Humble Beginings to a Mainstay
Sanae first appeared as a Stage 5 boss in Touhou 10: Mountain Of Faith. Since then, she has been a playable character in all mainline games with a few exeptions.
Touhou 10: Mountain Of Faith
This game takes place right after the Moiyra Shrine was moved into Gensokyo, and we see that Sanae is rather tense and honestly a bit arrogant talking to the humans. A bit funny since she just recently found out about her god herritige; already acting hollier-than-thou. She even threatens to take over Reimu's shrine and claims that their inclusion to Gensokyo will gring the whole place closer to godliness (though invites Reimu to join her faith after being defeated). Though in Marisa's scenario, she claims that she thought that the new shrine would be welcomed by the residents of the Youkai Mountain, since Kanako is a mountain goddess who could protect them.
Marisa's Scenrario
Reimu's Scenario
What's the meaning of you storming into my shrine like this! This is the Moriya Shrine, a long-forgotten shrine of the past. It was moved into Gensokyo from the outside world together with the lake. I'm Sanae, a wind priestess, descendent of a long-forgotten line of gods incarnate in the outside world. Well, I guess you could call me something like a shrine maiden. So then, who are you? You don't look like a pilgrim to the shrine... There sure are strange people at the foot of the mountain. So, are you going to punish me, as well? Well, that's okay. Why don't I do the punishing, instead? Why, you, of course. I'll punish you with the power of a living god... With the divine power to cause miracles! You're strong... Your "anything goes shop" act really threw me. Are you really some sort of hero? All I wanted was for people to revere this mountain in the name of Lady Yasaka, the goddess of mountains. I thought that the humans and youkai that lived here would like that... What!? Do you mean to meet with Lady Yasaka?
If a shrine maiden like you is coming up the mountain... Maybe you want to join up with us right away? This is the Moriya Shrine, a long-forgotten shrine of the past. It was moved into Gensokyo from the outside world together with the lake. My god and I will be taking over this mountain now. Then, if we can take over your shrine— All of Gensokyo's faith will be ours... This is also for Gensokyo's good. Gensokyo will become weak if it continues in its current state of lessened piety. We'll lose the power to cause miracles. I'm Sanae, a wind priestess, descendent of a long-forgotten line of gods incarnate in the outside world. Sometimes, humans that revere a god are themselves revered. Sometimes, shrine maidens can become gods. Since you're a shrine maiden, are you prepared for such things to happen? I see. Then, maybe you should watch and consider the power of a living god... The divine power to cause miracles! You're strong... If you're this powerful, why doesn't your shrine have more followers? I think you'd probably get a great deal of faith If we even just made you a branch shrine for my god... What!? You mean, your goal is...
Touhou 11: Subteranian Animism
Sanae is only found in the Extra Story of this game, and her sprites remain unchanged. The only reason she exists is because the heroines visiting the Moiyra Shrine. She's happy that you visited the shrine in the cold weather, says that she has learned the greetings, and that she's ajusting to the absurdities of Gensokyo.
All Extra Stories Oh, did you come to visit the shrine in this cold weather? Hehe, I've learned how to do the greetings here. You can't let yourself be held back by common sense in Gensokyo, right!?
Touhou 12: Undefined Fantastic Object
This is Sanae's first game as an incident resolver! And she Really enjoys beating up Youkai!
Stage 1: Sanae meets Nazrin, inquiring about her mouse-ness. She's a bit shocked that they eat people, but respects mice as they are often used for scientific experements.
Stage 2: Meeting Kosaga, she is not scared at all. In Scenario A, Sanae sympathizes with her and feels bad for not being scared and tries to make her feel better to no avail. But in Scenario B she makes fun of Kosaga in all of her most sensitive areas, causing Kosaga to threaten Moiyra Shrine.
Stage 3: Now that she has gotten used to youkai hunting, Sanae is more than ready to throw down with Ichirin, even if she dosen't know anything about her. And like that, Ichirin ends up telling Sanae everything about the treasury and reviving her sister thinking that Sanae already knew what was happening. After defeating her, she opens the way to the Palanquin Ship and, hungry for more Youkai to hunt, goes in.
Stage 4: Going into the ship, she talks with Murasa a bit about Byakuten and how she wants a world where youkai and humans get along. Though Sanae now on a killing spree has a big problem with this idea. The ship goes to Makai while fighting, and Sanae gets off. In Scenario B, Murasa is not happy about a human boarding, so Sanae fights her to regain her human dignity.
Some of my favorite quotes from her: In this day and age you can fly a little helicopter inside someone's room. These days, nobody would be surprised by something like a flying umbrella. - It's just, if I got an umbrella like that from a friend, I just thought maybe I'd rather say no and go home wet ... - So, it's not just mice. Even umbrellas won't take me seriously. It's the end of me ... What happened to my dignity as a human ... ? - Well, now, please don't get so down. - Oh my, it looks like I said something I shouldn't have. - That's right, We shouldn't make fun of even mice. They are a precious living being required for scientific experiments in the outer world. - Oh! So this is youkai hunting! ...... This is kind of fun. - Hmm, hmm. So mice in Gensokyo eat humans. Maybe it would be nice if humans ate mice, too. ... ... No, that would be too weird ... - In this day and age you can fly a little helicopter inside someone's room. These days, nobody would be surprised by something like a flying umbrella. - But youkai hunting is something you do to youkai! You're a youkai, right? Better prepare yourself! - You're quite a worthy youkai yourself. That was pretty satisfying. I hope all the youkai from here on out are like you. - I'm just doing an investigation. It's very academic. - So the UFOs were actually parts of a grain silo. Those magazines I used to read tricked me... - I'm Sanae Kochiya, a human who's also a living god! I won't lose to any youkai! - Scenario A - Scenario B