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Entertainment • Video game

Touhou Project

Touhou Project is a Japanese bullet hell shoot 'em up video game series created by the independent dōjin developer Team Shanghai Alice.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Touhou Project is a Japanese bullet hell shoot 'em up [Video game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game) series created by the independent dōjin developer Team Shanghai Alice. The series is primarily known for its vertically scrolling shooting games, distinctive characters, and extensive fan culture. It is also called simply Touhou or, in English, Project Shrine Maiden.

Gameplay

Touhou Project is best known for bullet hell (danmaku) gameplay, in which players navigate dense patterns of projectiles while controlling a character from a top-down or vertically scrolling perspective. The main entries are shoot 'em ups, while some spin-offs explore other genres.

Development

The series is developed by Team Shanghai Alice, which is closely associated with ZUN (Junya Ota). The franchise began in the 1990s as a dōjin project and has continued with many official releases over time.

Setting and characters

Touhou’s stories are commonly set in Gensokyo, a secluded fantasy region in Japan populated by humans, youkai, gods, and other supernatural beings. The series is known for a large cast of recurring characters.

Touhou has inspired a substantial fan culture, including fan art, music remixes, comics, and animations. Official related media also includes music albums and printed works connected to the games. Touhou has a significant international fanbase, including Canadian fans, fan communities, and events focused on Japanese indie games and fan culture.

Key facts

  • The series is a long-running Japanese dōjin game franchise centred on danmaku-style shooting gameplay.
  • Team Shanghai Alice is effectively a one-person studio led by ZUN, who is credited with much of the series’ creation and production.
  • The main games are vertically scrolling shoot 'em ups, with spin-offs including other genres.
  • Touhou has expanded beyond games into music CDs, written works, and a large fan community.
  • The fictional setting is commonly associated with Gensokyo, a hidden fantasy land in Japan.
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Canadian context

Touhou has a significant international fanbase, including Canadian fans, fan communities, and events focused on Japanese indie games and fan culture.

Frequently asked questions

What is Touhou Project?
Touhou Project is a Japanese bullet hell video game series created by Team Shanghai Alice and associated with ZUN.
Who created Touhou Project?
Touhou Project is credited to Team Shanghai Alice, a dōjin developer closely identified with ZUN (Junya Ota).
What genre is Touhou?
Its core games are shoot 'em ups, especially bullet hell or danmaku-style games.
What is Gensokyo?
Gensokyo is the fictional setting used in many Touhou works, described as a hidden fantasy land in Japan.
Is Touhou only a game series?
No. The franchise also includes music, written works, and fan-created media, in addition to the games.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touhou_Project
    Supports: General description of Touhou Project as a Japanese bullet hell shoot 'em up series created by Team Shanghai Alice and known as Touhou / Project Shrine Maiden.
  2. Touhou Wiki — https://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/Touhou_Project
    Supports: Series overview, genre, setting in Gensokyo, related print works and music CDs, and the existence of spin-off games.
  3. Fandom — https://touhou.fandom.com/wiki/Touhou_Wiki
    Supports: General fandom-oriented summary describing the series, bullet hell gameplay, and related media.