Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (Higurashi: When They Cry)

Keiichi Maebara has just moved to the quiet little village of Hinamizawa in the summer of 1983, and quickly becomes inseparable friends with schoolmates Rena Ryuuguu, Mion Sonozaki, Satoko Houjou, and Rika Furude. However, darkness lurks underneath the seemingly idyllic life they lead.

As the village prepares for its annual festival, Keiichi learns about the local legends surrounding it. To his horror, he discovers that there have been several murders and disappearances in the village in the recent years, and that they all seem to be connected to the festival and the village's patron god, Oyashiro. Keiichi tries to ask his new friends about these incidents, but they are suspiciously silent and refuse to give him the answers he needs. As more and more bizarre events occur, he wonders just what else his friends might be keeping from him, and if he can even trust them at all.

When madness and paranoia begin taking root in Keiichi's heart, he will stumble straight into the mysteries at work in Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, a story that is told across multiple arcs.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

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Background

Geneon Entertainment USA initially licensed and distributed the first season of Higurashi until their closure in 2007. Funimation later distributed the Geneon release, but dropped the license in 2011 due to poor sales. It remained unlicensed until 2015 when Sentai Filmworks announced that they picked up the series.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni adapts the first six chapters of 07th Expansion's eight chapter visual novel.

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Related Anime

Adaptation:	Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Onikakushi-hen, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Watanagashi-hen, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Tatarigoroshi-hen, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Himatsubushi-hen, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai: Meakashi-hen, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai: Tsumihoroboshi-hen
Sequel:	Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai
Side story:	Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Special: Nekogoroshi-hen, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kaku: Outbreak
Alternative setting:	Umineko no Naku Koro ni
Other:	Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kira, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Gou

More characters

Characters & Voice Actors

Furude, Rika

Main

Tamura, Yukari
Japanese

Ryuuguu, Rena

Main

Nakahara, Mai
Japanese

Sonozaki, Shion

Main

Yukino, Satsuki
Japanese

Sonozaki, Mion

Main

Yukino, Satsuki
Japanese

Maebara, Keiichi

Main

Hoshi, Souichirou
Japanese

Houjou, Satoko

Main

Kanai, Mika
Japanese

Takano, Miyo

Supporting

Itou, Miki
Japanese

Ooishi, Kuraudo

Supporting

Chafurin
Japanese

Houjou, Satoshi

Supporting

Kobayashi, Yuu
Japanese

Akasaka, Mamoru

Supporting

Ono, Daisuke
Japanese

More staff

Staff

Oomori, Hiroyuki

Producer

Urasaki, Nobumitsu

Producer

Okamura, Takema

Assistant Producer

Kon, Chiaki

Director, Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation

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Opening Theme

"Higurashi no Naku Koro ni" by Eiko Shimamiya

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Ending Theme

"Why, or why not" by Hiroyuki Oshima feat. Rekka Katakiri

Reviews

Jun 18, 2023

Anglix

Recommended

I partially understand why the low rating on this site because of all the confused people who dropped the anime. The Higurashi series is a mix of various genres, but primary is on the MYSTERY genre as well as Umineko. People can get confused because it adds to the mix some horror, comedy, slice of life and at times some sci-fi, sobrenatural or magical stuff. It really is a mix of everything so I understand why people can get confused at first but you need to understand all the episodes leaves you with questions and you will be solving the puzzle and mystery if you ...

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Apr 29, 2023

crescxnt

Mixed Feelings

After dropping this series for about 2 years (or technically putting it on hold), I finally came back to try and finish this anime just because of how renowned it is as a psychological horror. I didn't want to miss out and was curious about it. I'm quite glad I finally am able to finish it.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni is definitely hard to get into and understand without any background knowledge of how it works. Going into it, all I knew was how gruesome, twisted, and shocking it is. What confused me the most is how every few episodes is a different arc. While ...

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Nov 4, 2023

ShotgunHelmet

Not Recommended

Fans may tell you that Higurashi When They Cry is an "emotional rollercoaster". It's more like a drive-thru. And you've ordered a nothing burger.

Touted by internet typewriter monkeys as "the best horror anime," Higurashi When They Cry apparently proves that there is no good horror anime. Or, at least, there wasn't any in 2006. Anime fans of the time were so starved for a decent scare that you'd think a white bedsheet with cut-out eye-holes would have done the trick, so Higurashi When They Cry certainly must have blown a handful of otaku minds clean open when it first aired. But the year is ...

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New 'Higurashi no Naku Koro ni' Anime Project Announced

A new anime project for the Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (Higurashi: When They Cry) visual novel was announced by doujin circle 07th Expansion on Monday. Kadokawa simul...read more

Jan 6, 2020 6:55 AM by Vindstot | Discuss (87 comments)

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Recent Forum Discussion

The only Higurashi with a good art style bananachips - Oct 13	5 replies	by WatchTillTandava »» Oct 21, 12:13 PM
Poll: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Episode 19 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) mitsukuni07 - Feb 22, 2008	131 replies	by PapHenny »» Sep 22, 8:05 AM
Poll: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Episode 8 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) Tekky99 - Mar 14, 2008	266 replies	by goddamitkris »» Aug 29, 2:43 AM
Poll: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Episode 26 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) Mikhael04 - Jan 8, 2008	363 replies	by CookiezChan »» Aug 25, 1:34 PM
Poll: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Episode 4 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ) then - Feb 14, 2008	230 replies	by CookiezChan »» Aug 19, 9:58 AM

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Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

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Furude, Rika

Ryuuguu, Rena

Sonozaki, Shion

Sonozaki, Mion

Maebara, Keiichi

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Takano, Miyo

Ooishi, Kuraudo

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Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

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Information

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Available At

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Streaming Platforms

Synopsis

Background

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Characters & Voice Actors

Staff

Opening Theme

Ending Theme

Reviews

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