Higurashi: When They Cry

Synopsis

Hinamizawa, a small rural village in Japan, circa 1983. The village is known for its annual Watanagashi Festival, which honors the local deity, Oyashiro-sama. The story follows Maebara Keiichi, a teenage boy who has recently moved to Hinamizawa with his family. He quickly becomes friends with a group of local girls: Ryuuguu Rena, Sonozaki Mion, Houjou Satoko, and Furude Rika. On the surface, Hinamizawa is a peaceful, tight-knit community. However, Keiichi soon discovers that the village harbors dark secrets and a history of mysterious disappearances and gruesome murders that occur each year around the time of the Watanagashi Festival.

First Air Date: 2002-08-10

Last Air Date: 2006-12-31

Number of Seasons: 2

Number of Episodes: 11

Created By: Ryūkishi07

Top Cast

Satsuki Yukino as Mion Sonozaki
Soichiro Hoshi as Keiichi Maebara
Mai Nakahara as Rena Ryuuguu
Mika Kanai as Satoko Houjou
Yukari Tamura as Rika Furude
Miki Itou as Miyo Takano
Chafurin as Kuraudo Ooishi

Seasons

Question and Answer Arcs (2002)

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni is the first set of stories, the "Question" arcs, comprising: -Onikakushi -Watanagashi -Tatarigoroshi -Himatsubushi Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai is the second set of stories, the "Answer" arcs, comprising: -Meakashi -Tsumihoroboshi -Minagoroshi -Matsuribayashi

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Onikakushi (2002-08-10)

On a certain day in June, someone dies, and someone else goes missing. The series of deaths is connected to the upheaval surrounding the dam construction project. A murder case that was covered up is being reenacted. Is it a conspiracy? A coincidence? Or perhaps a curse?
Ep. 2: Watanagashi (2002-12-29)

Keiichi wins a game tournament and gives his prize, a doll, to Rena stating that Mion will not be interested in such girly things, though Mion is actually rather hurt that Keiichi thinks about her that way, though she pretends not to mind.
Ep. 3: Tatarigoroshi (2003-08-15)

Satoko's uncle Teppei returns to Hinamizawa to take custody of Satoko and resume an abusive relationship with her, where he treats her like a slave while demanding money from her. Keiichi cannot accept this stalemate, and he makes it his personal mission to rescue Satoko.
Ep. 4: Himatsubushi (2004-08-14)

Akasaka Mamoru, a detective is sent to Hinamizawa to rescue Inukai Toshiki, the grandson of a government official, who is taken hostage. While waiting for Makino, he meets a younger Furude Rika at the bus stop.
Ep. 5: Meakashi (2004-12-30)

Sonozaki Shion escapes from her private school to return to Hinamizawa. During her time there, she meets Satoshi, who protected her from a group of thugs.
Ep. 6: Tsumihoroboshi (2005-08-14)

Is the curse really real? This chapter presents the events from another view, which reveals additional information about Rena's past and Keiichi's reasons for moving to Hinamizawa from Tokyo.
Ep. 7: Minagoroshi (2005-12-30)

Furude Rika is in an altered state of reality. Around her, various prisms float and circulate her. As she examines them, she mentions that they are "fragments" from the various Junes of 1983.
Ep. 8: Matsuribayashi (2006-08-13)

The final arc in the Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai series. It is mostly told from the viewpoint of Rika Furude, as well as her other friends.