Inaba Tewi

Overview

Inaba Tewi is a rabbit youkai appearing in the Touhou Project series. Residing in Eientei and the Bamboo Forest of the Lost, she serves as the leader of the earth-rabbits who dwell in the region. Making her debut as the Stage 5 midboss in Imperishable Night, she later became a playable character in Phantasmagoria of Flower View. Although she takes the form of a young girl, her vast lifespan derived from long-term healthy living makes her one of the oldest beings in Gensokyo.

Appearance

Tewi has short black hair with subtle waves, red eyes, long floppy rabbit ears that droop down without human ears visible beneath her hair, and a small round rabbit tail. She wears a short-sleeved pink dress with a flared skirt, puffy sleeves, frills, and red stitching accents. Around her neck, she wears a carrot-shaped necklace, and she wears drawers under her dress. She is depicted barefoot or wearing socks depending on the title, and has also been shown wearing a raincoat, a headband, or a hanten coat paired with round sunglasses.

Personality

Tewi possesses a highly mischievous and quick-tempered nature often compared to that of a fairy. She takes delight in lying, playing pranks, and pulling petty scams, showing little remorse even when her schemes backfire. Despite her short temper, her immense age grants her profound wisdom and experience. She also exhibits a sharp business acumen, capable of raising capital through speculation and unusual ventures to expand her financial operations.

Abilities

Tewi possesses the ability to bring good fortune to humans. If a human lost in the Bamboo Forest of the Lost encounters her, they are guaranteed to find their way out, though the granted luck is entirely consumed during the escape. Her power also seems to benefit herself, causing rare four-leaf clovers to bloom under her feet and allowing her to uncover buried treasure.

Background

As the oldest resident of the bamboo forest, Tewi has ruled the region since ancient times and is speculated to be the actual Hare of Inaba from Japanese mythology. When Yagokoro Eirin and Houraisan Kaguya built Eientei, Tewi bypassed their protective barriers and offered to keep the forest hidden from humans in exchange for knowledge to educate her rabbit followers. Since then, she has resided at Eientei and formed the Earth-Rabbit Alliance alongside Reisen Udongein Inaba.

Relationships

Tewi maintains a contract with Yagokoro Eirin to gain wisdom, addressing her as master while privately holding a somewhat irreverent attitude toward her. She addresses Houraisan Kaguya casually as princess. After discovering Reisen Udongein Inaba when she fled from the Moon, Tewi introduced her to Eirin; though Tewi frequently makes Reisen the target of her mischievous pranks, she occasionally shows hidden consideration for her.

Trivia

Her name's official Romanization shifted from 'Tewi' in Imperishable Night to 'Tei' in Phantasmagoria of Flower View. Her theme song 'Lord Usa's Elemental Flag' and related music track 'Cinderella Cage ~ Kagome-Kagome' draw design motifs from Usa Shrine and the traditional Japanese nursery rhyme Kagome Kagome.