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Suwako Moriya

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(もり) ()   () () ()
moɽija sɯwako (♫)
Suwako Moriya
Suwako
Suwako Moriya in Touhou Hisoutensoku
The Highest of Indigenous Gods
More Character Titles
Species

God of mountains (not native to Gensokyo)

Abilities

Creating earthliness

Age

Unknown, but one of the oldest gods; she far predates the invasion by the Goddess Kanako and the Yamato in the Great Suwa War, approximately 2300 years ago.[citation needed]

Occupation

Former goddess of Moriya Shrine

Location

Moriya Shrine, Youkai Mountain, Underground Geyser Center; Originally from the Outside World

Music Themes
Appearances
Official Games
Print Works

"Pay more respect to the earth.
Otherwise, who knows? You might even get cursed. Heh heh."
Suwako Moriya (Touhou Hisoutensoku)


Suwako Moriya (洩矢 諏訪子 Moriya Suwako) is the original god of the Moriya Shrine. Officially the shrine now belongs to Kanako Yasaka, but in Suwako's words she handles most of the divine services while Kanako handles the "sales"[1].

General Information

Suwako first appeared as the extra boss of Mountain of Faith. Unlike Kanako, who is technically a divine spirit who once had a human form, Suwako is one of the Yaoyorozu no Kami, and thus consists purely of faith. She also controls the Mishaguji, which is one of her main sources of faith from humans.

When a portion of her spirit is enshrined, she takes on the form of a frog. In this form, she can grant various blessings, such as safe travel, financial upturn, and transfiguration.

Personality

In contrast to Kanako, Suwako is more laid back and mischievous. She enjoys competing against others, and loses gracefully. Though she feigns ignorance, Suwako is just as capable of scheming as Kanako. Combined with her rarely leaving the shrine, her intentions can be hard to read.

Abilities

Ability to create earthliness

Suwako's ability specifically refers to the element of Kun (), one of the eight trigrams in Taoist philosophy that means creating Earth. Kun is exactly the pinnacle of the native god and is associated with acceptance, devotion, subtlety, flexibility, and reacting to others rather than acting first. Kanako Yasaka's ability to create the "heavenliness" of Bagua, or Qian (), refers to the opposite element. Although Mountain of Faith offers little insight into the nature of Suwako's abilities, her attack animations in Touhou Hisoutensoku depict her "swimming" through the ground, summoning magma, geysers, various rocks and minerals, growing plants instantly, and bending rivers.[2]

Iron rings

Possibly because of her ability to manipulate minerals, Suwako uses large iron rings as weapons in various attacks. Aya Shameimaru mentions that weapon isn't a kanawa, Japanese Chakram-like weapon, because of the way she throws it. According to Hatate Himekaidou, they are scarily sharp.[3]

Backstory

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

It is said that Sanae is her distant descendant, although Sanae didn't even know it until the events of Subterranean Animism. [citation needed]

Character Design

Name

The name Suwako (諏訪子) is modified from Lake Suwa (諏訪湖 Suwa-ko), the largest lake in Nagano prefecture. The area also features one of the world's largest geysers. Suwako's family name is probably derived from Moreyashin (洩矢神, the god Moriya), who is said to be the first ancestor of Sanae Moriya (守矢早苗), the real person who inspired Sanae Kochiya. (Moreya is an archaic, alternate pronunciation of Moriya.)

Design

Suwako wears a short simple purplish-blue dress with a frog print design, large white sleeves stitched onto the torso, and a white collar. She has medium length blond hair, grey eyes, a light brown wide-brimmed hat with two frog eyes on the top, white kneehighs and black shoes. Originally unofficial, Suwako has been shown to wear Zettai Ryouiki in Touhou Hisoutensoku and Hopeless Masquerade.

Appearances

Games

Mountain of Faith
Suwako's sprite in MoF

Reimu and Marisa hear rumors about a second god residing in the Moriya Shrine. Both heroines set out for the shrine to confirm the rumor when they meet Suwako. Suwako explains that the Moriya Shrine was originally solely hers and that she's the one who administers divine blessings/curses whereas Kanako tends to act as the face of the shrine. She also reveals that Kanako was the god who moved the shrine to Gensokyo. After subjecting the heroines to a "danmaku festival" and being impressed by their skills, she decides to stay in Gensokyo.

Subterranean Animism

In Subterranean Animism, Suwako appeared in Reimu and Yukari's Scenario as well as Reimu and Aya's Scenario, revealing an industrial revolution project by Kanako that caused Reimu to get mad for being sent to the Hell of Blazing Fires.

Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom

Suwako makes another appearance in Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom, this time in Sanae's ending if you have lost a life playing Legacy Mode. Suwako arrives while Kanako was training Sanae to become better at danmaku dodging, saying that she has found a conclusion for the analysis she has done with the Ultramarine Orb Elixir. Suwako declares the elixir to be dangerous to a native god like her since it also had the effect of purifying the past. Apparently, if Sanae were to take it, it would leave her a "pure human".

Spin-off games

Suwako sprite in Touhou Hisoutensoku
Touhou Hisoutensoku

In Touhou Hisoutensoku, Suwako was the final boss of Sanae Kochiya's scenario, but also as an aid for Sanae to attack her opponent (including herself). She was aware of the true nature of the vanishing giant seen roaming around Gensokyo, that being Hisoutensoku and was confronted by Sanae over this and other secretive actions Suwako was involved in. She is also a playable character in arcade and versus modes. Despite the last stage status and having a diverse set of attacks, she is regarded as a bottom-tier character in essentially every Soku tier listing.

Double Spoiler

In Double Spoiler, Suwako appeared as a stage 11 target, where she uses a few spell cards and had Aya Shameimaru and Hatate Himekaidou take photos of her and her danmaku.

Hopeless Masquerade
Suwako in HM

Suwako made a background cameo appearance in Hopeless Masquerade on the Genbu Ravine and Youkai Tanuki Forest stage. She is seen standing next to Sanae Kochiya hopping.

Impossible Spell Card

After apparently reading the newspaper by the tengu about a mischief-making amanojaku, she becomes one of the many strong beings to try and stop Seija Kijin. She uses spell cards that are considered impossible to dodge.

Literature

Wild and Horned Hermit

Suwako is interrogated by Kasen Ibara after she was suspected to be involved in the construction of the dam at the foot of Youkai Mountain. Suwako confirms her suspicions, saying that the landslide is artificial and its true use is to create an artificial lake needed for another base for the Moriya Shrine. However, the incompetence of the kappas obligated the cancellation of the project.[4] During the opening of the ropeway, she dresses up as a Kappa and make announcements to the human worshipers.

Relationships

Kanako Yasaka

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

Sanae Kochiya

Sanae acts as a wind priestess under Suwako and is able to summon her. Sanae is also Suwako's descendant, though Sanae was initially unaware of the fact.

Utsuho Reiuji

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

Mishaguji

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

Hisoutensoku

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

Gallery

Artworks

Sprites

Illustrations

Screenshots

Others

Skills

Skills
Name Translated Comments Games Usage
Total: 12
大地の湖 Lake of Great Earth Soku Default 236B/C
古代翡翠 Ancient Jade Soku Alternate 236B/C
蛙石神 Stone Frog God Soku Alternate 236B/C
大蝦蟇神 Giant Toad God Soku Default 623B/C
古の鉄輪 Ancient Iron Ring Soku Alternate 623B/C
手長足長さん Mr. Long-Arm and Mr. Long-Leg Related: Suwako's Native God "Lord Long-Arm and Lord Long-Leg" (MoF) Soku Alternate 623B/C
古の間欠泉 Ancient Geyser Soku Default 214B/C
水蛙神 Water Frog God Soku Alternate 214B/C
雨を呼ぶ雨蛙 Rain-calling Frog Soku Alternate 214B/C
土着神の祟り Native God's Scourge Aided by Mishaguji Soku Default 22B/C
祟られた大地 Scourged Earth Aided by Mishaguji Soku Alternate 22B/C
ミシャグジさまの祟り Mishaguji Scourge Aided by Mishaguji Soku Alternate 22B/C

Spell Cards

Spellcards
Name Translated Comments Games Stage
Total: 27
開宴「二拝二拍一拝」 Party Start "Two Bows, Two Claps, and One Bow" MoF
Soku
St. Ex
Use
土着神「手長足長さま」 Native God "Lord Long-Arm and Lord Long-Leg" MoF
Soku
GoM
St. Ex
Use
神具「洩矢の鉄の輪」 Divine Tool "Moriya's Iron Ring" MoF
Soku
Soku
GoM
St. Ex
Use
Story
源符「厭い川の翡翠」 Spring Sign "Jade of the Horrid River" MoF
Soku
GoM
St. Ex
Use
蛙狩「蛙は口ゆえ蛇に呑まるる」 Frog Hunt "The Snake Eats the Croaking Frog" MoF
Soku
GoM
St. Ex
Use
土着神「七つの石と七つの木」 Native God "Seven Stones and Seven Trees" MoF St. Ex
土着神「ケロちゃん風雨に負けず」 Native God "Froggy Braves the Wind and Rain" MoF
Soku
St. Ex
Use
土着神「宝永四年の赤蛙」 Native God "Red Frogs of Houei 4" MoF
Soku
St. Ex
Use
「諏訪大戦 ~ 土着神話 vs 中央神話」 "Suwa War ~ Native Myth vs Central Myth" MoF
GoM
St. Ex
崇符「ミシャグジさま」 Scourge Sign "Mishaguji-sama" MoF
GoM
St. Ex
源符「諏訪清水」 Spring Sign "Suwa Clear Water" Soku Use
土着神「洩矢神」 Native God "Moriya God" Soku Use
蛙休「オールウェイズ冬眠できます」 Frog Nap "Can Always Hibernate" Soku Use
祟り神「赤口(ミシャグチ)さま」 Scourge God "Mishaguchi-sama" Soku Use
合掌「だいだらぼっちの参拝」 Clap "Daidarabotchi's Worship" Soku Story
「獄熱の間欠泉」 "Hellish Heat Geyser" Soku Story
「マグマの両生類」 "Magma Amphibian" Soku Story
「幻想郷空中神戦」 "Divine Battle Above Gensokyo" Soku Story
神桜「湛えの桜吹雪」 Divine Sakura "Full Sakura Blizzard" DS St. 11
姫川「プリンセスジェイドグリーン」 Hime River "Princess Jade Green" DS
GoU
St. 11
鉄輪「ミシカルリング」 Iron Ring "Mythical Ring" DS St. 11
土着神「御射軍神さま」 Native God "Mishaguji-sama" DS St. 11
緑石「ジェイドブレイク」 Green Stone "Jade Break" ISC St. 9
蛙符「血塗られた赤蛙塚」 Frog Sign "Bloody Mound of Red Frogs" ISC
GoU
St. 9
風神符「ミシャバシラ」 Wind God Sign "Mishabashira" Co-owner with Kanako VD Nightmare Monday - 2
風花符「ミシャグジ様の是非」 Wind Flower Sign "Mishaguji-sama's Right and Wrong" Co-owner with Eiki VD Nightmare Monday - 4
妖風符「土着蝶ストーム」 Ghostly Wind Sign "Native Butterfly Storm" Co-owner with Yuyuko VD Nightmare Monday - 5

Additional Information

Suwako, as illustrated in The Grimoire of Marisa
  • Kanako Yasaka and Suwako are described in Silent Sinner in Blue Chapter 6 as gods that have a body. Having a body is likely why they can move and act so independently as opposed to gods who need a vessel, although they are still capable of splitting their spirit when summoned and called upon like all Japanese gods.
  • Chapter 19 of Silent Sinner in Blue implies that the Lunarians are using shimenawa to seal away a god at the Moriya Shrine. It's unknown if Suwako is aware of this. Her win quote to Reisen Udongein Inaba in Touhou Hisoutensoku merely has her commenting, "I heard that there are all kinds of gods where you come from."
  • Suwako's strongest spell card in Touhou Hisoutensoku resembles the ultimate attack of Akuma from Street Fighter, the Shun Goku Satsu.
  • In Touhou Hisoutensoku, one of her palettes is a homage to Hina Kagiyama. She also seems to have another alternate color palettes that resembles the fan-made character Maybell.
  • The frogs printed on Suwako's dress were taken from Chōjū-giga, the picture scrolls drawn in 12th century.
  • Suwako's theme "Native Faith" is an homage to "Boss6", the BGM used in an STG released by Taito in 1989, Night Striker (ナイトストライカー).
  • Suwako does not have any actual connection to frogs, but she likes frogs and her spirit is sometimes invoked in the form of a frog.

Fandom

Official Profiles

Mountain of Faith - キャラ設定.txt
Suwako  ○エキストラボス 土着神の頂点

  洩矢 諏訪子(もりや すわこ)

  Moriya Suwako


  種族:神様

  能力:坤を創造する程度の能力


  守矢の神社に住む本当の神様。

  山の神様であり、山に住んでいた様々な神様のリーダーでもあった。


  遙か古代、彼女は驚異的な信仰心を得ていた『ミシャグジ様』を束ねていた神だった。

  ミシャグジ様とは、生誕、農作、軍事、様々な事柄の祟り神であり、蔑ろにするとたちどころに神罰が下るという恐怖の神様である。

  その神様をコントロールできたのが諏訪子だけであった。

  その為、彼女への信仰心は凄まじく、当時は神であると同時に一国の王として王国を築いていた。


  だが、そんな彼女の王国の元に大和の神々が侵略してきたのである。

  王国を訪れた大和の神とは、神奈子であった。

  大和の神々は、小さな王国を次々と自分の物にしていった。最終的に全ての国を統一し、日本という一つの国にするつもりであると言った。


  勿論、諏訪子は抵抗し当時最先端であった鉄製の武器を持って戦った。

  しかし、神奈子は細い植物の蔓をかざすと、諏訪子が持っていた大量の鉄の輪は、たちまち錆びてボロボロになってしまった。その神力の差に敗北を確信した諏訪子は、潔く降参し王国を明け渡した。


  そして、神奈子は洩矢の王国を手に入れたのだ。


  しかし、洩矢の王国の人間は、土着の神であったミシャグジ様の恐怖を忘れることが出来ず、新しい神様を受け入れようとしなかった。


  神奈子は信仰心が得られないのならと、この王国を自分の物にするのは諦めた。代わりに新しい神様を呼び洩矢の神と融合させて、その神様を王国の中では『守矢(もりや)』、外では別の呼び名で呼び分ける事にした。これにより王国を支配しているように見せたのだ。

  守矢とは勿論、洩矢の事である。そして神奈子は、諏訪子の力を借りて自ら山の神様としてこっそり君臨する事になった。


  この王国を支配したと言われる新しい神様とは、大和の神話の名目を保たせる為の名前だけの神であった。実際は、諏訪子が引き続き王国を支配していたのである。現在外の世界の神様は殆どが大和神話に置き換わったというのに、彼女は未だ古代の姿のままひっそりと信仰を得ていた。



  しかしながら、その長きに渡って得続けた信仰も、科学の時代となるとどんどんと失われていった。


  諏訪子はさほど気にしていなかったのだが、焦った神奈子は神社ごと幻想郷に持ってくるという荒技を実行してしまった。


  諏訪子が幻想郷で上手くやっていけるのか判らなかったが、最後の遊びとして楽しむ事にした。何故、勝手に王国を捨て、幻想郷にやってきた神奈子と揉めなかったのかというと、もう外の世界には未練が無 かったからである。自分の名前を知っている人間は殆ど居なかった。


  何せ、最も近い人間であるはずの早苗ですら、諏訪子の事をよく判っていないのだ。


  早苗は今では神奈子の巫女であるが、奇跡を呼ぶ事が出来るのは彼女が実は、諏訪子の遠い子孫だからである。

  にもかかわらず、早苗は何故自分の神社に二人の神様がいるのかですらよく判っていないという有様だ。


  もはや、諏訪子は忘れ去られようが何だろうが構わなかった。むしろ幻想郷で第二の人生を送る事が出来そうで、実際は神奈子に感謝している。



  さて、神奈子は風の神でありながら、何故蛇を模したしめ縄をトレードマークにしたのだろうか?


  その理由は二つある。


  一つは、蛇が再生の意味を持っていたから。ミシャグジ様の恐怖に対抗する為だ。


  そして、もう一つは……。

  諏訪子に勝った事をさり気なくアピールする為だった。


  なんでかって?

  諏訪子は蛙の姿をした神であり、そして蛇は蛙を食べる動物だからである。

  新しい王国の神事にも、蛙を生け贄にする事などを盛り込み、人間に『この王国は蛙に代わって蛇が支配した』とアピールし続けた。


  これが、諏訪子と神奈子がよく喧嘩する原因の一つだった。


  本当は利害も一致しているし、凄く仲がよい。

Extra Boss The Highest of Native Gods

Suwako Moriya

Species: God
Ability: Creating earthliness

The true god of the Shrine of Moriya(守矢). She is the God of Mountains, and was once the leader of the many gods that lived in the Mountains.

During ancient times, she was a god in control of "Mishaguji". Mishaguji were curse gods who had obtained enormous amounts of faith, cursing birth, harvest, military, and many other things. Making light of these fearsome gods would lead to divine punishment. The only one able to tame these gods was Suwako. Because of this, she gained an extraordinary amount of faith, and cultivated a kingdom as its ruler while still being a god.

However, many other gods of Yamato (ancient Japan) invaded her kingdom. One of those gods was Kanako. The many gods of Yamato continually conquered the small kingdom for themselves. They said that ultimately, they would unify all countries and create a single country called Japan.

Naturally, Suwako resisted and fought with the finest iron weapons of the time. However, Kanako held out a thin vine, and Suwako's large iron arsenal instantly rusted. Suwako realized the difference in their divine powers and her defeat. She valiantly forfeited and relinquished her kingdom.

And so, Kanako attained the kingdom of Moriya(洩矢).

However, the people of Moriya(洩矢) could not forget the fear of their native gods, Mishaguji, and were unable to accept their new god.

Kanako thought she could not gain the faith of the people, and gave up on making the kingdom hers. Instead, she called forth a new god and combined it with Moriya's(洩矢) god. Within the kingdom, this new god was called Moriya(守矢), but was called by a different name outside of the kingdom. This way, it seemed as if it was ruling the kingdom. Moriya(守矢) is, of course, Moriya(洩矢). And thus Kanako borrowed Suwako's powers, and silently ruled as the God of Mountains.

The new god that was said to have reigned over the kingdom was a god only in name, existing only to preserve the legend of Yamato. In reality, Suwako continued to rule over the kingdom. Although the gods of the modern world have mostly been replaced by the Yamato Legends, she is still in her original form discreetly gathering faith.


However, the faith she has gathered throughout the eras is slowly fading with the introduction of the era of science.

Suwako didn't mind so much, but Kanako panicked and moved the whole shrine to Gensokyo.

Suwako didn't know how well she could get by in Gensokyo, but she decided to enjoy it as her final amusement. The reason she didn't argue with Kanako for deserting the kingdom and coming to Gensokyo was because she had no regrets left in the outer world. There were few people that knew her name.

After all, even the closest human to Suwako, Sanae, doesn't know much about her.

Sanae is currently Kanako's Shrine Maiden, but the reason she can create miracles is because she is Suwako's distant descendant. Despite this, she does not seem to understand why there are two gods within her own shrine.

Suwako didn't care whether or not she was fated to be forgotten anymore. She's actually thankful to Kanako as it seems she'll be able to enjoy a second life in Gensokyo.


Now, Kanako is the God of wind, but why is a snake-patterned rope her trademark?

There are two reasons.

The first is because the snake symbolizes reincarnation. It was to oppose the fear of Mishaguji.


And the second reason is because... She wanted to casually stress the fact that she won against Suwako.

Why, you ask? Suwako is a god that takes the form of a frog, and snakes eat frogs. Rituals of the new kingdom included sacrificing frogs to state that "The Snake now rules this kingdom in place of the Frog."


This is one reason why Suwako and Kanako argue a lot.

They share common interests and are actually very good friends.

Subterranean Animism - キャラ設定.txt
 ○はた迷惑な謎の神様

  八坂神奈子と洩矢諏訪子。
  新しく妖怪の山の上に神社ごと引っ越してきたという神様である。


  今回の事件の発端は彼女達にあった。


  ――河童のエネルギー産業革命


  そう銘打った計画は無事に第一段階を終え、実用化への道を走り
  始めていた。


  その計画とは、使われなくなった灼熱地獄を超高温な炉として再
  利用し、外の世界ではまだ実用まで百年はかかると言われている
  核融合エネルギーを取り出すこと。


  その第一段階として、優秀な地獄鴉の選定。
  太陽の化身、八咫烏の付与。
  灼熱地獄跡の再燃。
  そして鴉の飼い慣らしである。


  間欠泉はその計画の成功の証であった。


  核融合は核分裂とは異なり反応が暴走しにくい。また、高レベル
  な産廃も生まれない。
  その為安全性が高くエネルギーも極めて高い為、夢のようなエネ
  ルギーであった。


  神奈子は神社の営業の一環として行動したようである。


  特に危険は感じられなかったので、真相が判った後も地上の妖怪
  は計画を潰すような事はしなかった。



  ただ、地底に行かされた霊夢達は
  『そういう事はみんなに言ってからやれ』
  とカンカンだったそうな。

The Troublesome Mysterious Gods

Kanako Yasaka and Suwako Moriya.
They are the gods that recently moved their shrine to the top of the Youkai Mountain.

They are the start of this story.

——The Kappas' Energy Revolution

The plan by this name has safely concluded its first phase and is on its way towards practical implementation.

The plan involved using the now-dormant Blazing Hell as a super-high temperature furnace in an attempt to tame a power that it is said the outside world won't attain for hundreds of years: nuclear fusion energy.

The first step was to find an exemplary hell raven.
Then, to bestow upon it the personification of the sun, Yatagarasu.
Then, to rekindle the flames of the Remains of Blazing Hell.
Then, to tame the crow.

The geyser was proof of the plan's success.

Unlike fission energy, fusion reactions are less likely to go out of control. In addition, it doesn't create such lethal waste.
So, because it is very safe and produces massive amounts of energy, it is an almost dream-like energy production method.

Kanako seems to treat this as just one part of the shrine's operations.

Because they didn't feel the plan was dangerous, the above-ground youkai did nothing to stop it even once they found out the truth.

However, Reimu, who was made to go underground,
confronted them and said angrily,
"Next time, tell everyone about it before you start!"

Official Sources

Official sources

See Also

References

  1. Symposium of Post-mysticism/Suwako Moriya
    However, Kanako and the shrine maiden, Sanae Kochiya, carry out the duties of gathering faith. She doesn't come forth of her own volition often. Whether it is because she is bad at marketing faith by herself or some other reason is one of the mysteries of the Moriya Shrine.
  2. Touhou Hisoutensoku: Sukawo Moriya's Spell Cards
  3. Double Spoiler: Iron Ring "Mythical Ring"
  4. Chapter 4 Wild and Horned Hermit