Kasen Ibaraki - Lecture Notes

General Information

• Name: Kasen Ibaraki (pseudonym: Ibarakasen)
• Species: Oni/Hermit
• Age: Over 1,000 years
• Occupation: Sage
• Location: Youkai Mountain (Senkai), also seen at Hakurei Shrine

Personality

• Kind and polite but preachy and critical
• Volunteers to help others (e.g., Reimu Hakurei)
• Tries to keep Gensokyo isolated from the Outside World
• Aligns lifestyle with hermits and celestials

Abilities

• Guiding Animals: Communicates with and guides animals, including cryptids and dragons.
• Artificial Arm: Bandaged right arm is artificial, made of black smoke; can detach and act independently.
• Fangshu: A technique to hide her home, making it accessible only through a specific path.
• Has used light orbs and instant movement in her hermit arts.
• Can create openings in the Hakurei Barrier.

Possessions

• Ibaraki Box of a Hundred Medicines: Can cure all illnesses or injuries.

Species

• Once part of the Big Four of the Mountain, confirmed as an oni in Chapter 49 of Wild and Horned Hermit.
• Despite being an oni, adheres to hermit ideals.

Food

• Eats normally with a preference for sweets, despite hermits not needing food after 500 years.

Backstory

• Was once a wicked oni; malevolence sealed in her right arm.
• Travelled to Hakurei Shrine to see shrine maiden as the arm seal weakened.

Character Design

• Based on oni Ibaraki-douji, known for carrying severed arm.
• Name derived from Ibaraki-douji, meaning "thorn bush".
• "Kasen": homophone with Eight Immortals' female member, indicating affinity with animals.

Appearances

• Main protagonist in "Wild and Horned Hermit."
• Appearances in "Oriental Sacred Place," "Urban Legend in Limbo," and "Antinomy of Common Flowers."

Relationships

• Reimu Hakurei: Mentored Reimu to seal Kasen's wicked arm; developed a genuine friendship.
• Marisa Kirisame: Met her before Wild and Horned Hermit, known for accepting her preachings.
• Kasen's Pets: Includes cryptids like dragons.
• Ibaraki-douji's Arm: Sentient, malevolent; once reattached but sealed again.

Sages of Gensokyo

• Yukari Yakumo: Both are youkai sages, but Kasen is more aligned with celestials.
• Okina Matara: Acquaintance and fellow sage.

Minor Relationships

• Sanae Kochiya, Kanako Yasaka, Suwako Moriya: Friendly but critical of their actions.
• Komachi Onozuka: Slightly antagonistic; under surveillance.
• Suika Ibuki and Yuugi Hoshiguma: Familiar with Suika; avoided revealing her status.
• Sumireko Usami: Met multiple times; helps monitor her trips to Gensokyo.

Trivia

• Kasen was considered as the Extra Stage boss for "Ten Desires."
• Her title "The One-armed Horned Hermit" links to Noh play character.
• Appears in games despite debuting in print works, like Aya Shameimaru.