Higurashi Q & A

[Guernsey]

what exactly is the kakera?

[Dante of the Inferno]

Originally Posted by Guernsey

what exactly is the kakera?

Ryukishi07 describes Kakera themselves simply as alternate worlds. It borrows from the multi-verse theory in physics that there may exist an infinite number of parallel universes separated by quantum mechanics. That is, for every conceivable variation (from the fundamental laws and nature of the universe to an ameba turning left instead of right), there is a different universe.

The Kakera-verse is simply Ryukishi07's vision of the multi-verse on a consciously manageable scale: an endless field of hand-sized crystals, each representing a different universe. For the sake of simplification, Ryukishi07 limits Rika's access of the multi-verse to that of her doubles' own lifetime and location (Since her consciousness technically inhabits whatever Rika that exists within a chosen Kakera, she is not able to travel before or after her lifetime, and she's also stuck in Hinamizawa.). Even with this limitation, each Kakera holds different decisions and circumstances, from something as small as Keiichi winning a club activity instead of Rena, to something as large as Akasaka or Keiichi never coming to Hinamizawa.

[Guernsey]

That explains a lot, I am not going go into anything to deep in physics but why was until the second to final for everything to change? Did Berkastles had a hand with that?

[Yirba]

Oh, that's a good way of putting it.

I think it's important to note that Rika can see what is going on in each world on the surface of the kakera. So she probably observes for a while to ensure things look like they're going well before entering a world.

[Dante of the Inferno]

Originally Posted by Guernsey

That explains a lot, but why was until the second to final for everything to change? Did Berkastles had a hand with that?

Spoiler for Witch's Game:

As you know, the entire story of Higurashi is actually a game played out repeatedly by the two witches Bernakastel (on the side of Rika) and LambdaDelta (on the side of Miyo). LambdaDelta has the ability to kill a human being without fail, while Bernkastel has the ability to create a miracle. Basically, Bernkastel has been playing a game of attrition against LambdaDelta this entire time, but even on this playing field, there is technically a time limit: Hanyuu's power. Since Hanyuu is slowing running out of power by continuously transporting Rika's consciousness from one Kakera to the Kakera-verse to another Kakera, after Hanyuu's power is depleted, the game is over. Bernkastel has been intentionally running down the proverbial clock for two reasons: to allow Rika to learn from her experiences and finally understand what she must do to win, and to wear down LambdaDelta to the point that she no longer takes the game seriously. The combination of the two, as well as her assembling all of the necessary pieces (Akasaka heeding Rika's warning, Akasaka returning to Hinamizawa in 1983, none of Rika's friends going insane, etc), maximizes Bernkastel's (and therefore Rika's) odds of winning.

[Kantoku]

Originally Posted by Dante of the Inferno

Spoiler for Witch's Game:

As you know, the entire story of Higurashi is actually a game played out repeatedly by the two witches Bernakastel (on the side of Rika) and LambdaDelta (on the side of Miyo). LambdaDelta has the ability to kill a human being without fail, while Bernkastel has the ability to create a miracle. Basically, Bernkastel has been playing a game of attrition against LambdaDelta this entire time, but even on this playing field, there is technically a time limit: Hanyuu's power. Since Hanyuu is slowing running out of power by continuously transporting Rika's consciousness from one Kakera to the Kakera-verse to another Kakera, after Hanyuu's power is depleted, the game is over. Bernkastel has been intentionally running down the proverbial clock for two reasons: to allow Rika to learn from her experiences and finally understand what she must do to win, and to wear down LambdaDelta to the point that she no longer takes the game seriously. The combination of the two, as well as her assembling all of the necessary pieces (Akasaka heeding Rika's warning, Akasaka returning to Hinamizawa in 1983, none of Rika's friends going insane, etc), maximizes Bernkastel's (and therefore Rika's) odds of winning.

Spoiler for Not exactly Lambda:

Was that actually ever confirmed with clear evidence in the Umineko VNs though? I read in one of Ryukishi07's interviews that Lambdadelta actually has no relation to Tanashi Miyoko / Takano Miyo at all, besides being the one who guaranteed Takano's godhood and disappeared right after that. Also, in one of the tea parties, Bernkastel offers to tell Lambda "who the culprit of Higurashi is", and she flips out, shouting "Don't tell me, I haven't finished reading it yet!". Bernkastel and Frederica Bernkastel were said to have born out of hundreds of years of despair, right? While they technically may be separate entities, Bernkastel does say that she was "a cat stuck in a [seemingly inescapable fate]" and Frederica does say she was created out of despair.

[maximilianjenus]

Spoiler for bern:

yeah, it did not exactly start as a game fo witches as much as it evolved into one

[Oblivion]

Originally Posted by maximilianjenus

Spoiler for bern:

yeah, it did not exactly start as a game fo witches as much as it evolved into one

Spoiler for Viewpoints:

Well from the perspective of higurashi, it started as a twist of fate and evoled into a battle between Rika and Takano. From Umineko's perspective, it has always been a game for them.

[maximilianjenus]

Spoiler for matsuribayashi:

don't remember if it's here on the previous one, but it shows rika meeting bern, right in the kakera space, right before rika goes back to the human world.

[hakeya]

Can anyone explain to me about the end of ep 24 Higurashi Kai?

[Yirba]

Originally Posted by hakeya

Can anyone explain to me about the end of ep 24 Higurashi Kai?

Spoiler for Matsuribayashi-hen:

At the end, you see Frederica Bernkastel talking to a young Tanashi Miyoko. Together, they depart for the next world… Umineko When They Cry. Or at least, that's how I interpret it.

[Oblivion]

Originally Posted by hakeya

Can anyone explain to me about the end of ep 24 Higurashi Kai?

Spoiler for spoilers:

Frederica Bernkastel saving Miyo's parent's from dying basically makes way for the events in Rei to occur. Since they never died, a new world was created where she never researches the Hinamizawa syndrome and basically never meets Takano. Well that's how I interpret anyways.

[5-pak]

A question for the Higurashi novels specifically because I can't really remember which endings go with which medium?

Spoiler for The ending.:

Does Hanyuu die at the end of the visual novels? I know there's one version where Miyo shoots her and she's killed but was it the visual novels or was it that PS2 side story/whatever it was?

[Dante of the Inferno]

Originally Posted by 5-pak

A question for the Higurashi novels specifically because I can't really remember which endings go with which medium?

Spoiler for The ending.:

Does Hanyuu die at the end of the visual novels? I know there's one version where Miyo shoots her and she's killed but was it the visual novels or was it that PS2 side story/whatever it was?

Spoiler for Answer:

That ending is from Miotsukushi-hen, the "final chapter," as noted in the PS2 game.

[AyaSai]

Originally Posted by 5-pak

A question for the Higurashi novels specifically because I can't really remember which endings go with which medium?

Spoiler for The ending.:

Does Hanyuu die at the end of the visual novels? I know there's one version where Miyo shoots her and she's killed but was it the visual novels or was it that PS2 side story/whatever it was?

Spoiler for About that ending:

It happen in Miotsukushi-hen in the PS2 Higurashi Matsuri (though I'm not sure if it also happen in the DS port, due to lacking info).

However, in Miotsukushi-hen, Takano did not kill Hanyuu. At the end, with the struggling battle between Rika and Takano, Takano, wounded, finally gave up. Then the Banken (the army force Tomitake works for) came in and were order to Execute Takano, ignoring Oiishi's and Rika's plea. As they fired at Takano, Hanyuu appeared in front of Takano to protect her by taking the bullet for her. Then, Tomitake finally appeared to change the orders of killing Takano and helped her. That's when Hanyuu slowly dies in Rika and Keiichi's arm

[Game Master Matt]

Originally Posted by Oblivion

Spoiler for spoilers:

Frederica Bernkastel saving Miyo's parent's from dying basically makes way for the events in Rei to occur. Since they never died, a new world was created where she never researches the Hinamizawa syndrome and basically never meets Takano. Well that's how I interpret anyways.

Spoiler for Spoiler:

Actually, I believe Bernkastel wasn't trying to save Takano's parents, but was rather sending Takano to die with them. It's just by chance that all three ended up surviving.

[Kantoku]

Actually, no I didn't find it...Does anyone have the RAR of Tsumihoroboshi's music patch on them, or at least Tsumihoroboshi-hen with the music patch applied to it? The one on HigurashiFix is a dead link, and I just tested out the one that someone on TVTropes compiled using Minagoroshi-hen, it doesn't sound complete / it sounds like some MG or PS2 tracks were slipped in, and I want to keep to the original VNs as much as possible...

[CrimsonMoonMist]

I've just gotten around to buying Mangagamer's version now that Umineko's done,
and I've been wondering as I've heard that their version is somewhat lacking majorly because of the music and sound replacements
(which I'm aware can be fixed somewhat through patching),
But what about the translation itself? If it's particulary bad, is this to the point where it ruins the story's immersion?
For example, if I could either read the Sound Novel or the Manga,
would the Manga actually be the better alternative in this case?

[maximilianjenus]

dde, wtf? this is the higurashi forum

[Oblivion]

Originally Posted by CrimsonMoonMist

I've just gotten around to buying Mangagamer's version now that Umineko's done,
and I've been wondering as I've heard that their version is somewhat lacking majorly because of the music and sound replacements
(which I'm aware can be fixed somewhat through patching),
But what about the translation itself? If it's particulary bad, is this to the point where it ruins the story's immersion?
For example, if I could either read the Sound Novel or the Manga,
would the Manga actually be the better alternative in this case?

I read all the Mangagamer versions and to answer your question, no it isn't that bad, minus some spelling errors. The translation itself was alright, I understood the story well.

The VN is more complete than the manga. The only downside to using Mangagamer's version is they changed the soundtracks from the original.