Kanako Yasaka

八 (や) 坂 (さか) 　神 (か) 奈 (な) 子 (こ) jasaka kanako (♫) Kanako Yasaka
Kanako Yasaka in Sunken Fossil World The Avatar of Mountains and Lakes More Character Titles
Species	Goddess of wind and rain (Divine Spirit)
Abilities	Creating heavenliness (Qian (乾))
Age	Over 2000 years old
Occupation	Goddess of Moriya Shrine
Location	Wind God's Lake at Moriya Shrine on top of Youkai Mountain, Underground Geyser Center[1]; Originally from the Outside World
Music Themes
Expand 神さびた古戦場　～ Suwa Foughten Field (Mountain of Faith)
Appearances
Official Games
Expand Mountain of Faith (Cover, Stage 6 Boss, Extra Midboss) Subterranean Animism (Backstory) Undefined Fantastic Object (Cameo) Touhou Hisoutensoku (Sanae's skill card attacks, Sanae's Ending) Double Spoiler (Scene 11-1, 11-3, 11-5, 11-7 Boss) Hopeless Masquerade (Background Character) Impossible Spell Card (9th Day Boss) Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom (Ending No. 5 & 6) Violet Detector (Nightmare Monday Boss) Sunken Fossil World (Playable Character, Possible Opponent) Unconnected Marketeers (Sanae Good and Alternate Endings) Fossilized Wonders (Ending No. 8)
Print Works
Expand Silent Sinner in Blue (Chapter 5, 6, 9, 13 cameo) Strange and Bright Nature Deity (Chapter 22 cameo) Oriental Sacred Place (Chapter 18 Cameo) The Grimoire of Marisa Wild and Horned Hermit (Secondary Character) Symposium of Post-mysticism (Main Character, Article) Forbidden Scrollery (Volume 1 omake cameo) Visionary Fairies in Shrine (Chapter 2 Cameo, 6 cameo, 10 cameo) Alternative Facts in Eastern Utopia (Page 96 cameo) The Grimoire of Usami (Section 1-10) Foul Detective Satori (Chapter 1 cameo, 5 cameo, Chapter 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 32, 38, 39, 40, 44) Lotus Eaters (Chapters 13, 14, 15, 22, 23 cameo, 69 cameo) Whispered Oracle of Hakurei Shrine (Secondary character, Fortune Slip No. 42)

"A god must eliminate all who oppose their struggle for faith, one by one."
— Kanako Yasaka (Mountain of Faith Stage 6.)

Kanako Yasaka (八坂　神奈子, Yasaka Kanako) is the current goddess of the Moriya Shrine after defeating its previous resident goddess Suwako Moriya in the Great Suwa War. She desires to collect large amounts of faith, but since the humans of the Outside World no longer place much importance on gods, she has transported the shrine and Wind God's Lake to the top of Youkai Mountain in Gensokyo to gather faith from both the humans of the Human Village while cooperating with the Tengu and Kappa. Kanako first appeared as a main antagonist, the Stage 6 boss and Extra stage midboss in Mountain of Faith. She later became a playable character in Sunken Fossil World.

General Information

Personality

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

She has no hostility towards humans, though as is the case with all deities, she may curse them if they are disrespectful. She also seems to be rather short-tempered, but she is vulnerable to gifts. Kanako is also a skilled negotiator.^[2]

Abilities

Ability to create heavenliness

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

She is at least called "wind god", so it may be a power to manipulate wind, rain, and weather. Her animations in Sunken Fossil World depict her summoning tornadoes. For Kanako to be a god of agriculture, to manipulate the wind and rain and make the soil plentiful would definitely be a way to quickly and easily gather faith.

In Symposium of Post-mysticism, it's stated that this ability of hers is still very much a mystery. She has been seen altering the terrain with Suwako's help, opening holes to the underground, and even creating large structures. She helped build the Myouren Temple, as well.

Occupation

Kanako is currently the deity of the Moriya Shrine, and lives with Suwako Moriya, the de facto ruler of the shrine, and Sanae Kochiya, a wind priestess. She generally seems to spend her time implementing new ways to gain faith from those who live outside the Youkai Mountain. She tries to control nuclear fusion and does so by feeding Yatagarasu to Utsuho Reiuji and creating a nuclear fusion reactor leading to the underground, which indirectly caused the events of Subterranean Animism, Undefined Fantastic Object, Touhou Hisoutensoku, and Ten Desires. Kanako would later successfully have a ropeway going from the foot of Youkai Mountain near the Human Village to Moriya Shrine in Wild and Horned Hermit.

Possessions

Kanako's shimenawa represents the figure of an entwined snake, which in turn represents resurrection, rebirth, and eternity through the repeated shedding of its own skin. She also possesses onbashira, which she apparently uses in traditional festivals to toss off of cliffs, and also in combat in Sunken Fossil World.

Official Profiles

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Official Profiles

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Mountain of Faith - キャラ設定.txt

○６面ボス　山坂と湖の権化 　　八坂　神奈子（やさか　かなこ） 　　Yasaka Kanako 　　種族：神様 　　能力：乾を創造する程度の能力 　　最近、妖怪の山に神社ごと引っ越してきた神様である。 　　八坂（無数の坂）という名前の通り、山の神様と言われているが、実際は風雨の神様であった。 　　雨や風を司るという事は、つまり農業の神として祀られていた。 　　山の神様として祀られる事になった経緯は非常に複雑であり、その真意を知っているのは神奈子と諏訪子の二人だけである。 　　神奈子のトレードマークである『しめ縄』は、蛇が絡まっている姿を表現している。脱皮を繰り返す蛇は、復活と再生、永遠を意味していた。 　　だが、人間は寿命を知り、永遠を信じなくなった。 　　農業も風雨に対抗する術を手に入れつつあった。 　　山は火山や地殻変動で出来る事を知った。山を越える危険も失われた。 　　そう、人間は科学と情報を信仰し始めたのだ。 　　それと共に、彼女ら神々に対する信仰心は失われつつあった。 　　彼女は、信仰心を取り戻す方法を模索していた。 　　そして大きな賭に出る事にした。 　　それは 　　　『神社を人間の世界から幻想の物とし、幻想郷で信仰を集める事』 　　だった。 　　現在残された信仰が全て失われ一時的に力を失うが、可能性はその方がある。滅び行く過去の栄光より、可能性ある未来を選んだのだ。 　　――そして、彼女の企みは成功したように見えた。 　　予想以上スムースに幻想郷で神社は受け入れられ、早くも妖怪の山の神様として祀られ始めている。 　　余りのスムースさに何度か疑問を持つ事もあったが、幻想郷の仕組みを見ていると、その理由が何となく判る気がする。 　　幻想郷には博麗神社という神社が存在していた。 　　そこの神社は、信仰心こそ殆ど失われていたが、妖怪達に人気がありいつも誰か入り浸っている妖怪がいると言われていた。 　　妖怪にとって神社は、恰好の遊び場となっていたのだろう。 　　神奈子は信仰の対象と共に、妖怪の遊び相手としても受け入れられた。 　　宴会も毎晩のように開かれた。 　　実は、神様は一緒に遊んでくれる事を望んでいるのである。お祭りとは人間と神が一緒に遊ぶ事だ。日常を忘れて一緒になって遊ぶ事で、神と人間や、人間同士の共同体としての連帯感を持たせる。人間が妖怪に置き換わっても一緒である。 　　まさしくそれは、神奈子が望んだ『信仰』の形であった。 　　しかし、神奈子が持つ幻想郷の知識は乏しい。 　　幻想郷の妖怪には幾つもの勢力がある事を知らない。にもかかわらず、山の妖怪達の信仰を集め、その代わりに大いなる神徳を与えた。 　　その事が、山の妖怪、つまり天狗や河童達の力が強くなり過ぎる事に気付いていなかったのだ。 　　その事で、平穏な幻想郷のパワーバランスを崩す恐れがあった。 　　神奈子は、幻想郷のバランスを取る為にこれから麓の妖怪や人間の信仰も得る必要があるだろう。 　　その為には、博麗神社を利用しなければ上手く事が進まない。 　　幻想郷で外の世界と同等の信仰を取り戻すには、まだまだ課題は残されたままである。

Stage 6 Boss The Avatar of Mountains and Lakes Kanako Yasaka Species: God Ability: Creating the heavenliness (Qian (乾)) The goddess who, together with her shrine, recently moved to the Youkai Mountain. Because of her name 'Yasaka' (countless hills), she has been called a god of the mountains, but in reality, she is a god of the wind and rain. As such, she has been worshiped as a goddess of agriculture. The particulars of how she came to be worshiped as a god of the mountains are highly complicated. Only Kanako and Suwako know the truth of the matter. Kanako's trademark shimenawa rope represents a coiling snake. The snake's continual cycle of molting represents resurrection, rebirth and eternity. However, as humans have come to grips with their mortality, they have come to no longer believe in eternity. In agriculture, too have they gained the means to defy the wind and the rain. They learned that mountains were created from volcanoes and changes in the earth's crust. They became able to cross mountains easily and without danger. Indeed, humans had begun to believe in science and information, and their faith in gods like Kanako continued to wane. Kanako searched for a way to regain faith. And she came up with a big gamble. And that was, "to make the shrine into a thing of fantasy in the world of humans, and collect faith in Gensokyo". Although it would mean that she would lose all the faith she still had left currently and thus lose her power temporarily, this way held more potential. She chose a future with potential rather over the crumbling glories of the past. --And so, her plans seemed to be successful. The shrine was accepted into Gensokyo more smoothly than she had expected, and she quickly began to be worshiped as the deity of the Youkai Mountain. Although she had her doubts now and again at the excessive smoothness, once she saw how Gensokyo worked, she believed she understood why things went so well. In Gensokyo there was a shrine called the Hakurei Shrine. Although that shrine had almost completely lost all its faith, it was popular with youkai and it was said there was always some youkai frequenting it. For the youkai, the shrine seemed to have become a suitable playground. Along with becoming an object of worship, Kanako was also accepted as a playmate of the youkai. Feasts were held almost every night. Actually, to play together was what gods wished for. Festivals were venues for humans and gods to play together. By forgetting about everyday life and coming together to play, gods and humans gained the feeling of solidarity within a community. Even if the humans were exchanged for youkai, it was the same. This was exactly the kind of faith Kanako was wishing for. However, the knowledge Kanako held of Gensokyo was limited. She didn't know that among the youkai of Gensokyo, there existed a number of powers. Nevertheless, she collected the faith of the mountain youkai, and attained great divine virtue. She did not realize that this meant that the power of the mountain youkai, in other words the tengu and the kappa, were becoming too great. With that, there was the fear that the power balance of tranquil Gensokyo would collapse. Kanako thought that to keep Gensokyo's balance, she must now acquire the faith of the youkai and humans beneath the mountain. To achieve that, she must utilize the Hakurei Shrine else things won't proceed smoothly. Much remained before she would be able to regain the same amount of faith she'd had in the outside world.

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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!"

Spell Cards

Backstory

Illustration of Kanako from Grimoire of Marisa

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

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

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

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

Character Design

Kanako, as she appears in Symposium of Post-mysticism‎.

Origin

Kanako is based off both Takeminakata-no-Mikoto (建御名方命) and Yasakatome-no-Mikoto (八坂刀売命),^[3] gods of the Suwa-taisha (Suwa Grand Shrine), which, on the other hand, Suwako Moriya is named after. Several of the myths related to Takeminakata, Yasakatome, and the Suwa-taisha are referenced in Kanako's spell cards.

Takeminakata

Takeminakata, also known as Suwa Daimyōjin (諏訪大明神) or Suwa Myōjin (諏訪明神), is the god of wind, water, hunting, agriculture, and warfare worshiped in the Upper Shrine of Suwa (上社, Kamisha), which is two of the four main buildings that make up the Grand Shrine of Suwa.

In the Kojiki, Takeminakata was a son of Ōkuninushi, ruler of the land of Izumo, who was defeated by the god of thunder, Takemikazuchi, acting as the messenger of the gods of heaven, and forced into exile in the "sea of Suwa in the land of Shinano." (Curiously, Takeminakata only appears in the Kojiki; he is absent in other sources that tell the same myth, such as the Nihon Shoki; it is thus speculated that Takeminakata was not originally associated with Izumo and was later artificially grafted into this myth.)

In Suwa, Takeminakata, as Suwa Myōjin, is instead considered to be a deity who defeated a local god named Moreya (a.k.a. Moriya, the god Suwako is based off) using only a branch or vine of wisteria. After his defeat, Moreya swore fealty to Takeminakata, the new ruler of the Suwa region, and became the ancestor of the Moriya clan (守矢氏), one of the priestly families of the Upper Shrine. The Suwa clan (諏訪氏), which also held offices in the shrine, claimed descent from Takeminakata. The Upper Shrine's high priest (大祝, Oohouri) was always a member of the Suwa clan, and he was said to be Takeminakata's own Arahitogami. The Suwa clan, Moriya clan, and several other clans remained in power until hereditary priesthood was abolished in the wake of the formation of State Shinto during the Meiji period.

The story of Takeminakata's defeat of Moreya is thought to be a mythicization of a historical event in which a group of outsiders settled in the Suwa region and came into conflict with the local inhabitants, who they eventually defeated and placed under their control. One theory places this event around the end of the Jōmon period (c. 14,000–300 BCE), claiming that the myth is based on indigenous Jōmon hunter-gatherers opposing the arrival of agricultural Yayoi tribes into Suwa. Another theory claims that the story may be inspired by an event during the end of the Kofun period (late 6th century) in which a clan affiliated with the expanding Yamato kingdom (the future Suwa clan) invaded Suwa and subjugated a local clan of priest-chieftains who controlled the area, what would become known as the Moriya clan. (Kanako's characterization as one of the "gods of Yamato" may be based on this latter theory.)

While the myth of Suwa Myōjin's entry into Suwa is the inspiration behind Kanako's backstory, Silent Sinner in Blue suggests that a god named 'Takeminakata', a son of Lord Daikoku (modeled after the Kojiki's portrayal of Takeminakata as Ōkuninushi's son) exists as a separate figure from Kanako.

Yasakatome

Yasakatome is the goddess of the Lower Shrine of Suwa (下社 Shimosha) considered to be Takeminakata's spouse, and likely the basis for Kanako's surname. Unlike Takeminakata, very little myth or legend survives of her.

In one story involving the goddess, when Yasakatome left her husband's place and moved north of Lake Suwa, where the two shrines that make up the Lower Shrine currently stand, she took with her a wad of cotton soaked in hot water. Upon arriving in her new home, she dropped the cotton ball on the ground; hot spring water gushed out at the spot where the cotton fell. This is considered to be the mythical origin of the hot springs of the town of Shimosuwa. (Yasakatome's association with hot springs could be an inspiration for Kanako's involvement in the events of Subterranean Animism.)

Another legend claims that the pressure ridge that forms on the frozen surface of Lake Suwa during cold winters, the Omiwatari (御神渡り, 'the god's crossing'), is caused by Takeminakata crossing the lake to visit his wife on the other shore.

Association with snakes

Kanako's association with snakes comes from the fact that the god of Suwa Shrine was often associated with and even portrayed as taking the form of a snake or a dragon in many legends and folktales. For instance, during the Mongol invasions of Japan in the 13th century, Suwa Myōjin is said to have appeared as a giant snake in the sky who flew westward to assist the Japanese troops. In another well-known medieval tale, the god of Suwa Shrine's true identity is claimed to be that of a warrior named Kōga Saburō, who was transformed into a snake/dragon after a journey into the underworld.

The association of Suwa Myōjin with serpents is due to his nature as a god of water, snakes and dragons being associated with the element. One theory regarding the name 'Takeminakata' is that it is derived from Minakata (水潟, 水方 or 水県), a term denoting a body of water.

Kanako's mirror

Kanako's mirror may be a reference to the Masumi no Kagami (真澄の鏡, clear mirror), a mirror said to have been owned by Suwa Myōjin himself. Other items supposedly brought by the god during his entry into Suwa include a bell called the Yasaka no Suzu (八栄の鈴) - the characters for yasaka are not the same as those in 'Yasakatome' or in Kanako's surname) and horse riding gear. Out of these, the Yasaka no Suzu is currently on display in the Upper Shrine's Treasury.

Name

Her full name is Yasaka Kanako (八坂 神奈子). Her surname Yasaka (八坂) was likely taken from Yasakatome (八坂刀売). ya (八) means "eight" and Saka (坂) mean "hill". Literally translated, yasaka means "eight hills," but can also figuratively mean "countless hills." It's referenced that because of her name, she might be seen as a mountain god, but she is really a god of wind and rain.

The 神 (kami, ka(n)) in her given name means "god", while the final character ko (子), "child" is a common suffix for Japanese female names. Her name as a whole may be inspired by the Japanese word for a sacred mountain, kannabi (神奈備).

In the character introduction image of Mountain of Faith (just when her theme starts, and her name and title is revealed), her name was incorrectly spelled as Yasama Kanako, which the "sama" isn't a correct romaji for 坂.

Design

Kanako has an elaborate red shirt with long white sleeves and a round mirror over the center of her chest. She wears a long black skirt with a red flower print hem. Has poofy intense blue hair and dark red eyes. Behind her is a large twisting rope circle shimenawa with shide.

Appearances

Mountain of Faith

Kanako's sprite in MoF

In the main events of Mountain of Faith, Kanako plots to take over the Hakurei Shrine and use it to collect more faith, to gain more power.

Main article: Mountain of Faith: Reimu's Scenario

Kanako offers to take Reimu and her shrine under her wing so that both would increase in followers and faith. Reimu refuses, on the grounds that she does not want Kanako interfering. Kanako then decides that Reimu is going to accept her help by force and a battle ensues. After she is defeated, she, Sanae, and a few other youkai visit the Hakurei Shrine, where Reimu vouches for them, telling Aya that they're not bad gods.

Main article: Mountain of Faith: Marisa's Scenario

Kanako gets called out by Marisa for causing strife among the residents of the mountain and the Hakurei Shrine. Kanako scoffs and tells Marisa that she has no need for people who will not give her faith. After Marisa defeats her, the magician creates a little shrine out in the middle of nowhere and, in passing, notes that she should put Kanako in it. It immediately becomes a branch shrine for Kanako, though when she appears, she isn't too happy about it.

Subterranean Animism

Before the events of Subterranean Animism, it is hinted that she was the one who granted Utsuho Reiuji her powers (by telling her that she could swallow a god, Yatagarasu) and inadvertently caused the events of the game. She is also the cause of the events of the Extra Stage of the game, as the heroine hears her plans from Utsuho and sets to the Moriya Shrine to know more about her industrialization project.

Undefined Fantastic Object

Kanako is indirectly involved in the incident for Undefined Fantastic Object, where because she gave Utsuho her nuclear powers, this caused geysers. however, this also caused the Palanquin Ship to pop out of the ground, thus creating the scenario of the game.

Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom

Kanako appears in both Sanae's Pointdevice/No-Death Clear ending and Sanae's Legacy Mode ending, making her the only character the protagonist meets in both of her endings in Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom. In Sanae's Pointdevice/No Death Clear ending, Kanako reads a report written by Sanae about what happened on her trip (the report only being 80% true). Afterwards, Kanako started talking about Sagume Kishin. Kanako thought that if she was the sagume, then the lunarians are akin to gods. Kanako did some deep thinking for a while before realizing that Sanae has basically prevented the second coming of the Divine Emperor and deserves to be praised. In Sanae's Legacy Mode ending, Kanako can be seen training Sanae to become more skilled at dodging danmaku by throwing various balls of different types at her.

Unconnected Marketeers

Kanako appears in both Sanae's Good ending and Sanae's Blank Card/Good ending. In the former, Kanako seals some kind of a deal with Megumu Iizunamaru and the Moriya Shrine begins to endorse Ability Cards as good luck charms. In the latter, Kanako agrees to Chimata Tenkyuu's request to hold the next market during a festival at the Moriya Shrine (as seen in 100th Black Market).

Touhou Hisoutensoku

Kanako in Touhou Hisoutensoku

In Touhou Hisoutensoku, Kanako aids Sanae Kochiya to attack her opponents. During Sanae's story, Suwako goes behind Kanako's back and helps the kappa build the Hisoutensoku. Afterwards, Kanako suggests that nuclear power is too much for it, and proposes heat or electricity as an alternative power source, but is assured that it only runs on steam. She immediately turns it into an advertising tool to gather more faith.

Double Spoiler

Main article: Double Spoiler: Level 11 Spell Cards

In Double Spoiler, Kanako 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

Kanako in HM

Kanako made a background cameo appearance in Hopeless Masquerade on the Genbu Ravine stage. She is seen sitting on a rock making some sort of laugh.

Impossible Spell Card

Main article: Impossible Spell Card: 9th Day Spell Cards

After apparently reading the newspaper by the tengu about a mischief-making amanojaku, she becomes one of the many people to try and stop Seija Kijin on day 9. She uses spell cards that are considered impossible to dodge.

Violet Detector

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.

Kanako's sprite in SFW

Sunken Fossil World

Main article: Sunken Fossil World: Kanako's Scenario

Kanako came to the fusion reactor to check on the odd state of the fusion reactor and found crude oil flowing into it. She then investigates the source of the oil and met Yuuma Toutetsu. After the battle with Yuuma, she discusses about the oil eruption together with Suwako. Kanako figures that the oil eruptions are the result of the former Hell of Blood Pools being reawakened, but is unsure whether Yuuma was directly responsible for reawakening it, or merely came to take advantage of its reawakening. She then decides to create a dark contract with Yuuma to stop the oil eruptions by having her keep the oil from bubbling up to the surface, while any future leakages are incinerated in the reactor's furnace or personally dealt with by Kanako.

The Grimoire of Marisa

Main article: The Grimoire of Marisa: Kanako Yasaka's Spell Cards

Kanako is one of the people whose spell cards Marisa Kirisame documents, adding descriptions, comments, and considerations to imitate them.

Wild and Horned Hermit

Kanako's and Suwako's "experiment" to produce nuclear energy using Utsuho Reiuji has only been creating energy inefficiently, so Sanae asks Reimu to help them out; the shrine maiden produces some palladium alloy, and Kanako hosts a public experiment, which ends in great success. Later on, Kanako orders the kappa to create a dam on a river on the Youkai Mountain for the purpose of gathering more faith.

Symposium of Post-mysticism

Main articles: Symposium of Post-mysticism: Kanako Yasaka and Kanako's article

Kanako is one of the main speakers at the symposium, along with Byakuren Hijiri and Toyosatomimi no Miko. During it, she explains the details of why she moved the Moriya Shrine into Gensokyo. Additionally, Hieda no Akyuu writes an in-universe encyclopedic article on Kanako as part of the Gensokyo Chronicle, and Aya Shameimaru writes a news article about Kanako's plan to build a tramway between the foothills and the Moriya Shrine.

The Grimoire of Usami

Main article: The Grimoire of Usami: Kanako Yasaka

She entered as of the contestants during the Hakurei Fireworks Festival and showcased some of her danmaku after being convinced by Sanae Kochiya's participation that it could bolster the Moriya Shrine's reputation.

Foul Detective Satori

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.

Lotus Eaters

Kanako harshly criticized Geidontei's sake as "third rate swill". As such, she brought in sake from the outside world to impress the residents of Gensokyo whom she views as having poor taste in sake. When she returned to Geidontei (pop up stall at the Hakurei Shrine), she was impressed by Suika's special sake and later experienced a nightmare infused by Miyoi.

Whispered Oracle of Hakurei Shrine

Main article: Whispered Oracle of Hakurei Shrine: Kanako Yasaka

Reimu Hakurei writes a fortune slip about Kanako as a way of cleaning up in the aftermath of an incident.

Relationships

Sanae Kochiya

Sanae is a wind priestess that worships Kanako, and was part of the shrine's move to Gensokyo. Kanako mentioned in Symposium of Post-mysticism that Sanae herself can be referred to as one of the "gods" of the Moriya Shrine.

Suwako Moriya

Kanako and Suwako are the opposing gods of Moriya Shrine, but their profiles state that they share quite a few common interests and are actually pretty good friends. They do argue a lot, though, and Kanako still wears the snake-representing shimenawa to boast about the fact that she beat her.

Utsuho Reiuji

Kanako is the one who originally gave Utsuho her powers for her own end. At the moment it seems she is keeping Utsuho working to produce nuclear energy underground in Former Hell.

Yuiman Asama

Kanako claims to know Yuiman from before, and calls her a 'old friend', before she was brainwashed by the Lunarians as a goddess of her hometown and wishes she gets liberated from the Lunarian's control.^[4] Recently, Yuiman has been doing visits to the Moriya Shrine and to Kanako.^[5]

Gallery

Covers

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  Cover of Mountain of Faith, featuring Kanako's silhouette

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  Kanako in Wild and Horned Hermit' volume 8 cover

Artworks

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  Kanako's artwork from Mountain of Faith

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  Kanako's pre-battle portrait from Sunken Fossil World

Sprites

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  Kanako equipped with her onbashira, as seen in Mountain of Faith

Illustrations

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  Illustration by TOKIAME for Chara☆Mel

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  Illustration of Kanako in Symposium of Post-mysticism

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  Kanako with Marisa and Miko in Symposium of Post-mysticism

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  Kanako with Utsuho in Symposium of Post-mysticism

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  Kanako from Who's Who of Humans & Youkai - Everlasting Edition

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  Kanako's fortune slip in Whispered Oracle of Hakurei Shrine

Screenshots

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  Kanako cameo in Silent Sinner in Blue

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  Kanako's appearance in Wild and Horned Hermit

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  Kanako in Lotus Eaters

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  Kanako and Suwako in Foul Detective Satori

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  Kanako and Sanae Kochiya in Whispered Oracle of Hakurei Shrine

Others

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  Kanako's sigil from Grimoire of Marisa

Additional Information

The Akimiya's kagura hall in Shimosuwa, Nagano Prefecture.

• The silhouette of Kanako occupies the front of Mountain of Faith's jewel case.
• It is revealed in chapter 19 of Silent Sinner in Blue that the Lunarians created and use shimenawa to seal away those that are a threat to them. Kanako's shimenawa at her back is confirmed to be the actual shimenawa in her Mountain of Faith profile. In addition, in Suwako's profile, it is stated that Kanako was one of several gods fighting to unify Japan, and it was implied in Silent Sinner in Blue that it was the Lunarians who were behind those wars (assuming taking away Lord Daikoku's (Ōkuninushi) lands referred to the actual time that happened in Shinto mythology by Amaterasu's family, whom are implied to be the Lunar Capital's founders). The Lunarians are even said to have used shimenawa to seal another god - Ōkuninushi's son Takeminakata - at the Moriya Shrine. However, it is unknown if Kanako was connected to, in league with, or aware of any of this.
• The shrine pictured in the background image of Kanako's spell cards is the kagura hall of the Autumn Court (秋宮 Akimiya) of the Lower Shrine (下社 Shimosha), one of the four shrines that make up the Suwa-taisha (Suwa Grand Shrine).
• Oddly, Kanako's sprite changes colors in rainbow order during the time between when her theme begins and when she starts to battle. It also happens to Yumeko in the PC-98 era, Suwako Moriya, and Seiga Kaku.
• Variants of Kanako's theme Suwa Foughten Field, Player's Score, have been used as the game over theme in every main Touhou game since Mountain of Faith.
• Kanako in Mountain of Faith's Extra Stage uses the most amount of attack patterns in a single fight among any Extra midbosses, with a total of 4 (1 non-spell followed by 3 spell cards). The other Extra midbosses usually have three attack patterns, either a non-spell followed by two spellcards, or three spellcards in a row.

Fandom

Official Sources

References

This page is part of Project Characters, a Touhou Wiki project that aims to write proper descriptions for all official characters of Touhou Project. Please keep the character page guidelines in mind when contributing.

Expand v t e Mountain of Faith Story Normal Scenario Prologue — Reimu • Marisa Extra Scenario Extra Story — Reimu • Marisa Characters Reimu Hakurei • Marisa Kirisame • Shizuha Aki • Minoriko Aki • Hina Kagiyama • Nitori Kawashiro • Momiji Inubashiri • Aya Shameimaru • Sanae Kochiya • Kanako Yasaka • Suwako Moriya (Mishaguji • Remilia Scarlet) Enemies Fairy • Sunflower Fairy • Kedama • Crow Locations Hakurei Shrine • Youkai Mountain (The Great Youkai Forest, The Untrodden Valley, The Waterfall of Nine Heavens) • Moriya Shrine (The Wind God's Lake) Terms Faith • God • Kappa • Tengu • Shrine Maiden Gameplay Strategy (Replays) • High Scores Spell Cards Stage 1 • Stage 2 • Stage 3 • Stage 4 • Stage 5 • Stage 6 • Extra Documentation Afterword • Music Comments • Other Translations

Expand v t e Touhou Hisoutensoku Story Main Scenario Prologue — Sanae • Cirno • Meiling VS Mode Reimu • Marisa • Sakuya • Alice • Patchouli • Youmu • Remilia • Yuyuko • Yukari • Suika • Reisen • Aya • Komachi • Iku • Tenshi • Sanae • Cirno • Meiling • Utsuho • Suwako Characters Sanae Kochiya (Kanako Yasaka) • Cirno • Hong Meiling • Reimu Hakurei • Utsuho Reiuji • Suwako Moriya • Marisa Kirisame • Alice Margatroid • Goliath Doll • Patchouli Knowledge • Giant Catfish (Taisui Xingjun • Hisoutensoku) SWR Characters Sakuya Izayoi • Youmu Konpaku • Remilia Scarlet • Yuyuko Saigyouji • Yukari Yakumo • Suika Ibuki • Reisen Udongein Inaba • Aya Shameimaru • Komachi Onozuka • Iku Nagae • Tenshi Hinanawi Stages Stages Locations Hakurei Shrine • Kirisame Magic Shop • Forest of Dolls • Scarlet Devil Mansion Library • Shore of Misty Lake • Moriya Shrine • Mouth of Geyser • Catwalk in Geyser • Fusion Reactor Core Terms Robot Gameplay Spell Cards Reimu • Marisa • Sakuya • Alice • Patchouli • Youmu • Remilia • Yuyuko • Yukari • Suika • Reisen • Aya • Komachi • Iku • Tenshi • Sanae • Cirno • Meiling • Utsuho • Suwako • Giant Catfish Documentation Afterword • Music • Original Soundtrack (ZUN's comments • Uni Akiyama's comments) • Other Translations

Expand v t e Double Spoiler Story Spell Cards Comments Level 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • EX • Spoiler Spoiler Level Characters Aya Shameimaru • Hatate Himekaidou • Aki Minoriko • Aki Shizuha • Parsee Mizuhashi • Hina Kagiyama • Yamame Kurodani • Kogasa Tatara • Kisume • Nitori Kawashiro • Momiji Inubashiri • Ichirin Kumoi • Minamitsu Murasa • Yuugi Hoshiguma • Suika Ibuki • Shou Toramaru • Nazrin • Rin Kaenbyou • Utsuho Reiuji • Satori Komeiji • Koishi Komeiji • Tenshi Hinanawi • Iku Nagae • Kanako Yasaka • Suwako Moriya • Byakuren Hijiri • Nue Houjuu • Reimu Hakurei • Marisa Kirisame • Sanae Kochiya Enemies Zombie Fairy Locations Youkai Mountain • Deep Road to Hell • Fantastic Blowhole • Untrodden Valley • Palanquin Ship • Former Capital • Makai • Remains of the Blazing Hell • Palace of the Earth Spirits • Spring Clouds • Wind God's Lake • Hokkai • Road of Lingering Snow • Waterfall of Nine Heavens Terms Tengu • Bunbunmaru Newspaper • Kakashi Spirit News Gameplay Strategy (Replays) • Tools Documentation Afterword • Music Comments • Other Translations

Expand v t e Impossible Spell Card Story Spell Cards 1st Day • 2nd Day • 3rd Day • 4th Day • 5th Day • 6th Day • 7th Day • 8th Day • 9th Day • Last Day Characters Seija Kijin • Yatsuhashi Tsukumo • Wakasagihime • Cirno • Kyouko Kasodani • Sekibanki • Kagerou Imaizumi • Keine Kamishirasawa • Fujiwara no Mokou • Yuyuko Saigyouji • Seiga Kaku • Yoshika Miyako • Benben Tsukumo • Raiko Horikawa • Mamizou Futatsuiwa • Aya Shameimaru • Hatate Himekaidou • Nitori Kawashiro • Momiji Inubashiri • Marisa Kirisame • Sakuya Izayoi • Youmu Konpaku • Sanae Kochiya • Shinmyoumaru Sukuna • Reimu Hakurei • Kanako Yasaka • Suwako Moriya • Mononobe no Futo • Suika Ibuki • Byakuren Hijiri • Toyosatomimi no Miko • Tenshi Hinanawi • Remilia Scarlet • Yukari Yakumo Locations Misty Lake • Myouren Temple • Bamboo Forest of the Lost • Myouren Temple Cemetery • Skies of Gensokyo • Youkai Mountain (Untrodden Valley) • Netherworld • Shining Needle Castle • Moriya Shrine • Scarlet Devil Mansion Objects Ice Terms Amanojaku • Spell Card Rules Gameplay Strategy Documentation Prologue • Afterword • Music Comments • Other Translations • Nicknames

Expand v t e Violet Detector Story Spell Cards Week 1 Sunday • Monday • Tuesday • Wednesday • Thursday • Friday • Saturday Week 2 Wrong Sunday • Wrong Monday • Wrong Tuesday • Wrong Wednesday • Wrong Thursday • Wrong Friday • Wrong Saturday Week 3 Nightmare Sunday • Nightmare Monday • Nightmare Tuesday • Nightmare Wednesday • Nightmare Thursday • Nightmare Friday • Nightmare Saturday Endgame Nightmare Diary Characters Sumireko Usami • Reimu Hakurei • Seiran • Ringo • Eternity Larva • Marisa Kirisame • Narumi Yatadera • Nemuno Sakata • Aunn Komano • Doremy Sweet • Clownpiece • Sagume Kishin • Mai Teireida • Satono Nishida • Hecatia Lapislazuli • Junko • Okina Matara • Remilia Scarlet • Flandre Scarlet • Byakuren Hijiri • Toyosatomimi no Miko • Yuyuko Saigyouji • Eiki Shiki, Yamaxanadu • Kanako Yasaka • Suwako Moriya • Eirin Yagokoro • Kaguya Houraisan • Tenshi Hinanawi • Shinmyoumaru Sukuna • Satori Komeiji • Utsuho Reiuji • Ran Yakumo • Koishi Komeiji • Nue Houjuu • Mamizou Futatsuiwa • Iku Nagae • Raiko Horikawa • Suika Ibuki • Fujiwara no Mokou • Yukari Yakumo Locations Dream World Terms Gameplay Strategy Documentation Dialogue • Afterword • Music Comments • Other Translations • Nicknames

Expand v t e Sunken Fossil World Story Main Scenario Reimu Hakurei • Marisa Kirisame • Kanako Yasaka • Minamitsu Murasa • Joon and Shion Yorigami • Flandre Scarlet • Yuuma Toutetsu Characters Reimu Hakurei • Marisa Kirisame • Kanako Yasaka • Minamitsu Murasa • Joon Yorigami • Shion Yorigami • Flandre Scarlet • Kogasa Tatara • Yamame Kurodani • Yuugi Hoshiguma • Utsuho Reiuji • Kutaka Niwatari • Yuuma Toutetsu • Okina Matara • (Suwako Moriya • Ichirin Kumoi • Byakuren Hijiri) Locations Forest of Magic • Underworld (Rainbow Cavern of Earth Spirits • Hot Spring Town • Hell of Blazing Fires • Nuclear Furnace • Hell of Blood Pools) • Scarlet Devil Mansion • Land of the Back Door Gameplay Spell Cards Reimu • Marisa • Kogasa • Yamame • Yuugi • Yorigami Sisters • Kanako • Minamitsu • Utsuho • Kutaka • Flandre • Yuuma • Okina Documentation Translations • Music • Stages

Expand v t e Unconnected Marketeers Story Main Scenario Prologue — Reimu • Marisa • Sakuya • Sanae Extra Scenario Extra Story — Reimu • Marisa • Sakuya • Sanae Characters Reimu Hakurei • Marisa Kirisame • Sakuya Izayoi • Sanae Kochiya • Mike Goutokuji • Takane Yamashiro • Sannyo Komakusa • Misumaru Tamatsukuri • Tsukasa Kudamaki • Megumu Iizunamaru • Chimata Tenkyuu • Momoyo Himemushi • (Patchouli Knowledge • Aya Shameimaru • Kanako Yasaka) Enemies Fairy • Chief Fairy • Big Fairy • Sunflower Fairy • Phantom • Wheel Ghost • Lily White Locations Youkai Mountain (Secret Heaven Cliff • False Heaven Shelf) • Rainbow Dragon Cave • Skies of Gensokyo Gameplay Strategy Stage 1 • Stage 2 • Stage 3 • Stage 4 • Stage 5 • Stage 6 • Extra • Replays Spell Cards Stage 1 • Stage 2 • Stage 3 • Stage 4 • Stage 5 • Stage 6 • Extra Documentation Afterword • Music • Other Translations • Ability Cards • Achievements

Expand v t e Fossilized Wonders Story Main Scenario Prologue — Reimu (Red • Blue • Yellow • Green) • Marisa (Red • Blue • Yellow • Green) Extra Scenario Reimu (Scarlet Devil • Creature Red • Snow Blossom • Blue Season • Yellow Subterranean • Imperishable Moon • Beast Hardness • Shintoism Wind) • Marisa (Scarlet Devil • Creature Red • Snow Blossom • Blue Season • Yellow Subterranean • Imperishable Moon • Beast Hardness • Shintoism Wind) Characters Reimu Hakurei • Marisa Kirisame • Ubame Chirizuka • Chimi Houjuu • Nareko Michigami • Yuiman Asama • Watatsuki no Toyohime • Ariya Iwanaga • Nina Watari • (Patchouli Knowledge • Sakuya Izayoi • Remilia Scarlet • Yuyuko Saigyouji • Yukari Yakumo • Eirin Yagokoro • Sanae Kochiya • Kanako Yasaka • Satori Komeiji • Rin Kaenbyou • Koishi Komeiji • Okina Matara • Keiki Haniyasushin • Saki Kurokoma • Enoko Mitsugashira • Zanmu Nippaku) Enemies Fairy (Black) • Chief Fairy • Big Fairy • Sunflower Fairy (Hellish) • Wheel Ghost • Phantom • Wonder Stone Locations Youkai Mountain • Asama Purifying Mountain (Pit of Four Seasons) • Moon (Lunar Capital • Sea of Tranquility) Gameplay Strategy Stage 1 • Stage 2 • Stage 3 • Stage 4 • Stage 5 • Stage 6 • Extra • Replays Spell Cards Stage 1 • Stage 2 • Stage 3 • Stage 4 • Stage 5 • Stage 6 • Extra Documentation Afterword • Music • Other Translations • Achievements