Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai (ひぐらしのなく頃に解) contains the last two of the four “answer arcs,” Minagoroshi (皆殺し編,; Massacre Arc) and Matsuribayashi (祭囃し編,; Festival Accompanying Arc). Before them, however, is an introductory episode where Akasaka and Ooishi meet with a thirtyish Rena to discuss the Great Hinamizawa Disaster and a special anime-only arc, Yakusamashi (厄醒し編; Disaster Awakening Arc). The latter was requested by Ryuukishi07 to include information from the original question arcs that had been left out, and focused on Rika and Satoko’s relationship as well as Rika’s growing depression.

After all the speculation about Oyashiro-sama, aliens, bioterror and conspiracies that ran rampant through the majority of the series, I was actually very satisfied with the final explanation and ending to the series.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

Because I love the Higurashi – When They Cry (ひぐらしのなく頃に) manga and heard that the anime was kind of disturbing, I decided that it was high time I sat down and watched it. All of it. The opening theme is pretty neat, but those spiraling flowers really get to you after the eighth hour.

The anime is set up just like the manga, or at least the tankoubons I’ve had a chance to read. Each main female character has an arc that focuses on her as a key piece of the puzzle that spans the entire series, and centers around brutal killings that take place around the Watanagashi (also known as the Cotton Drifting) festival in the small town of Hinamizawa. Keiichi Maebara, the new guy in town is the catalyst in each story and quickly finds himself fighting for his life without even knowing why.

Higurashi – When They Cry: Cotton Drifting Arc

A couple of months ago I recommended Higurashi – When They Cry (ひぐらしのなく頃に; Higurashi no Naku Koro ni ) after finishing the “Abducted By Demons Arc.” Last month the first volume of the “Cotton Drifting Arc” was released by Yen Press and I, of course, had to pick it up. I was all ready for more chills, menacing schoolgirls and dismembered corpses. While I wouldn’t say I was disappointed, I certainly didn’t get what I was expecting.

Manga Recommendation: Higurashi – When They Cry

Feel like you’re sleeping too much? That the silence in your house is just too damn peaceful? Higurashi will be happy to fix that for you.

Already a longtime fan favorite in Japan, Yen Press introduced Higurashi to the mainstream by serializing it in their manga monthly YenPlus. It has since been moved to a strictly tankoubon format, and the official word is that the choice was made so the series would be released in a more timely format. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that the story just gets more twisted and grisly as it goes on. Nothing at all. Heh.