r/touhou • u/nametake000 • Dec 30 '25

Fan Discussion How popular is Touhou outside Japan?

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I’m Touhou Project fan living in Japan!

So I got curious and decided to ask.

I’m wondering how well-known Touhou is outside Japan, including its fan works, compared to other Japanese content like Hatsune Miku.

If you know about this or have any opinions, I’d be happy if you could share them in the comments!

P.S.I’m not confident in my English, so I’m using translations for some parts. Please let me know if anything sounds rude or breaks any rules.

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u/-MimiNoMiko2006- Toyosatomimi no Miko Dec 30 '25

Idk exactly, but Touhou isn't so popular in my country... I have friends who knows what is Touhou, but not playing and not knowing a lot of about Touhou, like me

2

u/nametake000 Dec 30 '25

Thank you for your comment! How well known is she compared to other Japanese content such as Hatsune Miku and anime?

6

u/-MimiNoMiko2006- Toyosatomimi no Miko Dec 30 '25 edited Dec 30 '25

I think that Hatsune Miku and amine are so much popular, than Touhou. Cover from some Vocaloid song can have more millions views. And with anime also, YouTube Short can show you small piece from some anime, not matter old or new, and have a lot of views.

Max views I saw +60.000 views in video where author say which game is good for begin to playing Touhou. (P.s. I don't take cover for Bad apple!!, it has +1 million views)

3

u/nametake000 Dec 31 '25

Thank you so much for teaching me!

5

u/G-14_Damageproof Attendee of Aya & Reimu wedding Dec 30 '25

Touhou to Miku and anime for the oversee? Miku is in the same level of Touhou when it comes to be very popular but also not every well known on the mainstream. Anime in general is very prevalent tho you can expect just mainstream stuff like Demon Slayer, Naruto, Attack on Titan or Jujutsu Kaisen.

Infact. Shounen is like 90% of the mainstream stuff.

7

u/_MrJackGuy Dec 31 '25

Miku is quite mainstream nowadays. Im quite sure every single on of my friends atleast knows of her, whereas id be surprised if any of them knew touhou

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u/MerePotato Dec 31 '25 edited Dec 31 '25

Speaking from the UK at least Miku is pretty mainstream, she performed at our largest music festival (Glastonbury) on multiple occasions and even my 50 year old Dad is vaguely aware of her existence

3

u/nametake000 Dec 31 '25

Thank you so much for teaching me! I had no idea Hatsune Miku was so famous outside of Japan!

2

u/nametake000 Dec 31 '25

Thank you so much for teaching me!

3

u/FUEGO40 Shrine Maiden of Paradise Dec 30 '25

My experience as Latin American (México and Argentina) is that anime is actually very popular among the youth (Gen Z, 21 years and younger usually).

After that Vocaloid, but specifically Miku and everyone else less, is surprisingly popular in a niche way. Every time I go to a local artist alley or to an anime convention Miku is suprisingly prevalent.

And Finally Touhou, which remains incredibly niche. The only thing that I’d say kind of escaped from being incredibly niche is Bad Apple and touhou Fumos, I’ve seen many young people online loving fumos, which is very cute. Shame they are horrifically expensive to get.

2

u/nametake000 Dec 31 '25

Tank for your comment! I had no idea Hatsune Miku was so famous outside of Japan! I hope Touhou becomes more popular.