# Team Shanghai Alice

Team Shanghai Alice (Japanese: 上海アリス幻樂団, Hepburn: Shanhai Arisu Gengakudan, lit. "Shanghai Alice Fantasy Ensemble"), formerly known as ZUN Soft, is a Japanese dōjin game developer. Since 1995, the sole member of the group, Jun'ya "ZUN" Ōta, has independently developed and self-published the Touhou Project, a bullet hell shoot 'em up series, as well as collaborated with other circles to produce related print works and music albums.

## Name

"ZUN Soft" was originally created as a generic developer name for each Touhou Project game. After Touhou's PC-98 era, ZUN changed the name of the team to "Shanghai Alice". According to ZUN, this name was chosen to fit the overall theme of the Touhou Project. "Shanghai", to him, is a multicultural city where Western and Oriental styles meet, and "Alice" evokes a feminine or gothic lolita feeling. "Fantasy Ensemble" (幻樂団 Gengakudan) stems from ZUN's unsuccessful attempt to register the group as a music circle for Comiket 61 in December 2001; he decided to keep the name while applying as a game circle for Comiket 62, where he would release Embodiment of Scarlet Devil.

## Productions
### Games

As ZUN Soft:
| Title | Genre | System | Release date | Developer(s) |
| Highly Responsive to Prayers Tōhō Reiiden (東方靈異伝, lit. "Wondrous Tale") | Block breaker | PC-98 | August 15, 1997 (Comiket 52) | ZUN Soft Amusement Makers |
| Story of Eastern Wonderland Tōhō Fūmaroku (東方封魔録, lit. "Demon-Sealing Record") | Shoot 'em up | PC-98 | August 15, 1997 (Comiket 52) | ZUN Soft Amusement Makers |
| Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream Tōhō Yumejikū (東方夢時空, lit. "Dream Space-Time) | Shoot 'em up | PC-98 | December 29, 1997 (Comiket 53) | ZUN Soft Amusement Makers |
| Lotus Land Story Tōhō Gensōkyō (東方幻想郷, lit. "Fantasy Land") | Shoot 'em up | PC-98 | August 14, 1998 (Comiket 54) | ZUN Soft Amusement Makers |
| Mystic Square Tōhō Kaikidan (東方怪綺談, lit. "Bizarre Romantic Story") | Shoot 'em up | PC-98 | December 30, 1998 (Comiket 55) | ZUN Soft Amusement Makers |
As Team Shanghai Alice:
| Title | Genre | System | Release date | Developer(s) |
| Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Tōhō Kōmakyō (東方紅魔郷, lit. "Scarlet Devil Land") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | August 11, 2002 (Comiket 62) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Perfect Cherry Blossom Tōhō Yōyōmu (東方妖々夢, lit. "Ghostly Dream") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | August 17, 2003 (Comiket 64) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Imperishable Night Tōhō Eiyashō (東方永夜抄, lit. "Eternal Night Vignette") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | August 15, 2004 (Comiket 66) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Immaterial and Missing Power Tōhō Suimusō (東方萃夢想, lit. "Gathering Reverie") | Fighting | Microsoft Windows | December 30, 2004 (Comiket 67) | Team Shanghai Alice Twilight Frontier |
| Phantasmagoria of Flower View Tōhō Kaeizuka (東方花映塚, lit. "Flower Reflecting Mound") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | August 14, 2005 (Comiket 68) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Shoot the Bullet Tōhō Bunkachō (東方文花帖, lit. "Word Flower Album") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | December 30, 2005 (Comiket 69) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Mountain of Faith Tōhō Fūjinroku (東方風神録, lit. "Wind God Chronicles") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | August 17, 2007 (Comiket 72) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Scarlet Weather Rhapsody Tōhō Hisōten (東方緋想天, lit. "Scarlet Perception Heaven") | Fighting | Microsoft Windows | May 25, 2008 (Reitaisai 5) | Team Shanghai Alice Twilight Frontier |
| Subterranean Animism Tōhō Chireiden (東方地霊殿, lit. "Earth-Spirit Palace") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | August 16, 2008 (Comiket 74) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Undefined Fantastic Object Tōhō Seirensen (東方星蓮船, lit. "Star-Lotus Ship") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | August 15, 2009 (Comiket 76) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Touhou Hisoutensoku Tōhō Hisōtensoku ~ Chōdokyū Ginyoru no Nazo wo Oe (東方非想天則 〜 超弩級ギニョルの謎を追え, lit. "Unperceiving of Natural Law ~ Chase the Enigma of the Gargantuan Guignol") | Fighting | Microsoft Windows | August 15, 2009 (Comiket 76) | Team Shanghai Alice Twilight Frontier |
| Double Spoiler Daburu Supoiraa ~ Tōhō Bunkachō (ダブルスポイラー 〜 東方文花帖, lit. "Word Flower Album") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | March 14, 2010 (Reitaisai 7) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Fairy Wars Yōsei Daisensō ~ Tōhō Sangetsusei (妖精大戦争 〜 東方三月精, lit. "Great Fairy Wars ~ Three Fairies") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | August 14, 2010 (Comiket 78) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Ten Desires Tōhō Shinreibyō (東方神霊廟, lit. "Divine Spirit Mausoleum") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | August 13, 2011 (Comiket 80) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Hopeless Masquerade Tōhō Shinkirō (東方心綺楼, lit. "Heart Elegant Tower") | Fighting | Microsoft Windows | May 26, 2013 (Reitaisai 10) | Team Shanghai Alice Twilight Frontier |
| Double Dealing Character Tōhō Kishinjō (東方輝針城, lit. "Shining Needle Castle") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | August 12, 2013 (Comiket 84) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Impossible Spell Card Danmaku Amanojaku (弾幕アマノジャク, lit. "Bullet Curtain Amanojaku") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | May 11, 2013 (Reitaisai 11) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Urban Legend in Limbo Tōhō Shinpiroku (東方深秘録, lit. "Deep Secret Record") | Fighting | Microsoft Windows | May 10, 2015 (Reitaisai 12) | Team Shanghai Alice Twilight Frontier |
| Urban Legend in Limbo Tōhō Shinpiroku (東方深秘録, lit. "Deep Secret Record") | Fighting | PlayStation 4 | JP: December 8, 2016 | Team Shanghai Alice Twilight Frontier |
| Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom Tōhō Kanjuden (東方紺珠伝, lit. "Ultramarine Orb Tale") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | August 14, 2015 (Comiket 88) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Hidden Star in Four Seasons Tōhō Tenkūshō (東方天空璋, lit. "Heavenly Jade Dipper") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | August 11, 2017 (Comiket 92) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Antinomy of Common Flowers Tōhō Hyōibana (東方憑依華, lit. "Spirit Possession Bloom") | Fighting | Microsoft Windows | December 29, 2017 (Comiket 93) | Team Shanghai Alice Twilight Frontier |
| Antinomy of Common Flowers Tōhō Hyōibana (東方憑依華, lit. "Spirit Possession Bloom") | Fighting | PlayStation 4 | April 22, 2021 | Team Shanghai Alice Twilight Frontier |
| Antinomy of Common Flowers Tōhō Hyōibana (東方憑依華, lit. "Spirit Possession Bloom") | Fighting | Nintendo Switch | April 22, 2021 | Team Shanghai Alice Twilight Frontier |
| Violet Detector Hifū Naitomea Daiarī (秘封ナイトメアダイアリ, lit. "Secret Sealing Nightmare Diary") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | August 10, 2018 (Comiket 94) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Wily Beast and Weakest Creature Tōhō Kikeijū (東方鬼形獣, lit. "Oni-Shaped Beast") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | August 12, 2019 (Comiket 96) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Sunken Fossil World Tōhō Gōyoku Ibun ~ Suibotsushita Chinshū Jigoku (東方剛欲異聞　～ 水没した沈愁地獄, lit. "Strange Tale of Advice ~ Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow") | Bullet hell and platformer | Microsoft Windows | October 24, 2021 | Team Shanghai Alice Twilight Frontier |
| Unconnected Marketeers Tōhō Kōryūdō (東方虹龍洞, lit. "Rainbow Dragon Cave") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | May 4, 2021 | Team Shanghai Alice |
| 100th Black Market Barettofiriatachi no Yamishijō (バレットフィリア達の闇市場, lit. "Bulletphiles' Black Market") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | August 14, 2022 (Comiket 100) | Team Shanghai Alice |
| Unfinished Dream of All Living Ghost Tōhō Jūōen (東方獣王園, lit. "Beast King Garden") | Shoot 'em up | Microsoft Windows | August 13, 2023 | Team Shanghai Alice |

### Music CDs

ZUN's Music Collection
* Dolls in Pseudo Paradise (蓬莱人形, Hōrai Ningyō, lit. "Hourai Doll"; 2002-12-30)
* Ghostly Field Club (蓮台野夜行, Rendaino Yakō, lit. "Night Trip to Rendaino"; 2003-12-30)
* Changeability of Strange Dream (夢違科学世紀, Yumetagae Kagaku Seiki, lit. "Changing Dreams in the Age of Science"; 2004-12-30)
* Retrospective 53 minutes (卯酉東海道, Bōyu Tōkaidō, lit. "East-West Tōkaidō"; 2006-05-21)
* Magical Astronomy (大空魔術, Ōzora Majutsu, lit. "Celestial Wizardry"; 2006-08-13)
* Unknown Flower, Mesmerizing Journey (未知の花　魅知の旅, Michi no Hana, Michi no Tabi, 2011-05-08)
* Trojan Green Asteroid (鳥船遺跡, Torifune Iseki, lit. "Ruins of Torifune"; 2012-04-30)
* Neo-traditionalism of Japan (伊弉諾物質, Izanagi Busshitsu, lit. "Izanagi Object"; 2012-08-11)
* Dr. Latency's Freak Report (燕石博物誌, Enseki Hakubutsushi, lit. "Swallowstone Naturalis Historia"; 2016-05-08)
* Dateless Bar "Old Adam" (旧約酒場, Kyūyaku Sakaba, lit. "Old Testament Tavern"; 2016-08-13)
* Rainbow-Colored Septentrion (虹色のセプテントリオン, Nijiiro no Seputentorion, 2021-12-31)
* Taboo Japan Disentanglement (七夕坂夢幻能, Tanabatazaka Mugen Nou, lit. "Mugen Noh of Tanabata Hill"; 2024-05-03)
Akyu's Untouched Score
* Akyu's Untouched Score vol.1 (幺樂団の歴史１, Yōgakudan no Rekishi 1, lit. "History of Yougakudan 1"; 2006-05-21)
* Akyu's Untouched Score vol.2 (幺樂団の歴史２, Yōgakudan no Rekishi 2, lit. "History of Yougakudan 2"; 2006-12-31)
* Akyu's Untouched Score vol.3 (幺樂団の歴史３, Yōgakudan no Rekishi 3, lit. "History of Yougakudan 3"; 2006-12-31)
* Akyu's Untouched Score vol.4 (幺樂団の歴史４, Yōgakudan no Rekishi 4, lit. "History of Yougakudan 4"; 2007-12-31)
* Akyu's Untouched Score vol.5 (幺樂団の歴史５, Yōgakudan no Rekishi 5, lit. "History of Yougakudan 5"; 2007-12-31)
Collaborations with Twilight Frontier
* Immaterial and Missing Power OST (幻想曲抜萃, Gensōkyoku Bassui, lit. "Collection of Illusionary Music"; 2005-08-14)
* Scarlet Weather Rhapsody OST (全人類ノ天楽録, Zenjinrui no Tengakuroku Tōhō Hisōten, lit. "Celestial Music Record of All Humankind"; 2008-08-16)
* Touhou Hisoutensoku OST (核熱造神ヒソウテンソク, Kakunetsuzōshin Hisōtensoku, lit. "Thermonuclear Titan Hisoutensoku"; 2009-12-30)
* Hopeless Masquerade OST (暗黒能楽集・心綺楼, Ankoku Nōgakushū, lit. "Dark Noh Collection"; 2013-08-12)
* Urban Legend in Limbo OST (深秘的楽曲集　宇佐見菫子と秘密の部室, Shinpiteki Gakkyokushū ~ Usami Sumireko to Himitsu no Bushitsu, lit. "A Deeply Mystic Music Collection ~ Sumireko Usami and the Clubroom of Secrets"; 2015-08-14)
* Urban Legend in Limbo OST 2 (深秘的楽曲集・補 東方深秘録初回特典CD, Shinpiteki Gakkyokushū - Ho ~ Tōhō Shinpiroku Shokai Tokuten CD, lit. "A Deeply Mystic Music Collection Supplement ~ Touhou Shinpiroku First Pressing Special CD"; 2016-12-08)
* Antimony of Common Flowers OST (完全憑依ディスコグラフィ, Kanzenhyōi Disukogurafi, lit. "Perfect Possession Discography"; 2018-05-06)

## Member

Team Shanghai Alice consists of a single member, ZUN, who serves as the programmer, writer, artist, and composer for the group's productions. His real name is Jun'ya Ōta (太田 順也, Ōta Jun'ya); he picked the pseudonym due to its similarity to his given name. He was born on March 18, 1977, in Hakuba, Nagano, and is well known among fans for his fondness of beer and his penchant for wearing flat caps. He has sometimes playfully referred to himself as the "Hakurei Kannushi" (博麗神主, lit. "head priest of the Hakurei Shrine"). In 2012, ZUN revealed that he had recently married a programmer, with whom he has 2 children.
His interest in creating music began in elementary school, when his parents gifted him an Electone as a birthday present. In junior high school, he played the trumpet in a brass band and began composing his own music. In 1995, he began developing a series of bullet hell video games under the name "ZUN Soft" while studying mathematics at Tokyo Denki University. The games, which would become the first five entries in the Touhou Project series, were developed for NEC PC-9800 personal computers and published by Amusement Makers, a student video game development club:
* Highly Responsive to Prayers (東方靈異伝, Tōhō Reiiden, lit. "Wondrous Tale", 1997)
* Story of Eastern Wonderland (東方封魔録, Tōhō Fūmaroku, lit. "Demon-Sealing Record", 1997)
* Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream (東方夢時空, Tōhō Yumejikū, lit. "Dream Space-Time", 1997)
* Lotus Land Story (東方幻想郷, Tōhō Gensōkyō, lit. "Fantasy Land", 1998)
* Mystic Square (東方怪綺談, Tōhō Kaikidan, lit. "Bizarre Romantic Story", 1998)
After graduating in 1999, ZUN was hired by as a video game programmer by Taito. He is credited in the production of several titles:
* International League Soccer [it] (PlayStation 2, 2000)
* Magic Pengel (PlayStation 2, 2002)
* Bujingai (PlayStation 2, 2003)
* Graffiti Kingdom (PlayStation 2, 2004)
* Exit (PlayStation Portable, 2005)
During this period, he contributed soundtracks to several games developed by his junior classmates in Amusement Makers, notably the Seihou Project (西方Project, Seihō Purojekuto, lit. "Western Project"), a series of bullet hell games for Microsoft Windows by Shunsatsu sare do? (瞬殺サレ道？). The series was intended as a counterpart to the Touhou Project, featuring highly similar gameplay as well as cameo appearances by Reimu Hakurei, Marisa Kirisame, and Yuuka Kazami:
* Shuusou Gyoku (秋霜玉, lit. "Autumn Frost Orb", 2000) - part of the Seihou Project
* Torte Le Magic (トルテルマジック, Torute Ru Majikku, 2001) - a bullet hell game by Pietoro (ぴえとろ) based on the manga 10 Carat Torte! [ja]
* Kioh Gyoku (稀翁玉, lit. "Rare Venerable Orb", 2001) - part of the Seihou Project
* ZUN's Strange Works (その他の作品, lit. "Other Works", 2000–2001) - a collection of six MIDI tracks for the Roland SC-88 Pro, including unused music from Shuusou Gyoku
In 2007, he left his job at Taito to focus on the development of the Touhou Project. Later that year, ZUN provided programming for Uwabami Breakers (黄昏酒場, Tasogare Sakaba, lit. "Twilight Bar Room"), a beer-themed bullet hell game published by "The Drinking Party" (呑んべぇ会, Nonbe-ekai). The game uses the same engine as Mountain of Faith and shares many similar gameplay features, including a "Beer Gauge" that increases shot power based on damage dealt.
In addition to the Touhou Project games, ZUN has provided writing for several official Touhou Project print works, produced in collaboration with various illustrators and publishers:
* Curiosities of Lotus Asia (東方香霖堂, Tōhō Kōrindō, lit. "Fragrant Rain Temple", 2004–2007, 2015–present)
* Touhou Sangetsusei (東方三月精, lit. "Three Fairies"), which consists of:
** Eastern and Little Nature Deity (2005–2006)
** Strange and Bright Nature Deity (2006–2009)
** Oriental Sacred Place (2009–2012)
** Visionary Fairies in Shrine (2016–2019)
* Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red (東方文花帖, Tōhō Bunkachō, lit. "Word Flower Album", 2005)
* Seasonal Dream Vision (東方紫香花, Tōhō Shikōbana, lit. "Incense of Violet Flowers", 2005)
* Perfect Memento in Strict Sense (東方求聞史紀, Tōhō Gumonshiki, lit. "Gumon Histories", 2006)
* Touhou Bougetsushou (東方儚月抄, lit. "Ephemeral Moon Vignette"), which consists of:
** Silent Sinner in Blue (2007–2009)
** Cage in Lunatic Runagate (2007–2009)
** Inaba of the Moon and Inaba of the Earth (月のイナバと地上の因幡, Tsuki no Inaba to Chijō no Inaba, 2007–2012)
* The Grimoire of Marisa (グリモワール オブ マリサ, Gurimowaru obu Marisa, 2009)
* Wild and Horned Hermit (東方茨歌仙, Tōhō Ibarakasen, lit. "Rose Poem Hermit, 2010–2019)
* Symposium of Post-mysticism (東方求聞口授, Tōhō Gumon Kuju, lit. "Gumon Oral Teachings", 2012)
* Forbidden Scrollery (東方鈴奈庵, Tōhō Suzunaan, lit. "Bell Hermitage", 2012–2017)
* Strange Creators of Outer World (東方外來韋編, Tōhō Gairai Ihen, lit. "Tomes of External Origins", 2015–present)
* Alternative Facts in Eastern Utopia (東方文果真報, Tōhō Bunka Shinpō, lit. "Word's End True Report", 2017)
* The Grimoire of Usami (秘封倶楽部異界撮影記録, Hifū Kurabu Ikai Satsuei Kiroku, lit. "Secret Sealing Club's Otherworld Photography Record", 2019)
* Cheating Detective Satori (<東方智霊奇伝>　反則探偵さとり, <Tōhō Chireikiden> Hansoku Tantei Satori, lit. "Strange Legend of Wise Spirits", 2019–present)
* Lotus Eaters (東方酔蝶華　～ ロータスイーター達の酔醒, Tōhō Suichōka ~ Rōtasuītā-tachi no Suisei, lit. "Drunken Butterfly Flower ~ Drunkening and Sobering of Lotus-Eaters", 2019–present)
The releases of Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red, Perfect Memento in Strict Sense, Strange Creators of Outer World Volume 2, and The Grimoire of Marisa were accompanied by bonus CDs containing arrangements and compositions by ZUN. Additional CDs were included with several tankōbon releases of official manga: Eastern and Little Nature Deity (2007), Strange and Bright Nature Deity (2008, 2009, 2009), Silent Sinner in Blue (2008), Oriental Sacred Place (2010, 2011, 2012), and Forbidden Scrollery (2016).
Rarely, ZUN has collaborated in the production of unofficial Touhou works, creating tracks for two fangames and four dōjin albums:
* Cradle (東方幻樂祀典, Tōhō Gengaku Shiten, lit. "Fantasy Musical Festival", 2004) - album by sound sepher
* Seasonal Dream Vision (東方紫香花, Tōhō Shikōbana, lit. "Incense of Violet Flowers", 2005) - compilation album by Comic Toranoana, included with Seasonal Dream Vision fanbook
* Magus in Mystic Geometries (神魔討綺伝, Shinma Tōki Den, lit. "Legend of God-Devil", 2008) - shoot 'em up game by D.N.A.Softwares
* Touhou Unreal Mahjong (東方幻想麻雀, Tōhō Gensō Mājan, 2009) - mahjong game by D.N.A.Softwares
* Touhou Unreal Mahjong OST (東方幻想麻雀オリジナルサウンドトラック, Tōhō Gensō Mājan Orijinaru Saundo Torakku, 2009) - album by Disaster and D.N.A.Softwares
* 8BIT MUSIC POWER FINAL (8ビットミュージックパワーファイナル, 8-Bitto Myūjikku Pawā Fainaru, 2017) - album by Columbus Circle
Since December 2009, ZUN has written the monthly column "Which Came First, Hakurei Kannushi's Games or Beer?" (博麗神主のゲームが先かお酒が先か, Hakurei Kannushi no Gēmu ga Saki ka o Sake ga Saki ka?), in which he discusses his favorite locations for food and beer, his daily life, game development, and topics related to the Touhou Project. The columns are often accompanied by photos and/or guest artist illustrations; it was serialized in Comptiq magazine until July 2013, and in Comp Ace since September 2013.