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| website = *https://www16.big.or.jp/~zun/
| website = *https://www16.big.or.jp/~zun/
*https://kourindou.exblog.jp
*https://kourindou.exblog.jp
*[http://www.kt.rim.or.jp/~aotaka/am/index.htm Amusement Makers (Former) Official Site]
*[https://touhou-project.news/ Touhou Yomoyama News]
*[https://twitter.com/korindo Twitter]
*[https://twitter.com/korindo Twitter]
*[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRslviI58g0iRunL7z4LG7A/ YouTube Channel]
*[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRslviI58g0iRunL7z4LG7A/ YouTube Channel]
*[https://youtube.com/channel/UCYiYZYbDlyy17QiX5CxCTeQ YouTube Channel Autogenerated by Google]
*[https://youtube.com/channel/UCubcllQS84CnazS77lY_SJQ Nikenme Radio YouTube channel]
}}
}}
{{nihongo|'''Jun'ya Ōta'''|太田順也|Oota Jun'ya}}, [[wikipedia:Pen name|pen-name]] '''ZUN''', is the sole known member of [[Team Shanghai Alice]] and is the designer, programmer, script writer, and composer of the extremely popular ''[[Touhou Project]]''. He's seen to be rather reclusive, and it's known that he's very fond of beer. He was employed by [http://www.taito.co.jp/ Taito Corporation],<ref>He is currently not employed by Taito. It was stated in [http://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv493280 Nico Nico Live] ''(Association of Victims of [[wikipedia:Takeshi no Chōsenjō|Takeshi's Challenge]] -Come Out, Developers! Special-)'' broadcast on 3/31/2009.</ref> and had been involved in the production of various Taito titles as a programmer.
{{nihongo|'''Jun'ya Ōta'''|太田順也|Oota Jun'ya}}, [[wikipedia:Pen name|pen-name]] '''ZUN''', is the sole known member of [[Team Shanghai Alice]] and is the designer, programmer, script writer, and composer of ''[[Touhou Project]]''. He's seen to be rather reclusive, and it's known that he's very fond of beer. He was formerly employed by [http://www.taito.co.jp/ Taito Corporation] and was involved in the production of various Taito titles as a programmer.


==Works==
==Works==
===Games===
===Games===
*{{HRtP}} (ZUN Soft 1996)
====Made under "ZUN Soft"====
*{{SoEW}} (ZUN Soft 1997)
*{{HRtP}}  
*{{PoDD}} (ZUN Soft 1997)
*{{SoEW}}  
*{{LLS}} (ZUN Soft 1998)
*{{PoDD}}  
*{{MS}} (ZUN Soft 1998)
*{{LLS}}  
*{{EoSD}} ([[Team Shanghai Alice]] 2002)
*{{MS}}  
*{{PCB}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2003)
;Made under [[Team Shanghai Alice]]
*{{IaMP}} (Collaboration between Team Shanghai Alice & [[Twilight Frontier]] 2004)
*{{EoSD}}  
*{{IN}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2004)
*{{PCB}}  
*{{PoFV}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2005)
*{{IN}}  
*{{StB}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2005)
*{{PoFV}}  
*{{MoF}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2007)
*{{StB}}  
*{{SWR}} (Collaboration between Team Shanghai Alice & Twilight Frontier 2007)
*{{MoF}}  
*{{SA}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2008)
*{{SA}}
*{{UFO}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2009)
*{{UFO}}
*{{HSTS}} (Collaboration between Team Shanghai Alice & Twilight Frontier 2009)
*{{DS}}  
*{{DS}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2010)
*{{FW}}  
*{{FW}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2010)
*{{TD}}
*{{TD}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2011)
*{{DDC}}
*{{HM}} (Collaboration between Team Shanghai Alice & Twilight Frontier 2013)
*{{ISC}}
*{{DDC}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2013)
*{{GR}}  
*{{ISC}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2014)
*{{LoLK}}  
*{{GR}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2014)
*{{HSiFS}}  
*{{ULiL}} (Collaboration between Team Shanghai Alice & Twilight Frontier 2015)
*{{VD}}  
*{{LoLK}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2015)
*{{WBaWC}}  
*{{AoCF}} (Collaboration between Team Shanghai Alice & Twilight Frontier 2017)
*{{UM}}  
*{{HSiFS}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2017)
*{{100thBM}}
*{{VD}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2018)
;Collaboration with [[Twilight Frontier]]
*{{WBaWC}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2019)
*{{IaMP}}
*{{GYIB}} (Collaboration between Team Shanghai Alice & Twilight Frontier 2020)
*{{SWR}}
*{{UM}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2021)
*{{HSTS}}
*{{HM}}  
*{{ULiL}}  
*{{AoCF}}  
*{{GYIB}}


===Music Soundtracks===
===Music Soundtracks===
*{{DiPP}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2002)
;[[ZUN's Music Collection]]
*{{GFC}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2003)
*{{DiPP}}  
*{{CoSD}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2004)
*{{GFC}}  
*[[Immaterial and Missing Power/Music/OST|{{lang|ja|幻想曲抜萃 東方萃夢想}} ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK]] (Collaboration between Team Shanghai Alice & Twilight Frontier 2005)
*{{CoSD}}  
*{{R53m}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2006)
*{{R53m}}
*{{Akyu|1}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2006)
*{{MA}}
*{{MA}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2006)
*{{UFMJ}}
*{{Akyu|2}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2006)
*{{TGA}}  
*{{Akyu|3}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2006)
*{{NtoJ}}  
*{{Akyu|4}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2007)
*{{DrLFR}}  
*{{Akyu|5}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2007)
*{{DBOA}}  
*[[Scarlet Weather Rhapsody OST|{{lang|ja|全人類ノ天楽録 東方緋想天}} ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK]] (Collaboration between Team Shanghai Alice & Twilight Frontier 2008)
*{{RCS}}  
*[[Touhou Hisoutensoku OST|{{lang|ja|核熱造神ヒソウテンソク 東方非想天則}} ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK]] (Collaboration between Team Shanghai Alice & Twilight Frontier 2009)
;[[Akyu's Untouched Score]]
*{{UFMJ}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2011)
*{{Akyu|1}}  
*{{TGA}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2012)
*{{Akyu|2}}  
*{{NtoJ}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2012)
*{{Akyu|3}}  
*[[Hopeless Masquerade OST|暗黒能楽集・心綺楼 東方心綺楼 ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK]] (Collaboration between Team Shanghai Alice & Twilight Frontier 2013)
*{{Akyu|4}}  
*[[Urban Legend in Limbo OST|深秘的楽曲集 宇佐見菫子と秘密の部室]] (Collaboration between Team Shanghai Alice & Twilight Frontier 2015)
*{{Akyu|5}}  
*{{DrLFR}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2016)
;Collaboration with [[Twilight Frontier]]
*{{DBOA}} (Team Shanghai Alice 2016)
*{{IaMP OST}}
*[[Urban Legend in Limbo OST 2|深秘的楽曲集・補 東方深秘録初回特典CD]] (Collaboration between Team Shanghai Alice & Twilight Frontier 2016)
*{{SWR OST}}
*[[Antinomy of Common Flowers OST|完全憑依ディスコグラフィ 東方憑依華 ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK]] (Collaboration between Team Shanghai Alice & Twilight Frontier 2018)
*{{HSTS OST}}
*[[Rainbow-Colored Septentrion|虹色のセプテントリオン]] (Team Shanghai Alice 2021)
*{{HM OST}}
*{{ULiL OST}}
*{{ULiL OST 2}}
*{{AoCF OST}}
*{{GYIB OST}}
 
===Print===
===Print===
*{{CoLA}} (Colorful PUREGIRL 2003-2004; Magazine ELFICS 2004-2005; Elnavi 2005-2006; Dengeki MOE-OH 2006-2007; [SCoOW] 2015-present)
;[[Touhou Sangetsusei]]
*{{EaLND}} (CompAce 2005-2006)
*{{EaLND}}  
*{{SaBND}} (CompAce 2006-2009)
*{{SaBND}}  
*{{OSP}} (CompAce 2009-2012)
*{{OSP}}
*{{BAiJR}} ([[Ichijinsha]] August 2005)
*{{VFiS}}
*{{SDV}} (Tora no Ana October 2005)
;[[Touhou Bougetsushou]]
*[[A Beautiful Flower Blooming Violet Every Sixty Years|{{lang|ja|六十年ぶりに紫に香る花}} (A Beautiful Flower Blooming Violet Every Sixty Years)]]
*{{SSiB}}
*{{PMiSS}} (Ichijinsha December 2006)
*{{CiLR}}
*[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense/Memorizable Gensokyo|{{lang|ja|東方求聞史紀 記憶する幻想郷}} (Memorizable Gensokyo)]] (Comic REX December 2006)
*{{IoM&IoE}}
*{{SSiB}} (Comic REX 2007-2009)
;Manga
*{{CiLR}} ([[Chara☆Mel‎]] 2007-2009)
*{{WaHH}}
*{{IoM&IoE}} (Inaba of Moon & Inaba of Earth) (Manga 4Koma KINGS Palette 2007-2009)
*{{FS}}
*{{GoM}} (Ichijinsha July 2009)
*{{FDS}}
*{{WaHH}} ([[Chara☆Mel‎ Febri]]July 2010-June 2020)
*{{LE}}
*{{SoPm}} (Ichijinsha April 2012)
;Fiction
*{{FS}} (Comp Ace October 2012-July 2017)
*{{CoLA}}
*{{SCoOW}} (Dengeki Moeoh September 2015-present)
;Magazines
*{{AFiEU}} (Kadokawa March 2017)
*{{SCoOW}}
*{{GoU}} (Kadokawa April 2019)
*{{SAoOW}}
*{{CDS}} (Kadokawa/Comic Walker October 2019-March 2021; October 2021-present)
;Artbook
*{{LE}} (Kadokawa/Comp Ace November 2019-present)
*{{BAiJR}}
*{{SDV}} <ref>not an official print work but ZUN got involved</ref>
**[[A Beautiful Flower Blooming Violet Every Sixty Years|{{lang|ja|六十年ぶりに紫に香る花}} (A Beautiful Flower Blooming Violet Every Sixty Years)]]
*{{PMiSS}}  
**[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense/Memorizable Gensokyo|{{lang|ja|東方求聞史紀 記憶する幻想郷}} (Memorizable Gensokyo)]]
*{{GoM}}  
*{{SoPm}}  
*{{AFiEU}}
*{{GoU}}


===Games unrelated to Touhou===
===Games unrelated to Touhou===
*{{SG}} ([[Seihou]] Shuusou Gyoku) ([[Shunsatsu sare do?]] 1998-2000)
*{{SG}} ([[Seihou]] Shuusou Gyoku) ([[Shunsatsu sare do?]])
*{{KG}} (Seihou Kioh Gyoku) (Shunsatsu sare do? 2001)
*{{KG}} (Seihou Kioh Gyoku) (Shunsatsu sare do?)
*{{torte}} (Torte Le Magic) ([[Pietoro]] 2001)
*{{torte}} (Torte Le Magic) ([[Pietoro]])
*{{UB}} ([[The Drinking Party]] 2007)
*{{UB}} ([[The Drinking Party]])


===Works with Taito Corporation===
===Works with Taito Corporation===
[[File:ZUN-EXIT-staffroll.jpg|thumb|right|ZUN in the credits of ''EXIT''.]]
[[File:ZUN-EXIT-staffroll.jpg|thumb|right|230px|ZUN in the credits of ''EXIT''.]]
*''[[wikipedia:International League Soccer|International League Soccer]]'' (2000) (Known as ''Greatest Striker'' in Japan)
*''[[w:International League Soccer|International League Soccer]]'' (Known as ''Greatest Striker'' in Japan)
*''[[wikipedia:Magic Pengel|Magic Pengel]]'' (2002)
*''[[w:Magic Pengel|Magic Pengel]]''  
*''[[wikipedia:Bujingai|Bujingai]]'' (2003)
*''[[w:Bujingai|Bujingai]]''  
*''[[wikipedia:Graffiti Kingdom|Graffiti Kingdom]]'' (2004)
*''[[w:Graffiti Kingdom|Graffiti Kingdom]]''  
*''[[wikipedia:Exit (video game)|EXIT]]'' (2005)
*''[[w:Exit (video game)|EXIT]]''


===Doujin Games===
===Doujin Games===
*{{MiMG}} ([[D.N.A. Softwares]] 2008)
*{{MiMG}} ([[D.N.A. Softwares]])
*{{TUM}} (D.N.A. Softwares 2009)
*{{TUM}} (D.N.A. Softwares)


===Doujin Print Works===
===Doujin Print Works===
*[[DOUJIN GAME × PACKAGE DESIGN]] ([[RebRank]] 2013)
*{{SDV}} (Tora no Ana)
*[[DOUJIN GAME × PACKAGE DESIGN]] ([[RebRank]])


===Doujin Albums===
===Doujin Albums===
*[[Cradle -東方幻樂祀典-]] ([[sound sepher]] 2004)
*[[Cradle -東方幻樂祀典-]] ([[sound sepher]])
*[[Seasonal Dream Vision (CD)]] (Tora no Ana 2005)
*[[Seasonal Dream Vision (CD)]] (Tora no Ana)
*[[Touhou Unreal Mahjong OST|{{lang|ja|東方幻想麻雀オリジナルサウンドトラック}}]] (Disaster/D.N.A. Softwares 2009)
*[[Touhou Unreal Mahjong OST|{{lang|ja|東方幻想麻雀オリジナルサウンドトラック}}]] (Disaster/D.N.A. Softwares)
*[[8ビットミュージックパワーファイナル]] (Columbus Circle 2017)
*[[8Bit Music Power Final|8ビットミュージックパワーファイナル]] (Columbus Circle)


===Columns & Reviews===
===Columns & Reviews===
*[[Which Came First, Hakurei Kannushi's Games or Beer?]] (Comptiq 2009-2013; Comp Ace 2013-Present)
*[[Which Came First, Hakurei Kannushi's Games or Beer?]]


==Biography==
==Biography==
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===Name===
===Name===
[[File:PoDDCreditsJun'yaOta.png|thumb|right|250px|ZUN's real name was first shown in the third ''[[Touhou Project]]'' game, ''[[Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream]]''.]]
[[File:PoDDCreditsJun'yaOta.png|thumb|right|230px|ZUN's real name was first shown in the third ''[[Touhou Project]]'' game, ''[[Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream]]''.]]
ZUN has used the nickname "ZUN" since his childhood, since it is a short form of his real name; in the arcade word, such manner was quite common for many players since most games had a three letter limit for the names to be input on the high score screen. He states that it's a "cultural thing", and that it sounds closely to "Jun" in his real name.<ref name=UHoJI>[[The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers Interview]]: interview between John Szczepaniak and ZUN</ref> The name is also (only coincidentally): (a) the leading alphabets for "[[wikipedia:Zuntata|ZUNTATA]]"<ref name=UHoJI />, the sound team at [[wikipedia:Taito Corporation|Taito Corporation]] where he worked; and (b) a [[wikipedia:Zun|Chinese bronze vessel]] used to store alcohol.
ZUN has used the nickname "ZUN" since his childhood, since it is a short form of his real name; in arcades, such manner was quite common for many players since most games had a three letter limit for the names to be input on the high score screen. He states that it's a "cultural thing", and that it sounds closely to "Jun" in his real name.<ref name=UHoJI>[[The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers Interview]]: interview between John Szczepaniak and ZUN</ref>  


ZUN's real name is {{nihongo|''Jun'ya Ota''|太田順也}}, seen in the documentation of the five [[PC-98]] games, as well as the credits of ''[[Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream]]'', ''[[Lotus Land Story]]'' and ''[[Mystic Square]]'' in 1997 and 1998; the name has also been listed in archives of [http://web.archive.org/web/20020605005006/http://www16.big.or.jp/~zun/html/profile.html ZUN's profile page on his website] up to June 2002. Additionally, not mentioned officially but the same name has been shown in the number of Taito games ZUN had involved in. His name was also used on official documents.<ref>White Canvas Case: [[White Canvas Case/White Canvas Comment|comment]]</ref>
ZUN's real name is {{nihongo|''Jun'ya Ota''|太田順也}}, seen in the documentation of the five [[PC-98]] games, as well as the credits of ''[[Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream]]'', ''[[Lotus Land Story]]'' and ''[[Mystic Square]]'' in 1997 and 1998; the name has also been listed in archives of [http://web.archive.org/web/20020605005006/http://www16.big.or.jp/~zun/html/profile.html ZUN's profile page on his website] up to June 2002. Additionally, not mentioned officially but the same name has been shown in the number of Taito games ZUN had involved in. His name was also used on official documents.<ref>White Canvas Case: [[White Canvas Case/White Canvas Comment|comment]]</ref>
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ZUN appears to always wear a [[wikipedia:Flat cap|flat cap]]. He mainly wears a green, flower-patterned ascot and a black one with a gold and red design around it. He also wears glasses. He generally gets his flat caps by looking around normal shops, flea markets or nearby events.<ref name="ZUN's AWA">[[ZUN's AWA Q&A Panel]]</ref>
ZUN appears to always wear a [[wikipedia:Flat cap|flat cap]]. He mainly wears a green, flower-patterned ascot and a black one with a gold and red design around it. He also wears glasses. He generally gets his flat caps by looking around normal shops, flea markets or nearby events.<ref name="ZUN's AWA">[[ZUN's AWA Q&A Panel]]</ref>


ZUN has stated in an interview that he weighs only 50kg – roughly 110lbs, around about 7.8st. Whether this is really accurate is impossible to truly confirm, but it's clear that he's very thin. His height is 173cm (1.73 meters)<ref>Double Dealing Character Staff roll</ref>.
ZUN has stated in an interview that he weighs only 50kg – roughly 110lbs, around about 7.8st. Whether this is really accurate is impossible to truly confirm, but it's clear that he's very thin. His height is 173cm (1.73 meters),<ref>Double Dealing Character Staff roll</ref>


===Personality===
===Personality===
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In the past, ZUN jokingly stated in [[ZUN's E-mails|an e-mail]] that he's been working on – and will continue to work on – the ''[[Touhou Project]]'' games since a part of him lacks common sense. However, he has stated that the actual reason why he originally made the game series and [[Team Shanghai Alice]] is because he couldn't find any games he liked himself, so he decided to make games he liked entirely by himself. In the [[Interview in Swedish Player1 Magazine|Swedish Magazine Interview]], he replies to the last question with, "I'm going to keep making games that stand out, so if all my fans disappear I'm still happy I can keep doing the games I want." Even to this day, he honestly admits that he couldn't create anything other than Touhou and still holds true to this statement<ref name="ZUN's AWA" />. Also, Taito created the game ''[[wikipedia:Darius Gaiden|Darius Gaiden]]'' – which is one of ZUN's favorite [[wikipedia:shoot'em up|shoot'em up]] games – that makes another known reason for him to start the ''Touhou Project''.
In the past, ZUN jokingly stated in [[ZUN's E-mails|an e-mail]] that he's been working on – and will continue to work on – the ''[[Touhou Project]]'' games since a part of him lacks common sense. However, he has stated that the actual reason why he originally made the game series and [[Team Shanghai Alice]] is because he couldn't find any games he liked himself, so he decided to make games he liked entirely by himself. In the [[Interview in Swedish Player1 Magazine|Swedish Magazine Interview]], he replies to the last question with, "I'm going to keep making games that stand out, so if all my fans disappear I'm still happy I can keep doing the games I want." Even to this day, he honestly admits that he couldn't create anything other than Touhou and still holds true to this statement<ref name="ZUN's AWA" />. Also, Taito created the game ''[[wikipedia:Darius Gaiden|Darius Gaiden]]'' – which is one of ZUN's favorite [[wikipedia:shoot'em up|shoot'em up]] games – that makes another known reason for him to start the ''Touhou Project''.


ZUN is very proud that the fanbase for the ''Touhou Project'' is very large, where he may take a look at a few fan-made works himself. He's admitted that may get jealous depending on how much quality is put into a fan-made Touhou work, but doesn't wish to choose a favourite to keep things fair with the whole fanbase. He doesn't wish to get influenced by fan-made Touhou works, but he states that the fanbase has influenced on how he works in life.<ref name="ZUN's AWA" />
ZUN is very proud that the fanbase for the ''Touhou Project'' is very large, where he may take a look at a few fan-made works himself. He's admitted that he may get jealous depending on how much quality is put into a fan-made Touhou work, but doesn't wish to choose a favourite to keep things fair with the whole fanbase. He doesn't wish to get influenced by fan-made Touhou works, but he states that the fanbase has influenced on how he works in life.<ref name="ZUN's AWA" />


==Additional Information==
==Additional Information==
[[File:TUMZUN.jpg|thumb|ZUN in the fangame ''[[Touhou Unreal Mahjong]]''.]]
[[File:TUMZUN.jpg|thumb|200px|ZUN in the fangame ''[[Touhou Unreal Mahjong]]''.]]
*ZUN appears as a playable character in the fangame ''[[Touhou Unreal Mahjong]]''.
*ZUN appears as a playable character in the fangame ''[[Touhou Unreal Mahjong]]''.
*In his interview on ''[[Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red]]'', ZUN said that he develops his games with [[wikipedia:Visual Studio|Visual Studio]], [[wikipedia:Adobe Photoshop|Adobe Photoshop]] and [[wikipedia:Steinberg Cubase|Steinberg Cubase]] (Cubase SX 3 at the time). In more recent interviews, he's always shown using the latest version of Cubase Pro available at the time.
*In his interview on ''[[Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red]]'', ZUN said that he develops his games with [[wikipedia:Visual Studio|Visual Studio]], [[wikipedia:Adobe Photoshop|Adobe Photoshop]] and [[wikipedia:Steinberg Cubase|Steinberg Cubase]] (Cubase SX 3 at the time). In more recent interviews, he's always shown using the latest version of Cubase Pro available at the time.
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*The theme song "[[Lyrics: 童祭 ~ Innocent Treasures (ZUN)|Kid's Festival ~ Innocent Treasures]]" in ''[[Changeability of Strange Dream]]'' is ZUN's official theme. He has stated in ''Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red'' that writing this song was somewhat embarrassing and that "It's like the theme song that plays when you make your entrance on a talk show". This has happened twice or more when ZUN entered a talk show.
*The theme song "[[Lyrics: 童祭 ~ Innocent Treasures (ZUN)|Kid's Festival ~ Innocent Treasures]]" in ''[[Changeability of Strange Dream]]'' is ZUN's official theme. He has stated in ''Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red'' that writing this song was somewhat embarrassing and that "It's like the theme song that plays when you make your entrance on a talk show". This has happened twice or more when ZUN entered a talk show.
**This theme seems to be the only one that ZUN wrote lyrics for. However, he either couldn't or didn't get anyone to sing the vocal part, so the theme was left as a non-vocal.
**This theme seems to be the only one that ZUN wrote lyrics for. However, he either couldn't or didn't get anyone to sing the vocal part, so the theme was left as a non-vocal.
**On his website, ZUN claims ''[[Mystic_Square/Music#Stage_5_theme|the Last Judgement]]'' started out as an attempt at composing his own theme. He abandoned the idea as he felt the resulting song didn't fit well, and was perhaps "too good".
*On his website, ZUN claims ''[[Mystic_Square/Music#Stage_5_theme|the Last Judgement]]'' started out as an attempt at composing his own theme. He abandoned the idea as he felt the resulting song didn't fit well, and was perhaps "too good".
*It has been theorised that ZUN might've had trouble designing [[:Category:Males|male characters]] due to the number of female characters – such as statements like "it would be weird to have an old man as the last boss in Touhou" for [[Myouren Hijiri]] been originally the final boss of ''[[Undefined Fantastic Object]]'' – but later confirmed that he feels that "boys get in the way of the game" and that "boys would just ruin the balance of the series."<ref name="ZUN's AWA" />
*It has been theorised that ZUN might've had trouble designing [[:Category:Males|male characters]] due to the number of female characters – such as statements like "it would be weird to have an old man as the last boss in Touhou" for [[Myouren Hijiri]] been originally the final boss of ''[[Undefined Fantastic Object]]'' – but later confirmed that he feels that "boys get in the way of the game" and that "boys would just ruin the balance of the series."<ref name="ZUN's AWA" />
*About whether the [[PC-98]] games are [[canon]] or not, he states that both [[PC-98]] and [[Windows]] games are set in the same world. He recognizes that there are contradictions and for those, we should refer to the latest games for canon.<ref name="ZUN's AWA" />
*About whether the [[PC-98]] games are [[canon]] or not, he states that both [[PC-98]] and [[Windows]] games are set in the same world. He recognizes that there are contradictions and for those, we should refer to the latest games for canon.<ref name="ZUN's AWA" />
*He has mentioned in the same Swedish Magazine Interview that the company he worked for didn't like his work on the ''Touhou Project'' very much since it meant that he was working two parts.
*He has mentioned in the same Swedish Magazine Interview that the company he worked for didn't like his work on the ''Touhou Project'' very much since it meant that he was working two parts.
**ZUN's name although not related to, but is coincidentally same to the leading alphabets for "[[wikipedia:Zuntata|ZUNTATA]]"<ref name=UHoJI />, the sound team at [[wikipedia:Taito Corporation|Taito Corporation]] where he worked. It has also the same name to the [[wikipedia:Zun|Chinese bronze vessel]] that was used to store alcohol during the [[w: Northern Song Dynasty|Northern Song period]] of [[w:Song Dynasty|Song Dynasty]].


==Fandom==
==Fandom==
[[Image:1255964955188.jpg|thumb|right|Not even ZUN himself is safe from derivative works.]]
[[Image:1255964955188.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Not even ZUN himself is safe from derivative works.]]
*As it's his title, the word {{nihongo|"Kannushi"|神主}} is often seen synonymously with "ZUN".
*As it's his title, the word {{nihongo|"Kannushi"|神主}} is often seen synonymously with "ZUN".
*ZUN has been generally treated as a regular Touhou character with the rest of the ''[[Touhou Project]]'' characters, where he appears in fan-made fictions and games – such as ''[[Touhou Soccer Moushuuden]]'' – and fanart.
*ZUN has been generally treated as a regular Touhou character with the rest of the ''[[Touhou Project]]'' characters, where he appears in fan-made fictions and games – such as ''[[Touhou Soccer Moushuuden]]'' – and fanart.
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*[[ZUN's Gensou Denshou Lecture]] (summary available [http://www.gensokyo.org/archives/92#more-92 on gensokyo.org])
*[[ZUN's Gensou Denshou Lecture]] (summary available [http://www.gensokyo.org/archives/92#more-92 on gensokyo.org])
*[[Invisible Games and Japanese]], ZUN's blog
*[[Invisible Games and Japanese]], ZUN's blog
*[[Strange Articles of the Outer World/ZUN long interview]] [https://touhougarakuta.com/index_interview/zun_long_interview]


===Untranslated===
===Untranslated===
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*[https://ch.nicovideo.jp/indies-game/blomaga/ar172115 ZUN interview for Niconico Indies Game Fes 2013]
*[https://ch.nicovideo.jp/indies-game/blomaga/ar172115 ZUN interview for Niconico Indies Game Fes 2013]
*[https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/interview/181019 Denfaminico Gamer interview featuring ZUN and Toby Fox]
*[https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/interview/181019 Denfaminico Gamer interview featuring ZUN and Toby Fox]
*[[Strange Articles of the Outer World/ZUN long interview]] [https://touhougarakuta.com/index_interview/zun_long_interview]


====Dead link====
====Dead link====
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==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<center><gallery perrow="5" widths="180">
<gallery widths=180>
Image:Zun.jpg|Another picture of ZUN, from 2005.
Image:Zun.jpg|Another picture of ZUN, from 2005.
Image:4-gamer ZUN2.jpg|ZUN in his interview with 4gamer.net.
Image:4-gamer ZUN2.jpg|ZUN in his interview with 4gamer.net.
Line 285: Line 309:
File:ZUNTokyoGameShow.jpg|ZUN on Tokyo Game Show 2013
File:ZUNTokyoGameShow.jpg|ZUN on Tokyo Game Show 2013
File:ZUN playing Mystic Square.jpg|ZUN playing the fifth Touhou game ''[[Mystic Square]]''.
File:ZUN playing Mystic Square.jpg|ZUN playing the fifth Touhou game ''[[Mystic Square]]''.
</gallery></center>
</gallery>


==External Links==
==See Also==
*[https://www16.big.or.jp/~zun/ Team Shanghai Alice]<br/>
*[https://kourindou.exblog.jp 博麗幻想書譜 (ZUN's Blog)]<br/>
*[https://twitter.com/korindo ZUN's Twitter]
*[http://www.kt.rim.or.jp/~aotaka/am/index.htm Amusement Makers (Former) Official Site]<br/>
*[[wikipedia:ZUN (video game developer)|Wikipedia entry]] on ZUN
*[[wikipedia:ZUN (video game developer)|Wikipedia entry]] on ZUN


==References==
==References==
<references/>
{{smallrefs|2}}


{{Navbox Touhou}}
{{Navbox Touhou}}

Revision as of 11:11, 22 July 2022

ZUN
Also known as Jun'ya Ōta (太田順也 (おおたじゅんや) )
ZUN
ZUN during the PlayDoujin! Meeting (2015)
Title

Hakurei Kannushi, Team Shanghai Alice Leader

Born

March 18, 1977 (1977-03-18) (age 47) Hakuba, Nagano, Japan

Location

Formerly Ebina, Kanagawa, Japan, currently unknown

Gender

Male

Notable from

Touhou Project

Circle(s)

Team Shanghai Alice

Occupation

Programmer, Game Director, Game Producer, Character Designer, Illustrator, Game Designer, Music Composer, Novelist, Comic Writer

Music Themes

Kid's Festival ~ Innocent Treasures (Changeability of Strange Dream)

Art Example

Reimu Hakurei
Reimu Hakurei in Lotus Land Story.
Reimu Hakurei
Reimu Hakurei in Unconnected Marketeers.

Music Example

Composed UFO Romance in the Night Sky from Undefined Fantastic Object.

Websites

Jun'ya Ōta (太田順也 Oota Jun'ya), pen-name ZUN, is the sole known member of Team Shanghai Alice and is the designer, programmer, script writer, and composer of Touhou Project. He's seen to be rather reclusive, and it's known that he's very fond of beer. He was formerly employed by Taito Corporation and was involved in the production of various Taito titles as a programmer.

Works

Games

Made under "ZUN Soft"

Made under Team Shanghai Alice
Collaboration with Twilight Frontier

Music Soundtracks

ZUN's Music Collection
Akyu's Untouched Score
Collaboration with Twilight Frontier

Print

Touhou Sangetsusei
Touhou Bougetsushou
Manga
Fiction
Magazines
Artbook

Games unrelated to Touhou

Works with Taito Corporation

ZUN in the credits of EXIT.

Doujin Games

Doujin Print Works

Doujin Albums

Columns & Reviews

Biography

A limited biography of ZUN could be written based upon the lengthy texts included within his games (letters to the player) and interviews for various publications. Unfortunately, a large majority of these remain untranslated for the Touhou Wiki. Despite the current massive lack of information known or comprehensible, a good amount of relevant information is known about him.

Name

ZUN's real name was first shown in the third Touhou Project game, Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream.

ZUN has used the nickname "ZUN" since his childhood, since it is a short form of his real name; in arcades, such manner was quite common for many players since most games had a three letter limit for the names to be input on the high score screen. He states that it's a "cultural thing", and that it sounds closely to "Jun" in his real name.[2]

ZUN's real name is Jun'ya Ota (太田順也), seen in the documentation of the five PC-98 games, as well as the credits of Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream, Lotus Land Story and Mystic Square in 1997 and 1998; the name has also been listed in archives of ZUN's profile page on his website up to June 2002. Additionally, not mentioned officially but the same name has been shown in the number of Taito games ZUN had involved in. His name was also used on official documents.[3]

ZUN also refers to himself as the Hakurei Kannushi (博麗神主), or the head priest of the Hakurei Shrine, used as his byline on some Touhou print works and the name shown on his Twitter account. He has stated he "secretly works in the Hakurei Shrine as the shrine master" in Changeability of Strange Dream. In canon, the Hakurei Shrine in Gensokyo has received sake from the outside world as an offering on several occasions, which may be a joking reference to how well-known ZUN is for drinking more than an oni.

History

ZUN's signature

ZUN was born on March 18, 1977 (1977-03-18) (age 47), in Hakuba, Nagano, and graduated from Tokyo Denki University, the home of Amusement Makers. The MAG-Net episode shows that at the time, he lived in Ebina, Kanagawa. His current residence is unknown.

He has confirmed in an interview that he had started composing his own pieces of music since junior high school, and had learned how to play the Electone – which his parents had bought – and the trumpet – as part of a wind instruments ensemble – since elementary school.

ZUN started working at Taito in 1998, and left in 2007 due to disenchantment and disappointments with the job; meanwhile, due to Touhou's success he no longer had a need to stay.[2][4] He said in his interview with MAG-Net that his fondest ambition in life is to open a brewpub.

In a February 2012 radio interview, ZUN announced that he had recently married, with the formal ceremony held on May 27 (the day of Reitaisai 9). It's known that his wife is a game programmer working on smartphone games[2] and that they originally met in 2004. ZUN became a father to a healthy baby boy on June 13, 2014,[5] and a healthy baby girl on December 5, 2016.[6]

Appearance

ZUN appears to always wear a flat cap. He mainly wears a green, flower-patterned ascot and a black one with a gold and red design around it. He also wears glasses. He generally gets his flat caps by looking around normal shops, flea markets or nearby events.[7]

ZUN has stated in an interview that he weighs only 50kg – roughly 110lbs, around about 7.8st. Whether this is really accurate is impossible to truly confirm, but it's clear that he's very thin. His height is 173cm (1.73 meters),[8]

Personality

ZUN appears to be a rather cheerful person, as seen in most of his interviews as he rather laughs at a lot of things. However, he can be rather quiet when talking. An example of him been quiet when talking is at the after-party of Hakurei Jinjya Reitaisai 8. He also can be nostalgic at times. He takes beer as one of his greatest passions, but for the true reason why he does and when he had his first beer is unknown. He'll feel uncomfortable if he hasn't got beer or a mobile phone near him.[9] His personal favourite beer is Kirin[7], brewed in Japan.

It is known that ZUN is a fan of music that uses FM (Frequency Modulation) Synthesis, as most of the non-MIDI music in the PC-98 games were created using FM Synthesis. He also states in a note in the Akyu's Untouched Score albums that he resents the gradual phasing out of FM Synthesis that's occurring today.

Relationship to Touhou

ZUN tends to find a lot of nostalgia towards the Touhou Project, like for example when at one point he was playing Highly Responsive to Prayers on the MAG-Net Documentary. He likes to put a lot of ideas and planning into creating Touhou games, and doesn't care if all he generally does is either working on Touhou or drinking beer.

He's stated on the comments of the theme Eternal Shrine Maiden from the same game mentioned that this song was one of the most important songs during the PC-98 era, but also stated that his favourite songs are generally his recent creations. He's also admitted that Reimu Hakurei holds a special place in his heart.[7]

In the past, ZUN jokingly stated in an e-mail that he's been working on – and will continue to work on – the Touhou Project games since a part of him lacks common sense. However, he has stated that the actual reason why he originally made the game series and Team Shanghai Alice is because he couldn't find any games he liked himself, so he decided to make games he liked entirely by himself. In the Swedish Magazine Interview, he replies to the last question with, "I'm going to keep making games that stand out, so if all my fans disappear I'm still happy I can keep doing the games I want." Even to this day, he honestly admits that he couldn't create anything other than Touhou and still holds true to this statement[7]. Also, Taito created the game Darius Gaiden – which is one of ZUN's favorite shoot'em up games – that makes another known reason for him to start the Touhou Project.

ZUN is very proud that the fanbase for the Touhou Project is very large, where he may take a look at a few fan-made works himself. He's admitted that he may get jealous depending on how much quality is put into a fan-made Touhou work, but doesn't wish to choose a favourite to keep things fair with the whole fanbase. He doesn't wish to get influenced by fan-made Touhou works, but he states that the fanbase has influenced on how he works in life.[7]

Additional Information

ZUN in the fangame Touhou Unreal Mahjong.
  • ZUN appears as a playable character in the fangame Touhou Unreal Mahjong.
  • In his interview on Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red, ZUN said that he develops his games with Visual Studio, Adobe Photoshop and Steinberg Cubase (Cubase SX 3 at the time). In more recent interviews, he's always shown using the latest version of Cubase Pro available at the time.
  • ZUN currently holds the world record for the Touhou Project as the "world's most prolific fan-made shooter series".[10]
  • The theme song "Kid's Festival ~ Innocent Treasures" in Changeability of Strange Dream is ZUN's official theme. He has stated in Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red that writing this song was somewhat embarrassing and that "It's like the theme song that plays when you make your entrance on a talk show". This has happened twice or more when ZUN entered a talk show.
    • This theme seems to be the only one that ZUN wrote lyrics for. However, he either couldn't or didn't get anyone to sing the vocal part, so the theme was left as a non-vocal.
  • On his website, ZUN claims the Last Judgement started out as an attempt at composing his own theme. He abandoned the idea as he felt the resulting song didn't fit well, and was perhaps "too good".
  • It has been theorised that ZUN might've had trouble designing male characters due to the number of female characters – such as statements like "it would be weird to have an old man as the last boss in Touhou" for Myouren Hijiri been originally the final boss of Undefined Fantastic Object – but later confirmed that he feels that "boys get in the way of the game" and that "boys would just ruin the balance of the series."[7]
  • About whether the PC-98 games are canon or not, he states that both PC-98 and Windows games are set in the same world. He recognizes that there are contradictions and for those, we should refer to the latest games for canon.[7]
  • He has mentioned in the same Swedish Magazine Interview that the company he worked for didn't like his work on the Touhou Project very much since it meant that he was working two parts.

Fandom

Not even ZUN himself is safe from derivative works.
  • As it's his title, the word "Kannushi" (神主) is often seen synonymously with "ZUN".
  • ZUN has been generally treated as a regular Touhou character with the rest of the Touhou Project characters, where he appears in fan-made fictions and games – such as Touhou Soccer Moushuuden – and fanart.
  • A figure creator called Moge Koubou made an action figure of ZUN. With his permission, it was sold at the 2009 Winter Comiket.
  • It's common for fans to jokingly state that what created Touhou and Gensokyo was beer, not ZUN.
  • In fanart and doujinshi, the unsound effect, "ZUUUU~N!", is sometimes used.
  • The trumpets heard in his music have often been referred to as "ZUNpets" (ZUNペット) by fans.
  • ZUN has been compared to Aya Shameimaru after being seen wearing this shirt, which resembles the one worn by Aya in Double Spoiler. Aya has also been referred to as "ZUN's girlfriend" because of her recurring appearance in the games.

ZUN Speaks

English

Fully translated

Partially translated

Untranslated

Dead link

These videos were originally available and translated, but the uploader was forced to set them to private after several copyright claims.
They are now re-uploaded, though untranslated.

Gallery

See Also

References

  1. not an official print work but ZUN got involved
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers Interview: interview between John Szczepaniak and ZUN
  3. White Canvas Case: comment
  4. November 2012 Nikenme Radio 3D event
  5. https://twitter.com/korindo/status/477666648661319680
  6. https://twitter.com/korindo/status/206496584773537793
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 ZUN's AWA Q&A Panel
  8. Double Dealing Character Staff roll
  9. Notes on ZUN's Genyou Denshou Lecture
  10. "Most prolific fan-made shooter series". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 22 August 2011.