Higurashi Q & A

[infectus]

Originally Posted by battle22

It could have been nothing more than a simple 'Your eyes were scary' , The face keiichi was making at that time probably was pretty scary for them

Well, now that you said it seems true. That is the unique explanation that makes sense to me. thanks guy

[Draugur]

About the scene in Minagoroshi when the child consultation center asks Satoko on the phone with her uncle behind her: Why don't they just ask them "Are you being abused?" so she only needs to answer "yes" for them to take action and take her into custody? So she wouldn't have to be beaten up by her uncle in the meantime because she asked for help. I know the scene is about showing Satoko's courage, but from the center's point of view it would be more considerate that way.

[Yirba]

Hmmm, that would actually make more sense. I dunno though, the centre is pretty useless, tbh…

[Ithekro]

Not sure how effecting those where in 1983 Japan.

[Dante of the Inferno]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

Not sure how effecting those where in 1983 Japan.

Considering most child protections services aren't very good today, it doesn't surprise me at all that Keiichi had to raise an army just to get the center to do its job.

[Yirba]

I'm sure that part of the story is slightly exaggerated, but I'm guessing it's based on Ryukishi07's experiences as a civil servant.

[Draugur]

Thank you for these answers.

There are two more questions, which I think about for some time now.

- Has there ever been any revelation about the drug addict who claimed he had killed Houjou Tamae? I think the Yamainu set this guy up, but has this ever been confirmed or are there any informations who this guy was and where he came from?

- I think it's strange that Teppei has the same hair colour as Satoko and Satoshi, although they are not really relatives (he's just their stepfather's brother). Maybe it was planned at some stage that they are really uncle, niece and nephew. It's also strange that their real father is never mentioned. It seems there was no contact at all between him and his biological children. Otherwise he would have visited them at least when their mother and stepfather had died. This also makes me think that Houjou who dies at the park was planned to be their real father at some early stage of the story development.
(This is not really a question, rather a subject of speculation)

[rogerpepitone]

Originally Posted by Draugur

Thank you for these answers.

There are two more questions, which I think about for some time now.

- Has there ever been any revelation about the drug addict who claimed he had killed Houjou Tamae? I think the Yamainu set this guy up, but has this ever been confirmed or are there any informations who this guy was and where he came from?

My impression was that the Sonozakis set him up, to protect Shion.

Specifically, by alibiing Satoshi, she'd made herself an accessory after the fact. If the police did manage to break Satoshi, then Shion would also be likely to go to jail. Whether they thought he was guilty or not, the Sonozakis wanted to stop that investigation.

[chaos_alfa]

Originally Posted by rogerpepitone

My impression was that the Sonozakis set him up, to protect Shion.

Specifically, by alibiing Satoshi, she'd made herself an accessory after the fact. If the police did manage to break Satoshi, then Shion would also be likely to go to jail. Whether they thought he was guilty or not, the Sonozakis wanted to stop that investigation.

Why would Shion go to jail for that. She only faked Satoshi alibi not killed anyone.

I think that the Mountain Hounds did it, to make the police stop searching for Satoshi.

[rogerpepitone]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessory_(legal_term)

In the United States, a person who learns of the crime and gives some form of assistance before the crime is committed is known as an "accessory before the fact". A person who learns of the crime after it is committed and helps the criminal to conceal it, or aids the criminal in escaping, or simply fails to report the crime, is known as an "accessory after the fact". A person who does both is sometimes referred to as an "accessory before and after the fact", but this usage is less common.

This is US law, not Japanese, but I'm sure there are similar terms. Lying to give Satoshi an alibi is absolutely criminal.

[maximilianjenus]

It is highly dependant on the country, in some countries members of the family can do so.

[rogerpepitone]

Generally, that's limited to wives, and Shion is not married to Satoshi.

[Draugur]

Thanks for the interesting thoughts you are bringing up. But nevertheless it seems that the background of this mysterious incident will remain the only unsolved mystery of the "curse".

[chaos_alfa]

Has Miotsukushi been written by Ryukishi07 or Alchemist and what about the other arcs of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri?

[Draugur]

Sorry, I don't know that (I would also like to know) but I've got another question:

The Hinamizawa Syndrome causes paranoia and makes people kill others because they're afraid that otherwise they will get killed themselves.

But in Meakashi-hen

Spoiler for Meakashi:

Shion is shown as a sadistic torture maniac. So is sadism also caused by the syndrome or is it simply Shion's personality who, being ready to kill, also likes to kill extra cruelly?

[GabrieliosP]

Spoiler for answer:

Going overboard and overacting is part of her personality (she is one of the most agitated ones in trying to save Satoko in Minagoroshi-hen.

The sadistic torture maniac was partly because of the syndrome. But if pressed enough, she'd kill, just not like that.

[Draugur]

Thanks, Gabrielios.

Next question

I wondered for a long time why Rika tells Keiichi not to lose Satoshi's bat, when she sees him carrying it in Onikakushi-hen. Certainly she doesn't want to make sure he really commits the murders. Well, maybe she thinks about the Tsumihoroboshi scenario, so she wants Keiichi to have the bat in the end to defend himself. But: Isn't the Tsumihoroboshi which follows Onikakushi the first scenario like this where Keiichi actually uses the bat in the end?

[Seronei]

Originally Posted by Draugur

Thanks, Gabrielios.

Next question

I wondered for a long time why Rika tells Keiichi not to lose Satoshi's bat, when she sees him carrying it in Onikakushi-hen. Certainly she doesn't want to make sure he really commits the murders. Well, maybe she thinks about the Tsumihoroboshi scenario, so she wants Keiichi to have the bat in the end to defend himself. But: Isn't the Tsumihoroboshi which follows Onikakushi the first scenario like this where Keiichi actually uses the bat in the end?

I think that might just be that she doesn't want him to lose something that Satoko is attached to. That's how I perceived it at least.

[Ithekro]

He also uses that bat a bit thoughout the series. Both to attack and defend his friends.

[Golden Bug-Hunter]

Originally Posted by Seronei

I think that might just be that she doesn't want him to lose something that Satoko is attached to. That's how I perceived it at least.

I agree with this interpretation.