Takanori Nishikawa Collaborates with Chinese Reskin Game, Reimu Cosplay Sparks Licensing Controversy

Recently, renowned Japanese singer Takanori Nishikawa, often affectionately called 'Kyōshu' (The Leader) by his fans, appeared in a promotional video for the Chinese mobile game 'Touhou Arcadia Record.' He made waves by cosplaying as Reimu Hakurei, a central character from the 'Touhou Project' series, causing a stir in the gaming community.

The game in question, 'Touhou Arcadia Record,' is infamous for its controversial history. Players have pointed out that it is a 'reskin' (re-using existing assets with a new layer of paint) of a project that has been infringing on intellectual property rights since 2018. To evade regulatory scrutiny, the developers have rebranded the game multiple times under various aliases, including 'Flying Little Witch,' 'Changing Little Witch,' 'Energetic Girl,' and 'Barrage Fantasy' (Tanmu Huanxiang), before settling on its current title.

The community response has been intense. Many are questioning whether the developers secured an official license from ZUN (the creator of Touhou Project), labeling the move as an 'in-your-face' display of copyright infringement. There is also widespread skepticism about the developer's financial backing; as a top-tier Japanese artist, Nishikawa is known for having one of the highest appearance fees in the industry, leading players to speculate about the massive revenue generated by this illicit venture. Amidst the outrage, some casual observers admitted that the advertisement itself was high-quality and that Nishikawa’s performance was, as always, professional and entertaining.