A Festive Coincidence for Touhou Fans
A popular meme in the local Touhou community, "東方廚製粽" (lit. "Touhou Fan-Made Zongzi"), is a playful pun that ties the fandom to the Dragon Boat Festival. The term originates from a piece of Japanese internet slang, "東方廚自重" (Touhou-chuu jijou), which roughly means "Touhou fan, check yourself." Over time, the last two characters were playfully swapped with homophones meaning "make zongzi," the traditional rice dumplings eaten during the festival.
Since the phrase mentions zongzi, fans have embraced the Dragon Boat Festival as a special day for Touhou, often celebrating by sharing fan art and memes. This year, the timing was perfect.
(Image commissioned by Become_wind, available for free use on Bahamut)
In 2026, the biennial Hakurei Shrine Reitaisai, a massive Touhou Project convention, happened to fall on the Dragon Boat Festival long weekend. This happy coincidence gave this year's event an extra layer of special meaning for attendees.
Unlike two years prior, the event was thankfully spared from heavy rain. This felt particularly fortunate after a week of torrential downpours that had flooded streets. Instead, attendees were greeted with clear skies and a blazing sun—a welcome, if not unbelievable, change.
However, just like last time, umbrellas were out in force. This time, they weren't shielding from rain, but from the fiery, intense sun. The sweltering summer heat led to considerable frustration and complaints, with sporadic arguments breaking out among attendees in the ever-growing and frequently reorganized queues. Fortunately, these incidents didn't escalate into major conflicts or public backlash.
A huge thank you is owed to the on-site staff. Faced with a sudden and completely out-of-control number of attendees, they managed to maintain order and keep the lines intact, constantly weaving through the crowd to distribute fans and other cooling items. The successful execution and conclusion of this Reitaisai would not have been possible without their incredible effort. On behalf of everyone, this writer extends sincere gratitude to all the staff members present.
While waiting in line, I had a chance to speak with a fan who has attended every Reitaisai in Taiwan since the very first one. According to him, this year's event was by far the largest, boasting the most vendor booths and the highest number of attendees ever. Shortly after the doors opened, the aisles became completely gridlocked. The phrase "shoulder-to-shoulder" doesn't even begin to cover it; at several points, the sheer density of the crowd brought movement to a complete standstill.
This led to some misconceptions, such as the rumor that the aisles in the Japanese guest area were wider. In reality, with numerous major Japanese music circles present—including fan-favorites like Tamaonsen, Shinra-Bansho, and Butaotome—that area was an absolute all-star convergence. It was naturally just as packed, with fans crammed together trying to get to their favorite artists.
While the separate channel for Japanese retailers was indeed more spacious, it was dedicated to larger, more commercial booths like the ever-popular Fumo plushes and Play,Doujin!. The core issue wasn't poor layout in a few spots; the entire convention was simply overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people.
Many attendees reported that once you stepped outside the venue, getting back in was practically impossible. Even seasoned Reitaisai veterans said they had never encountered a situation like this before.
While some might blame the congestion on poor venue design, confusing traffic flow, or narrow walkways, no one can deny one simple fact: the number of participants this year reached a new, unprecedented peak. A significant portion of the crowd even appeared to be first-time attendees.
As for why there was such a sudden influx of newcomers—or rather, why so many Touhou fans came out of the woodwork—theories abound. Some believe it's due to the high number of recent Touhou collaborations, particularly with rhythm games, which have significantly expanded the IP's reach and attracted potential new fans.
However, the validity of this theory is debatable. The audience for rhythm games isn't necessarily that broad, and the idea of getting into such a deep franchise because of a few collaborations doesn't seem entirely convincing.
But the stunning scene at the venue is undeniable proof that Touhou's influence has been quietly and steadily growing. It's just a shame for the newcomers and those fresh to the series, whose first convention experience was such an intense shock. There were reports of some new fans suffering from heatstroke and discomfort, and one can only hope that this overwhelming experience doesn't discourage them from diving deeper into this incredible IP.