floweryseason.com/sakura/</ref>, bamboo leaf<ref>https://floweryseason.com/natsu-shinryoku/#i-23</ref>, maple leaf<ref>https://floweryseason.com/kouyou</ref> and plum blossoms<ref>https://floweryseason.com/fuyu-hana-ki/#i-2</ref>. Her 5 Impossible Requests are seen floating around her, probably waiting for her order to engage in a [[spell card]] attack.


==Story==
==Appearances==
===Games===
===Games===
{{stub|section}}
{{stub|section}}
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===Literature===
===Literature===
{{stub|section}}
{{multiple image
{{multiple image
| align = right
| align = right
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;''Forbidden Scrollery''
;''Forbidden Scrollery''
;''Cheating Detective Satori''
Kaguya first appeared in chapter 12 where she was chatting with Reimu about the vengeful ghost that was targeting her. She simply at first brushed off the topic at hand until she received a threat in a form of a letter. Secretly, she and Eirin planned on using her as bait to lure out the culprit. Unknown to everyone, however, Kaguya was already possessed by the vengeful spirit at that time. Her body was later left in the Bamboo Forest when the culprit possessed Mokou.


==Relationships==
==Relationships==
Line 136: Line 139:


;[[Fujiwara no Mokou]]
;[[Fujiwara no Mokou]]
Mokou is not on the best of terms with Kaguya, and Kaguya willingly plays with Mokou to alleviate her boredom. Her usual way of playing with Mokou is by sending assassins after.
Mokou and Kaguya seem to have a mutual rivalry. The two fight, compete, and even kill each other for fun and to alleviate the boredom of eternal life. In Imperishable Night, Kaguya sends the player characters to fight with Mokou, calling it a "trial of guts."
 
Although their rivalry is usually thought to be serious, Mokou has expressed care for Kaguya (though unbeknowst to her). <ref name="CiLRCh4">[[Cage in Lunatic Runagate]]: [[Cage in Lunatic Runagate/Fourth_Chapter|Chapter 4]]</ref>


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
Line 144: Line 149:
File:Cage in Lunatic Runagate CH1 00.jpg|Kaguya on the Chapter 1 cover of ''[[Cage in Lunatic Runagate]]''
File:Cage in Lunatic Runagate CH1 00.jpg|Kaguya on the Chapter 1 cover of ''[[Cage in Lunatic Runagate]]''
File:Cage in Lunatic Runagate CH2 00.jpg|Kaguya on the Chapter 2 cover of ''Cage in Lunatic Runagate''
File:Cage in Lunatic Runagate CH2 00.jpg|Kaguya on the Chapter 2 cover of ''Cage in Lunatic Runagate''
</gallery>
===Artworks===
<gallery>
File:IMIEKaguya1.png|Kaguya artwork for ''[[Inaba of the Moon & Inaba of the Earth]]''
</gallery>
</gallery>


Line 155: Line 155:
File:056BAiJRMokou.jpg|Illustration of Kaguya in Mokou's article from [[Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red]]''
File:056BAiJRMokou.jpg|Illustration of Kaguya in Mokou's article from [[Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red]]''
File:PMiSS paper Gamers.jpg|Kaguya in ''[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]]''
File:PMiSS paper Gamers.jpg|Kaguya in ''[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]]''
File:Main visual.jpg|Kaguya as seen in ''[[Cage in Lunatic Runagate]]''
File:Immortals Whos Who.png|Kaguya with Eirin from ''[[Who's Who of Humans & Youkai - Dusk Edition]]''
</gallery>
</gallery>


Line 383: Line 385:
*2006/12/27 '''[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]]''' - Kaguya Houraisan
*2006/12/27 '''[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]]''' - Kaguya Houraisan
*2007/06/08 ~ 2009/04/09 '''[[Silent Sinner in Blue]]'''
*2007/06/08 ~ 2009/04/09 '''[[Silent Sinner in Blue]]'''
*2007/06/22 ~ 2009/11/22 '''[[Inaba of the Moon and Inaba of the Earth]]'''
*2007/06/25 '''[[Cage in Lunatic Runagate]]''' - Chapter 1  
*2007/06/25 '''[[Cage in Lunatic Runagate]]''' - Chapter 1  
*2007/09/25 '''[[Cage in Lunatic Runagate]]''' - Chapter 2
*2007/09/25 '''[[Cage in Lunatic Runagate]]''' - Chapter 2

Revision as of 02:36, 17 August 2022

(ほう) (らい) (さん)   (かぐ) ()
hoːɽaisaɴ kagɯja (♫)
Kaguya Houraisan
Kaguya Houraisan
Kaguya Houraisan in Imperishable Night
Eternal Princess
More Character Titles
Species

Lunarian (not native to Gensokyo)

Abilities

Manipulation of eternity and the instantaneous

Age

Ageless, existed for at least 1300 years. Stated by ZUN (drunkenly) to be hundreds of millions of years old.[1]

Occupation

Unknown, currently in hiding, formerly a moon princess.

Location

Eientei, was originally from the Moon

Music Themes
Appearances
Official Games
Print Works

"The human body houses a fragile, round soul. What those humans live on is a huge, round orb below. And, what the superior people live on... Is that lunatic orb behind me."
Kaguya Houraisan (Imperishable Night Stage 6)

Kaguya Houraisan (蓬莱山 輝夜 Houraisan Kaguya) is the main antagonist of Imperishable Night. She was once a princess of the Lunarians, a race of people living on the Moon. For the crime of creating the Hourai Elixir, she and Eirin Yagokoro were exiled to the Earth, where they came to live in what would eventually become Gensokyo. She is currently the princess of Eientei.

General Information

Kaguya first appeared as the true final boss in Imperishable Night, then appeared as a stage 9 target in Shoot the Bullet. She made a brief cameo in the backstory of Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom.

Personality

Kaguya has a rather carefree personality, as she often sneaks out to visit the human village.[2] She apparently is refined in the art of conversation, but her spoken language is a bit dated.[3] She is also described as haughty and relatively wild.[4]

Abilities

Manipulating eternity and the instantaneous
Kaguya, as illustrated in The Grimoire of Marisa

Eternity is namely immutability, and it can be said that eternity rejects all change. Things that possess eternity indefinitely don't change, and also cannot be interfered by things outside of it. By using her ability on everything in Eientei, she made it so that living things stopped aging, objects would never break, and food would never spoil.[5] Additionally, beginning from when Kaguya came to Gensokyo, she has lived hidden away for hundreds of years, but until the Eternal Night incident, she continued having an existence in the interior of the Bamboo Forest of the Lost without anybody knowing about her. Also, the pure Japanese-style building Eientei can be seen not to have worn out at all, which can be said to have been due to this ability of eternity. After the Eternal Night incident, Kaguya removed the spell of eternity from Eientei, causing objects to break as normal, living things to age again, and food to spoil if not eaten in time.[5]

Incidentally, as the Hourai Elixir made by Kaguya's ability of eternity is something that makes the consumer have a "body that rejects all change", it can simply be said to be a kind of maximised, self-healing ability (due to this, it's said that a the whole-body can recover from a single hair, as for Fujiwara no Mokou). In the last spell card "End of Imperishable Night" which used this ability, it destroyed Reimu Hakurei and the others' spell of eternity, and forcibly called for dawn (End of Imperishable Night -Rising World-, where "Rising World" was a homophone to "dawn" as "yoake" (夜明け)).

With "instantaneous", it's namely the gaps, the instant that's impossible to recognise the existence of anything else. Kaguya, in being able to manipulate the instantaneous, is able to alter the needed "instants" and make them her own time. However, whatever she gathers together, since the fact that they're the "unrecognisable instant" can't be changed, she has no means of knowing what's within the instant. For this reason, in manipulating the instantaneous, Kaguya's able to spend "time the same as others'" and "time different from others'" simultaneously. Hieda no Akyuu presented this as "having parallel timelines at the same time." In the nineteenth chapter of Silent Sinner in Blue, as the instantaneous is the smallest unit of time, time is able to accumulate countless instants. Watatsuki no Toyohime explained that to see time as continuous is due to the inability to recognise the instant.

Since her ability can be said to be the ability to manipulate "complete stop = eternity" and "extreme speed-up = instant", Akyuu also summarised it as an "ability to manipulate time". This seems very similar to Sakuya Izayoi's "ability to manipulate time".

Backstory

Kaguya on the cover of Cage in Lunatic Runagate

Over a thousand years ago, Kaguya was born in the royal house of the Moon and was treated with utmost care as a princess. However, she got selfish, and managed to get Eirin Yagokoro to create the Hourai Elixir out of self-interest and consumed it. This was illegal, and she was executed. She was immortal, so therefore she was executed many times, but as she could not permanently be killed, she was exiled to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. She was found by a bamboo cutter and dwelt among the humans she had once despised. Though the Lunarians looked upon humans with contempt, Kaguya came to love her new home. She enjoyed her life on Earth for a while without problems, but as rumours of her beauty spread far and wide, she started to feel bad about it. Tales of her unearthly beauty led men from all across the land to seek her hand in marriage, Fujiwara no Mokou's father being one of them, but none could successfully complete her trial of the Five Impossible Requests.

The first was to bring her the stone begging bowl of the Buddha from India. The second was to retrieve a jeweled branch from the island of Mount Hourai. The third was to seek the legendary robe of the fire-rat of China. The fourth was to retrieve a colored jewel from a dragon's neck. The final task was to find the legendary Cowry treasure of the swallows. These potent treasures were eventually revealed to already be in Kaguya's possession in the final stage of Imperishable Night.

After years of exile, powerful emissaries arrived from the Moon; Kaguya had been forgiven of her crime and it had been decided that she should return. Kaguya, however, had grown to love life on Earth, which was far more emotional than the life she had on the Moon, and had no desire to return to the lunar capital permanently. Even so, Earth was filthy and life on Earth had its share of problems. She was torn between Earth and the moon, but she discovered Eirin to be an emissary. Eirin was apologetic to Kaguya since she wasn't punished for creating the elixir. Her desire for redemption was so strong that she was ready to do anything for Kaguya, so she decided to live on Earth with Kaguya. Eirin betrayed the other emissaries and helped Kaguya escape and fled to what would eventually be Gensokyo. Taking refuge in an ancient manor called Eientei hidden deep within the Bamboo Forest of the Lost, the two Lunarians began a new exile.

Illustration of Kaguya in CiLR

Eventually, the Moon stopped sending emissaries to fetch them; they had forgotten about the past and were living in peace. One day, an event took place that made them recall the past, a century since Gensokyo was sealed. On that day, a self-claimed Moon rabbit name Reisen Udongein Inaba ran into their home, who come because she heard rumors about Gensokyo. She then stated that humans were invading the Moon, sticking the American flag, on the moon and acting like the moon belonged to them, making it nearly impossible for people of the Moon to live there. The rabbit had escaped from the frontline of a war, leaving her allies behind. Kaguya remembered that she, too, was a Lunarian long ago, and they decided to allow Reisen to live with them. After several centuries of isolation, she was eventually reunited with Mokou, who had also used the Hourai Elixir to become immortal, and the two continued their feud, murdering each other on a nearly daily basis.

A few decades have passed since then. On one night of a full Moon, Reisen received a transmission from other surviving moon rabbits, stating that a new war will be starting soon and Reisen needs to return. She doesn't want to, so Kaguya and Eirin defended her, but if they kill the emissaries, they'll have to go into hiding for a long time again. Eventually, Eirin came up with a plan to replace the real Moon with a fake one, thus making it no longer possible to travel between Earth and the Moon. Their only mistake was underestimating the power of Gensokyo's natives, who rely on the power of the moon, which caused the incident of Imperishable Night. In the end, humans and youkai succeeded in dispelling the fake moon, and Gensokyo was already sealed by the Great Hakurei Barrier', so the Lunarians wouldn't have been able to enter Gensokyo to begin with. Kaguya, Eirin and Reisen were enjoying their peaceful life in Gensokyo.

Character Design

Kaguya, as illustrated in Perfect Memento in Strict Sense.

Origin

Kaguya, and the whole of Imperishable Night, is inspired by the Japanese legend of the Moon Princess, also known as the The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, sometimes called the legend of "Kaguya-hime" (Princess Kaguya).

Name

Her full name is Kaguya Houraisan (蓬莱山 輝夜). Her first name Kaguya (輝夜), means "shining night", "sparkling night", or "radiant night".

Houraisan (蓬莱山) refers to "Mount Hourai". Mount Hourai (Penglai in Chinese) is the name of a legendary mountain that floats above the sea. Its inhabitants were said to possess, among other treasures, the elixir of immortality. It was also the destination of one of Kaguya-hime's impossible tasks.

Thus, her full name literally means "[a] (shining/sparkling/radiant) night [on] Mount Hourai."

Design

Kaguya is shown to have dark brown eyes and very long black hair in a hime cut style. She wears a pink shirt with many white bows, and a long, dark burgundy skirt decorated in plants and flowers representing the four seasons. Respectively, they are cherry blossoms[6], bamboo leaf[7], maple leaf[8] and plum blossoms[9]. Her 5 Impossible Requests are seen floating around her, probably waiting for her order to engage in a spell card attack.

Appearances

Games

Attention: This section is a stub and it needs expanding with more information related to the section's topic. If you can add to it in any way, please do so.
Imperishable Night
Kaguya's sprite in IN

During the events of Imperishable Night, Kaguya had been hidden in a secret pathway along with the true moon by Eirin to ensure any Lunarians sent to recover Reisen Udongein Inaba wouldn't discover her. The heroines of Imperishable Night, however, did discover her, and challenged her to return the full moon to Gensokyo. After being defeated, Kaguya unleashed her powers of eternity in an all-out bid to break the spell of the imperishable night cast by the heroines. Finally she relented and the true moon was recovered.

She now spends her days living in Eientei in a carefree manner, sometimes holding exhibitions of Lunarian treasures there for the rest of Gensokyo to admire. Her long isolation has made her lonely, and she enjoys telling stories to any guests she might receive.

Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom

Kaguya is shown in the backstory of Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom. She knew that the moon rabbits from the Lunar Capital will come to Gensokyo and purify Earth. Both her and Eirin Yagokoro know that humans can't compete against the enemy, so Eirin has created a medicine just for this occasion.

Spin-offs

Shoot the Bullet
Kaguya in HM

In Shoot the Bullet, Aya Shameimaru encountered Kaguya on stage 9 and took photos of her danmaku.

Hopeless Masquerade

Kaguya made a background cameo appearance in Hopeless Masquerade on the Human Village stage. She's seen sitting with Tewi Inaba, Eirin Yagokoro and Reisen Udongein Inaba, where she'll occasionally close her eyes and fall asleep.

Literature

Attention: This section is a stub and it needs expanding with more information related to the section's topic. If you can add to it in any way, please do so.
Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red
Strange and Bright Nature Deity
Touhou Bougetsushou
Forbidden Scrollery
Cheating Detective Satori

Kaguya first appeared in chapter 12 where she was chatting with Reimu about the vengeful ghost that was targeting her. She simply at first brushed off the topic at hand until she received a threat in a form of a letter. Secretly, she and Eirin planned on using her as bait to lure out the culprit. Unknown to everyone, however, Kaguya was already possessed by the vengeful spirit at that time. Her body was later left in the Bamboo Forest when the culprit possessed Mokou.

Relationships

Eirin Yagokoro

Eirin is Kaguya's servant and friend. She's also the one who made the Hourai Elixir for Kaguya, and when sent to Earth to bring her back on the Moon, she killed the other emissaries and helped Kaguya hiding herself. Now she serves Kaguya faithfully at Eientei.

Reisen Udongein Inaba (Fellow Exile, Pet)

Reisen is loyal to Kaguya, and Kaguya has shown to be caring of her as seen in endings in Imperishable Night and Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom.

Tewi Inaba (Allied Earth Rabbit)

In return for letting her live on the land, Kaguya and Eirin freely give her information and technology. They also work in tandem with each other on certain plans such as ones shown in Forbidden Scrollery and Wild and Horned Hermit.

Fujiwara no Mokou

Mokou and Kaguya seem to have a mutual rivalry. The two fight, compete, and even kill each other for fun and to alleviate the boredom of eternal life. In Imperishable Night, Kaguya sends the player characters to fight with Mokou, calling it a "trial of guts."

Although their rivalry is usually thought to be serious, Mokou has expressed care for Kaguya (though unbeknowst to her). [10]

Gallery

Covers

Illustrations

Screenshots

Others

Spell Cards

Spell Cards
Name Translated Comments Games Stage
Total: 38
難題「龍の頸の玉 -五色の弾丸-」 Impossible Request "Jewel from the Dragon's Neck -Five-Colored Shots-" IN St. 6B: E/N
神宝「ブリリアントドラゴンバレッタ」 Divine Treasure "Brilliant Dragon Bullet" IN
GoM
St. 6B: H/L
難題「仏の御石の鉢 -砕けぬ意思-」 Impossible Request "Buddha's Stone Bowl -Indomitable Will-" IN St. 6B: E/N
神宝「ブディストダイアモンド」 Divine Treasure "Buddhist Diamond" IN
GoM
St. 6B: H/L
難題「火鼠の皮衣 -焦れぬ心-」 Impossible Request "Robe of Fire Rat -Unhurried Mind-" IN St. 6B: E/N
神宝「サラマンダーシールド」 Divine Treasure "Salamander Shield" IN
GoM
St. 6B: H/L
難題「燕の子安貝 -永命線-」 Impossible Request "Swallow's Cowrie Shell -Everlasting Life-" IN St. 6B: E/N
神宝「ライフスプリングインフィニティ」 Divine Treasure "Life Spring Infinity" IN
GoM
St. 6B: H/L
難題「蓬莱の弾の枝 -虹色の弾幕-」 Impossible Request "Bullet Branch of Hourai -Rainbow Danmaku-" IN St. 6B: E/N
神宝「蓬莱の玉の枝 -夢色の郷-」 Divine Treasure "Jeweled Branch of Hourai -Dreamlike Paradise-" IN
GoM
St. 6B: H/L
「永夜返し -初月-」 "End of Imperishable Night -New Moon-" IN St. 6B: E
「永夜返し -三日月-」 "End of Imperishable Night -Crescent Moon-" IN St. 6B: N
「永夜返し -上つ弓張-」 "End of Imperishable Night -1st Quarter's Moon-" IN St. 6B: H
「永夜返し -待宵-」 "End of Imperishable Night -Matsuyoi-" IN St. 6B: L
「永夜返し -子の刻-」 "End of Imperishable Night -11 o' Clock-" IN St. 6B: E
「永夜返し -子の二つ-」 "End of Imperishable Night -Half to Midnight-" IN St. 6B: N
「永夜返し -子の三つ-」 "End of Imperishable Night -Midnight-" IN St. 6B: H
「永夜返し -子の四つ-」 "End of Imperishable Night -Half Past Midnight-" IN St. 6B: L
「永夜返し -丑の刻-」 "End of Imperishable Night -1 o' Clock-" IN St. 6B: E
「永夜返し -丑の二つ-」 "End of Imperishable Night -Half Past 1-" IN St. 6B: N
「永夜返し -丑三つ時-」 "End of Imperishable Night -Dead of Night-" IN St. 6B: H
「永夜返し -丑の四つ-」 "End of Imperishable Night -Half Past 2-" IN St. 6B: L
「永夜返し -寅の刻-」 "End of Imperishable Night -3 o' Clock-" IN St. 6B: E
「永夜返し -寅の二つ-」 "End of Imperishable Night -Half Past 3-" IN St. 6B: N
「永夜返し -寅の三つ-」 "End of Imperishable Night "4 o' Clock" IN St. 6B: H
「永夜返し -寅の四つ-」 "End of Imperishable Night -Half Past 4-" IN St. 6B: L
「永夜返し -朝靄-」 "End of Imperishable Night -Morning Mist-" IN St. 6B: E
「永夜返し -夜明け-」 "End of Imperishable Night -Dawn-" IN St. 6B: N
「永夜返し -明けの明星-」 "End of Imperishable Night -Morning Star-" IN St. 6B: H
「永夜返し -世明け-」 "End of Imperishable Night -Rising World-" IN St. 6B: L
「蓬莱の樹海」 "Tree-Ocean of Hourai" IN LW
新難題「月のイルメナイト」 New Impossible Request "Lunar Ilmenite" StB St. 9
新難題「エイジャの赤石」 New Impossible Request "Red Stone of Aja" StB St. 9
新難題「金閣寺の一枚天井」 New Impossible Request "Seamless Ceiling of Kinkaku-ji" StB
GoM
St. 9
新難題「ミステリウム」 New Impossible Request "Mysterium" StB St. 9
永夜符「蓬莱壺中の弾の枝」 Eternal Night Sign "Bullet Branch of Hourai in a Jar" Co-owner with Eirin VD
GoU
Nightmare Tuesday - 1
輝夜符「蓬莱の大きな弾の枝」 Shining Night Sign "Big Bullet Branch of Hourai" Co-owner with Shinmyoumaru VD Nightmare Tuesday - 4
緋夜符「蓬莱の弾の要石」 Scarlet Night Sign "Bullet Keystones of Hourai" Co-owner with Tenshi VD Nightmare Tuesday - 6

Additional Information

  • A silhouette of Kaguya occupies the front of Imperishable Night's jewel case.
  • Kaguya has a larger spell card arsenal than either Remilia Scarlet or Yuyuko Saigyouji and attacks confidently and without hesitation in the actual game.
  • It can be conjectured that Mokou and Kaguya's rivalry symbolizes for the cycle of the Sun and the Moon: Kaguya, the Lunar Princess, and Mokou, who uses as an in-game avatar a fire bird that strongly resembles a phoenix.
  • Kaguya was planned to debut as a playable character in Touhou Hisoutensoku, but the plot involving her and Mokou was eventually scrapped.[11]

Fandom

Official Profile

Imperishable Night - キャラ設定.txt
Kaguya Houraisan IN

 ○最終ボス 永遠と須臾の罪人

蓬莱山 輝夜(ほうらいさん かぐや)
Kaguya Houraisan

種族:月人
能力:永遠と須臾を操る程度の能力


カグヤは月の民の一族であり、月の姫として大切に育てられていた。その為、我侭し放題に育てられていたのだ。しかし、ある事件を気にカグヤの生活は大きく変わる。興味本位で永琳に、禁断の秘薬である蓬莱の薬を作らせてしまい、それに手を出してしまったのだ。

その事はすぐにばれてしまい、カグヤは処刑された。

だが、永遠の力を持ったカグヤは死んでもすぐに生まれ変わり、事実上死ぬ事は出来なかった。カグヤは罰として次の生は地上の賤しき民と暮らす様に命じられ地上に落とされた。間も無くして、一人の地上人に発見され、そこで輝夜という名前で暮らす事となった。

              ――

輝夜は地上で生まれ、地上で生活をしている元月の民である。暫らくの間、何の不自由も無く生活が出来ていたのだが……。どんどんと人が寄って来るようになり、地上も生活しにくくなってきていた。

数年後、晴れて輝夜の罪も償われ月に帰る時が来た。しかし、お世話になった地上人への恩と情、心のある地上での生活、どうしても帰りたくない。だが穢ない処もあり、生活しにくい部分もある。輝夜は思い悩んでいた。そんな時月からやってきた使者の中に見覚えのある姿を見た。永琳である。

永琳は薬を作っておいて自分だけは無罪だった事もあり、輝夜に対し申し訳ない心でいっぱいだった。その気持ちは強く、輝夜の為なら何でもしてやらなければ、と考えていた。そして輝夜と一緒に地上で暮らすことを決めたのだ。

永琳は月の使者を裏切り、輝夜を逃した。こうして、二人は人里離れた山奥でひっそりと隠れて暮らす様になった。そう、そこは妖怪も出るような山奥で……。


              ――

――それから、本当に長い時間が経った。

いつしか月から使者が訪れる事はなくなっていたし、二人はとっくに昔の事など忘れて平和に暮らしていたのだ。

だが、そんな平和なある日、輝夜の記憶を呼び戻す出来事が起きる。

幻想郷が人間界と遮断されてから、もうすぐ百年も経とうとしていた頃だった。輝夜はいつも通り誰とも会わずひっそりと暮らしていた。そんなある日、一匹の妖怪兎が輝夜の元に逃げ込んできたのだ。その兎は実は月の兎だといい、人間以外が住む幻想郷の噂を聞きつけ、なんとか入り込んできたという。その兎が言うには、「月に敵が攻め込んで来てもう生活出来なくなった、そいつらは月に自分達の旗を立て、自分達の物だと言って好き勝手やっている」、らしい。

兎は月の民が戦っている中、仲間を見捨てて命からがら逃げてきたという事だった。

輝夜は自分が月の人だと言う事を思い出した。

人間が月に攻め入る?
そんな馬鹿な事があるわけが無い。
半信半疑だったが、その兎は嘘を付いている様には見えなかった。
とにかく可哀相な兎、――名はレイセンと言う、を家に置く事にした。


――さらにその出来事から数十年経った。

輝夜と永琳、鈴仙の三人は、また退屈な日々を送っていた。
ここに居ると誰でものんきで平和的になってしまう。まさに楽園の様な処だった。

そんなある満月の夜、月の兎同士が使うという兎の波動を鈴仙が受信した。これは、どんなに離れていてもその大きな耳で会話が出来るという月の兎の特殊能力である。
その内容は以下の様なものだった。

「賤しき地上人は月の魔力を搾取し、月に基地を作ると言い出した。
 我々月の民は、人間とどうにか共存の方向で協議していたが、
 もう限界である。

 我々月の民は、地上人に最後の全面戦争を仕掛ける事にした。
 今の状況では、戦力は我々の方が若干不利に見える。敵の近代兵器
 は我々の想像をはるかに越えていたのだ。
 だが臆する事は無い、我々月の民には何千年も生きてきた知恵と誇
 りがある。負けるはずが無い。

 レイセン、もうすぐ月は戦場となる。
 誇り高き我々と一緒に戦ってくれないだろうか。

 そして、一緒に居ると思われる地上人に伝えてくれ。
 次の満月の夜にレイセンを迎えに行く。
 抵抗しても無駄だ。」、と。

鈴仙はそろそろ月に帰らなければいけないと、輝夜達に伝えた。だが一緒に住んでいる輝夜達も、地上人ではなく月の民だったのだ。


――輝夜の記憶がよみがえる。
  罪を犯す前の月での生活を。
  賤しき地上人と暮らしていた頃を。
  自分を迎えに来た月の使者を殺害し、隠れて暮らしてきた事を。


輝夜は永琳と相談し、鈴仙を月に返さない事に決めた。使者を殺してしまっては、また場所を変え、隠れ住す必要が出てしまう。だが、もう身を隠して暮らす事に飽きたのだ。何とか月の使者を追っ払い、かつ堂々と地上で暮らす事が出来ないのかと、永琳に相談した。


永琳は輝夜の相談が言い終わるかどうか、という位で瞬時にこう返答した。

「ならば地上から満月を無くせば良い。
 さすれば、月と地上は行き来できなくなる。
 地上から見える満月は、月と地上を行き来する唯一の鍵なのだ。
 だから、満月の夜にしか使者は訪れない。
 その鍵を壊せば……、
 地上は、大きな密室になる。」

と。




輝夜達は、本物の満月を隠し、地上人が見る空に浮かぶ月を偽物の月とすり替え、そしてほんの少しだけ、欠けさせたのである。

これで、地上と月を行き来する事は不可能になった。

ただ、唯一の誤算は、満月の力に頼っていたはずの妖怪達の力が、これほどまで強い物だとは思わなかった事である。

結局、人間と妖怪の力によってこの術は破れてしまったが、そもそも幻想郷は閉ざされた空間。元々、月からも入ってくる事は出来なかったと言う事を知った。


今は輝夜達は隠れて暮らすのをやめ、普通に永遠亭で暮らしている。

月?
月が結局どうなったのかは、地上に這いつくばって暮らす民である輝夜達には知る由もなかった。

○Last Boss, The Sinner of Eternity and the Instantaneous

Kaguya Houraisan

Species: Lunarian
Ability: Manipulating eternity and the instantaneous


Kaguya (カグヤ) was born in the royal house of the moon and was treated with utmost care as a princess. Because of that, she grew very selfish... But one scandal changed her life. She had Eirin make the Hourai Elixir - a forbidden medicine - out of self-interest and consumed it.

The crime was soon discovered and Kaguya was executed for it.

However, possessing the power of eternity, Kaguya immediately resurrected upon dying, so effectively she could not die. For Kaguya's punishment, she was exiled to Earth and forced to live among filthy humans. Soon afterward, she was found by an old human male, and began life as Kaguya-hime...

——

Kaguya is a former Lunarian who was expelled from the moon. She enjoyed her life on Earth for a while without problems, but as rumours of her beauty spread far and wide, she started to feel bad about it.

A few years later, she was allowed to return to the moon, but she really didn't want to. She had become attached to people who she were living with and preferred life on Earth, which was far more emotional than the life she had on the moon. Even so, Earth was a bit filthy and life on Earth had its share of problems. She was torn between Earth and the moon... It was then that she found a familiar face among the emissaries from the moon. It was Eirin.

Eirin felt very sorry for Kaguya because she wasn't punished even though she was the one who made the elixir. Her desire for redemption was so strong that she was ready to do anything for Kaguya, so she decided to live on Earth with Kaguya.


Eirin betrayed the other emissaries and helped Kaguya escape. The two of them began to live in desolate place. It was so desolate that it was haunted by youkai...


——

A long, long time has passed since then.

The moon was no longer sending emissaries to fetch them; they had forgotten about the past and were living in peace.

One day, an event took place that made them recall the past.

It had been more than a century since Gensokyo was cut from the human world. They were living quietly without meeting anyone. On that day, a rabbit ran into their home. She claimed to be a rabbit from the moon who had come because she heard rumours about Gensokyo, a place where non-humans live. She then said, "humans are invading the moon and it's becoming nearly impossible for people of the Moon to live there. These humans stuck a flag on the moon and are acting like the moon belongs to them".

The rabbit had escaped from the front line of a war, leaving her allies behind...

Kaguya remembered that she, too, was a Lunarian long ago.

Humans were invading the moon? That's ridiculous...But the rabbit seemed to be telling the truth. Anyway, they decided to allow that poor rabbit - Reisen - to live with them.


A few decades have passed since then.

Kaguya, Eirin and Reisen were enjoying their peaceful life. Gensokyo makes everyone easy-going and peaceful... It really was like a paradise.

On one night of a full moon, Reisen received a transmission from other surviving moon rabbits. (Moon rabbits have some kind of telepathic ability and can communicate across great distances.) It said:

"These filthy humans are exploiting the power of the moon and trying to build a base here. We've been urging them co-exist peacefully with us, but they never listen. We're up against a wall.

"We've decided to declare a final war against them. The tide of war is currently slightly in their favour... Their modern weaponry is far better than we expected. But don't worry, we have the wisdom and pride of our millennia of history... We will never lose.

"Dear Reisen, a war will be starting soon. Please come back and fight at our side.

"Also, please tell the humans you're living with... That we're coming to take you back with us on the next full moon. Refusal is not an option."

Reisen told them that she needed to return to the moon, but... Kaguya and Eirin were part of the Lunarian race as well.


Kaguya remembered her past. A past of innocence. A life of living with humans. A memory of murdering emissaries and going into hiding.


Kaguya had a discussion with Eirin, then decided to not return Reisen to the moon, which would result in killing the emissaries and relocated their home. Thus they would have to return to going into hiding again. However, Kaguya got sick and tired of doing such thing so she consult Eirin if there was a way to drive away the emissaries while being able to live on Earth with dignity.


Just as Kaguya was about to finish speaking, Eirin presented her solution.


"If we remove the full moon from Earth, then the path between Earth and the Moon will be closed. A full moon from Earth is what makes it possible for them to come here. That's why the Lunarians only visit on nights with a full moon. If we corrupt that full moon... Earth will become a large, sealed chamber."





Thus, they hid the true moon from Earth, replacing it with a fake moon that will never be full.

It was no longer possible to travel between Earth and the Moon.

Their only mistake was that they had not expected the power of the youkai, who rely on the power of the full moon, to be this powerful.

In the end, humans and youkai succeeded in dispelling the fake moon. But that wasn't a problem... Gensokyo was already sealed by the Hakurei border, so the Lunarians wouldn't have been able to enter Gensokyo to begin with.


Kaguya, Eirin and Reisen have come out of hiding and are living freely in Eientei.

So, what was the outcome of the Moon War? That didn't matter to Kaguya anymore; Gensokyo is now her home...

Touhou Bougetsushou official website
Kaguya 蓬莱山 輝夜(ほうらいさん かぐや)
月人/永遠と須臾を操る程度の能力

竹林の奥深く、永遠亭に住む元・月の姫。お姫様として育
てられてきたので割と奔放な性格。
好奇心から永琳に作らせた禁断の薬"蓬莱の薬"を服用し
て不死になったが、それが原因で月からは追放されたとい
う過去を持つ。

Kaguya Houraisan
Lunarian/Ability to manipulate eternity and the instantaneous

The former princess of the moon, living in Eientei, deep in the bamboo forest.
For someone brought up as a princess, she has a relatively wild personality.
In the past, she became immortal from consuming the forbidden medicine that Eirin made, the "Hourai Elixir", out of curiosity, and because of that she was exiled from the moon.

Official Sources

Official sources

References