Forceful Beach Youmu: Instant Attraction and No Refusals

Youmu Konpaku (魂魄　妖夢 Konpaku Youmu) is a half-human half-phantom who lives at Hakugyokurou in the Netherworld who also serves for Yuyuko Saigyouji as a gardener and swords specialist General Information

Youmu, as illustrated in the Grimoire of Marisa. Personality As she has a straightforward diligent personality, she is often manipulated by those around her (especially Yuyuko).[3][4] For this reason, she often fails at her task, but that does not mean that she has no real power, and she particularly excels at instantaneous force and concentration power.[5] In Immaterial and Missing Power, as stated from her Master, "truth-slashing is something which you know", but Suika Ibuki pointed out that she does not think that Youmu understood her Master's teachings.

She has strong sensitivity, and in the good ending of Imperishable Night, her human half was unable to resist the insanity-inducing effects of the true Moon, causing her to become "half-insane". Ironically enough, considering her species, she is afraid of ghost stories, dares, and darkness, but she is calm around phantoms since she is half phantom herself.[6][7] [8][9] In Imperishable Night's Extra, after defeating Fujiwara no Mokou, Yuyuko pretends there is a ghost under a tree, earning a terrified shriek from Youmu. Much further on in Ten Desires, as a result of being mistaken as a hermit, she temporarily mistook herself as being a hermit.[10] Due to artworks and her sprite in the fighting spin-offs, Youmu may be ambidextrous.

Abilities Handling Sword Techniques Youmu is a swordswoman who dual-wields two special swords, Roukanken and Hakurouken. As a result of Youki's disappearance, Youmu's sword training is incomplete. However, despite her unfinished training, Youmu is extraordinarily skilled in swordsmanship, as she can consistently win spellcard duels which are meant to be long-ranged with just her skills. Youmu can perform a constant barrage of flying slashes as danmaku, and is also extremely fast which helps her close in on opponents and deliver a flurry of slashes faster than the eye can see.

Occupation As a gardener in the service of the Saigyouji family and the bodyguard of Yuyuko Saigyouji, Youmu is a swordswoman of a two-sword school of swordplay.

According to the Saigyouji family, Youmu is the second generation to take her position, the former generation being Youki Konpaku. Youki was Youmu's swordplay instructor. Youmu is also Yuyuko's sword instructor, but she is fundamentally treated as a gardener.[3] In Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red and Chapter 13 of Curiosities of Lotus Asia, she took on the responsibility for collecting and returning the phantoms that wandered around Gensokyo as a result of the boundary of the Netherworld being thinned.

Possessions Roukanken and Hakurouken The katana carried from her left shoulder to her waist on the right side, is Roukanken (楼観剣, "watchtower sword"). It has been claimed to have been forged by youkai, and has the power to kill ten phantoms in one slice.[11][12] The shorter sword on her left waist is a wakizashi named Hakurouken (白楼剣, "blank tower sword"), which seems to be the heirloom of the Konpaku family, and can slice through people's confusion.[13]

Species She belongs to the subspecies of phantoms called the "half-human half-phantoms" (半人半霊 "hannin hanrei" or "hanjin hanrei"). Half-human half-phantoms are the mixed-race of phantoms and humans (幽霊と人間のハーフ), which have a largish phantom accompanying them and a relativity long life span compared to humans. The phantom that always follows them is called the "half-phantom" (半霊[10]、半幽霊[3] hanrei, hanyuurei), and they are the other half of their body.[14] In Perfect Memento in Strict Sense, it was supposed that Youmu's human half manipulates the phantom half consciously. Youmu's human half has a lower body temperature compared to normal humans, and her phantom half's body temperature is not so cold compared to normal phantoms. In the Imperishable Night manual, it was written, "she has two kinds of body: human and phantom," showing Youmu to be "human" and the phantom to be "phantom."

Half-human half-phantoms are long-lived,[13][15] but in Seasonal Dream Vision, since it has still not been 60 years since the time she was born, in Phantasmagoria of Flower View, she was not very knowledgeable about the "flower incident that occurs once every 60 years."[16] Character Design

Youmu's depiction in PMiSS Name Her full name is Youmu Konpaku (魂魄　妖夢). The characters for Konpaku (魂魄) means "soul" and Youmu (妖夢) probably means "ghostly dream" in the context regarding her characteristic. Bear in mind that the "n" is an "m" sound; this is because it flows more smoothly in Japanese when it's before a "p" sound.

Although both kon (魂) and paku (魄) means "soul", their elements are different. Kon stands for a "mental" soul, which is separated from a body as soon as human dies and ascends to Heaven; paku is a "physical" soul, which remains in the body a few days and goes back to the Earth. In this case, kon is Youmu's ghostly half, and paku is the human half. The entire Konpaku family is comprised of half-phantom half-humans.[13]

The kanji that makes up Youmu (妖夢) are also part of the kanji for Perfect Cherry Blossom (東方妖々夢 Touhou youyoumu).

In Phantasmagoria of Flower View, Youmu's name is written in romaji, with her surname first, during pre-battle conversation with her, even though every other character in the game with a Japanese name has their name Romanized western-style, with their first names first. This is one of several typographical inconsistencies in the game (another being the inconsistent spelling of Aya Shameimaru's name).

Design

Youmu's phantom body acting in the same way as her human body in Curiosities of Lotus Asia Youmu has short silver hair and blue eyes. Her eyes were red in Perfect Cherry Blossom and her last word portrait in Imperishable Night. Youmu's outfit generally consists of an aquamarine vest and skirt over a white undershirt with several ghost insignias along the edges of the skirt and one on the breast pocket of her vest. She wears a black bowtie and hairband with black ribbon tied off-center in her hair. She carries the Roukanken; a long katana with a large white tassel on the handle and the Hakurouken; a wakizashi (Short Japanese sword). Her ghostly half is a white phantom as large as her human self, sometimes referred to as myon by the fandom.

Youmu has slight design alterations in each of her appearances. Her hair became white and her eyes became blue in Immaterial and Missing Power. In Ten Desires, her hair becomes messier and her eyes are silver-colored. In Wily Beast and Weakest Creature, Her insignias are different and her phantom half gains a snake-like head. In all game appearances after Perfect Cherry Blossom, her sleeves are short.

Her swords has also changed in appearance, In Perfect Cherry Blossom, the Roukanken had a cherry blossom insignia and a flower attached to it, The insignia is missing in all later game appearance except Scarlet Weather Rhapsody. In Wily Beast and Weakest Creature, the Roukanken gains a standard katana handle with red light particles along the blade and the hakurouken has a blue handle and has small souls along its blade.

According to ZUN, her height is "fairly short."[18]

Appearances Games Spin-offs Literature Perfect Cherry Blossom

Youmu's sprite in PCB During the events of Perfect Cherry Blossom, Youmu was ordered by Yuyuko Saigyouji to gather as much spring essence from Gensokyo as she could in order to get the entire cherry blossom garden, including the legendary Saigyou Ayakashi, to bloom perfectly. Youmu's efforts indirectly caused winter to prolong in Gensokyo, prompting the player to hunt her down. Youmu tried to prevent the player from reaching Hakugyokurou, but was defeated. She also tried to stop the player's confrontation against Yuyuko, but was once again defeated.

Imperishable Night

Youmu's back sprite in IN

Youmu's sprite in IN Main article: Imperishable Night: Ghost Team's Scenario In Imperishable Night, Youmu travels to the world of the living with the intent to solve the incident--although Yuyuko is more interested in having a feasting tour with a "dragon dish" as the crowning attraction.

Phantasmagoria of Flower View

Youmu's back sprite in PoFV Main article: Phantasmagoria of Flower View: Youmu's Scenario In Phantasmagoria of Flower View, Youmu tries to mind her own business but continuously encounters various enemies barging into Hakugyokurou suspecting her as the flower incident culprit. When she travels to Gensokyo to investigate, she begins to form a conclusion but only realizes it fully when Aya Shameimaru points it out. Realizing that the incident was caused by an overabundance of spirits possessing the flowers, Youmu cut down some spirits to reduce their numbers a bit. This leads her into confrontation with Komachi Onozuka, who tells her she should not be cutting down spirits while in the world of the living because they haven't received judgement yet. Youmu protests that she's always allowed to kill phantoms while in the Netherworld, to which Komachi replies that phantoms in the Netherworld and phantoms above are two different things.

Eiki Shiki, Yamaxanadu hears about Komachi's confrontation with Youmu and comes to meet Youmu herself. She explains about the phantoms inhabiting the flowers, and that the problem will go away by itself and Youmu should leave it alone. She then goes further about how Youmu's activities in the world of the living are coming dangerously close to getting Youmu classified as living and thus subject to judgement, and decides to carry out a little judgement on Youmu beforehand.

In the end, Youmu arrives back at the Netherworld. Yuyuko was also asked by Eiki to teach Youmu more about the nature of spirits. Unfortunately, Yuyuko Saigyouji ends up misinterpreting that she's supposed to teach Youmu in a general sense, and ends up teaching Youmu how to pour delicious tea. Eiki in her storyline ends up having to elaborate and clarify her lecture to Youmu when Eiki confronts her again. Youmu's sword works on spirits by severing hesitation, which is the equivalent of helping someone reach Nirvana, and Youmu is not qualified to judge such a thing. In her winquote to Eiki, Youmu apologizes for the trouble she's caused, and thanks Eiki while saying she now understands the nature of her sword.

Ten Desires Main article: Ten Desires: Youmu's Scenario Youmu re-appears as a playable character in Ten Desires. She was baffled about the divine spirits, so she went out to investigate in the cemetery of the new Temple After defeating some youkais there and tricking Mononobe no Futo in thinking she was an hermit to leaving her pass through the mausoleum, she faces Toyosatomimi no Miko, who also thinks Youmu is an hermit and fights her thinking she is the final obstacle to her resurrection.

Wily Beast and Weakest Creature Main articles: Wily Beast and Weakest Creature: Youmu's Scenario (Wolf), Youmu's Scenario (Otter), and Youmu's Scenario (Eagle) Youmu appears once again as a playable character in Wily Beast and Weakest Creature. After hearing that animal spirits were attacking from Hell, she teamed up with a friendly animal spirit and ventured into Hell to investigate. After defeating some enemies and entering hell, she goes to the Animal Realm, when she meets Keiki Haniyasushin, who tells her that she was tricked by the spirit and that she is only making the animal realm a better place to the human spirits. After seeing that the spirit wanted to flee, Keiki attacks both.

Immaterial and Missing Power Main article: Immaterial and Missing Power: Youmu's Scenario Shoot the Bullet

Youmu's sprite in StB In Shoot the Bullet, Youmu is a target level 6, where she'll use spell cards when Aya Shameimaru take photos of her and her danmaku.

Scarlet Weather Rhapsody Main article: Scarlet Weather Rhapsody: Youmu's Scenario During the events of Scarlet Weather Rhapsody, she set off to investigate, concerned as to how and why someone was slaying spirits. After a hint from Yukari Yakumo, she found and defeated Tenshi Hinanawi.

Hopeless Masquerade

Anigif of Yuyuko w/ Youmu in HM Youmu appears as a background cameo in Hopeless Masquerade on the Divine Spirit Mausoleum stage. She is seen with Yuyuko Saigyouji as she endlessly feeds her rice balls.

Impossible Spell Card Main article: Impossible Spell Card: 7th Day Spell Cards After apparently reading the newspaper by the tengu about a mischief-making amanojaku, she becomes one of the many strong youkai and humans to try and stop Seija Kijin. She uses spell cards that are considered impossible to dodge.

100th Black Market In 100th Black Market, Youmu appears as the one of the 4th market bosses. She has two ability cards dedicated to her, both pertaining to her half phantom.

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. Curiosities of Lotus Asia Main article: Curiosities of Lotus Asia: Chapter 13 Youmu travels out to Kourindou in search of the Soul Torch, an item given to her by Yuyuko that she had lost. Rinnosuke does in fact have it, and it turns out to be the reason for a large quantity of ghosts floating around the shop recently. Rinnosuke wasn't willing to part with it unless paid, however, so Youmu ended up shoveling the snow out of the front of the shop and off of the roof to pay for it.

Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red Main article: Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red: Youmu A Beautiful Flower Blooming Violet Every Sixty Years Perfect Memento in Strict Sense Main article: Perfect Memento in Strict Sense: Youmu Konpaku Hieda no Akyuu writes an in-universe encyclopedic article on Youmu as part of the Gensokyo Chronicle.

Strange and Bright Nature Deity In chapter 2 of Strange and Bright Nature Deity, She visits the Hakurei shrine to express concerns that Reimu and Marisa has been making toys out of ghosts and using ghosts to cool themselves down, but Youmu is ignored.

Silent Sinner in Blue Youmu asks Yuyuko while they are seeing a cloudy harvest moon about Ran Yakumo's intentions, who exactly one lunar month before came to the Netherworld to ask them to look for the vampire and her team while they were trying to make the rocket. Although Yuyuko rejected the offert, she explains that day to Youmu that she was indeed observing the movements of the vampire and orders Youmu to tell the shrine maiden how to finish the vampire's rocket. Youmu meets Reimu, Marisa and Sakuya in the Hakurei Shrine, who were talking about said fuel. Youmu suggests searching not in the sky, but thinking how ships and other travel methods work to find a way to make the rocket work. Thanks to that, Reimu realizes she needed to call Sumiyoshi (the voyages god).

Afterwards, after Yukari manipulated the border between the illusionary and the real Moon, Yuyuko and her follow her hints to reach the Lunar Capital. There, they search for a valuable object and they come back with a millennial sake.

The Grimoire of Marisa Main article: The Grimoire of Marisa: Youmu Konpaku's Spell Cards Youmu is one of the people whose spell cards Marisa Kirisame documents, adding descriptions, comments, and considerations to imitate them.

Cage in Lunatic Runagate Oriental Sacred Place Youmu appears in chapter 4 of Oriental Sacred Place. she gets placed alone in a test of courage, much to her horror. Despite trying to encourage herself by carrying her sword around, she ends up being frightened by almost everyone in the scaring side and gave up before seeing the Three Fairies of Light.

Wild and Horned Hermit Youmu attends the flower viewing at the Hakurei Shrine and enjoys Kasen's sake.

Visionary Fairies in Shrine The Grimoire of Usami Youmu judges many of the spell cards but does not participate in the Hakurei Fireworks Festival herself.

Lotus Eaters Foul Detective Satori Youmu discovers Yuyuko Saigyouji in a coma and is interrogated by Rin Kaenbyou on what happened. After Yuyuko woke up, it's revealed that she fell in to a coma after bringing the sake that Marisa Kirisame (who was being possessed by Mizuchi Miyadeguchi) brought her. Yuyuko, Youmu and Satori Komeji head out in order to find Marisa, discovering her in Alice Margatroid's house, who was also now in a coma. They tie Marisa up and interrogate her, threatening Marisa with her sword so that she won't try to move.

Whispered Oracle of Hakurei Shrine Main article: Whispered Oracle of Hakurei Shrine: Youmu Konpaku Reimu Hakurei writes a fortune slip about Youmu as a way of cleaning up in the aftermath of an incident.

Relationships Yuyuko Saigyouji Youmu's mistress, ever since Youmu was born (stated by Youmu in Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red). Youmu is completely loyal to her, but has trouble understanding her.

Youki Konpaku Youmu was Youki's student, and also his successor as the gardener of Hakugyokurou. She believes that his disappearance is some kind of lesson from him.

Yukari Yakumo The friend of Youmu's mistress. Youmu respects her greatly and she helps Youmu with lessons and advice, but Youmu doesn't understand her, either. She also treats Yukari's servant, Ran Yakumo, with professional respect, even though Yuyuko says she doesn't have to.

Residents of Eientei From Imperishable Night, Youmu is one of the few characters that is aware that three of the residents of Eientei are from the Moon, and presumably keeping it a secret like the others.

Eiki Shiki, Yamaxanadu As a yama, Eiki is one of the superiors of Youmu's mistress, Yuyuko. Youmu is aware of the role of the yama and respects Eiki greatly, but hadn't met her in-person until Phantasmagoria of Flower View. In Youmu's ending, Eiki also asked Yuyuko to teach Youmu more about the nature of cutting down spirits. Eiki notes if Youmu loses to her in the story mode that Youmu would normally not go to Eiki for judging upon death.

Komachi Onozuka Youmu and Komachi first met in Phantasmagoria of Flower View. As a ferryman under the yama, Komachi could also be considered a fellow employee of sorts with Youmu, although their lines of work do not cross very often. Youmu is aware of Komachi's position and respects her a lot, often thanking her for her work on ferrying the dead whenever the two meet. Komachi also tries to teach Youmu about how Youmu should not cut down ghosts too often, and sees Youmu as "an interesting fellow" in Scarlet Weather Rhapsody.

Reimu Hakurei and Marisa Kirisame Youmu is friends with Reimu and Marisa, though the two often pick on her due to her straightforward and earnest personality.[19]