Higurashi Q & A

[Ithekro]

Spoiler for Depends on how you define "witch":

The split of Rika and Dark Rika's personalities. Rika is the innocent girl. Dark Rika is the one repeating things over and over and over again.

[Guernsey]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

Spoiler for Depends on how you define "witch":

The split of Rika and Dark Rika's personalities. Rika is the innocent girl. Dark Rika is the one repeating things over and over and over again.

Spoiler for Makes sense sort of:

So dark rika is the one repeating things? Or is is psychological?

[Kudryavka]

Originally Posted by Guernsey

Spoiler for Makes sense sort of:

So dark rika is the one repeating things? Or is is psychological?

Spoiler for how i took it:

Hanyuu resets everything for Rika's sake, I thought. Methinks Rika herself doesn't have any power to repeat.

Spoiler for maybe a spoiler for guernsey:

And a question of my own, I thought that "dark" Rika was the true Rika, mentally mature after having endured hundreds of years of living, and that "nipaa~" Rika was who Rika used to be back when Hanyuu began doing the resets, and that Rika only put on the young Rika facade to avoid scaring other humans in each world. Is that right?

Anyways, got a lot of questions to ask; most are pretty in depth though, so there may not be explicit answers for every single one. Answer if you'd like, please~

Spoiler for very spoileriffic questions:

-Why does Hanyuu appear as a child when we see her, and sound like Rika when she was (mentally) a kid? I thought that Hanyuu died as a young adult.
-Does Hanyuu always stick to the current queen be? If so, was she once the companion of Rika's mother? If not, why did Hanyuu choose to be with Rika from birth?
-Was every world just two weeks long? If not, did Hanyuu used to reset all the way back to Rika's birth, or at least just to Akasaka coming to town the first time?
-If Hanyuu used to reset farther, then why do certain events, such as K1's shootings, Rena's family situation, and the outcome of the dam project protests, always unfold the same way in every world? Or perhaps they've unfolded in different ways in worlds we don't get to see?
-Is Hanyuu connected to all of the Furude family, or just the females, or just Rika, or just who she chooses to be with, or just Rika, e.g. could Rika's parents see Hanyuu when they were alive?
-What is Hanyuu's backstory, exactly? I've heard that she was a demon, a human who died for her child in Watanagashi, a human who died to calm the villagers of Onigafuchi, a ton of conflicting accounts.

Kudos to anyone who wants to answer any of these questions, since most of them make you think. Thanks to anyone who can answer.

[Seronei]

Originally Posted by Komari

Anyways, got a lot of questions to ask; most are pretty in depth though, so there may not be explicit answers for every single one. Answer if you'd like, please~

Spoiler for very spoileriffic questions:

-Why does Hanyuu appear as a child when we see her, and sound like Rika when she was (mentally) a kid? I thought that Hanyuu died as a young adult.
-Does Hanyuu always stick to the current queen be? If so, was she once the companion of Rika's mother? If not, why did Hanyuu choose to be with Rika from birth?
-Was every world just two weeks long? If not, did Hanyuu used to reset all the way back to Rika's birth, or at least just to Akasaka coming to town the first time?
-If Hanyuu used to reset farther, then why do certain events, such as K1's shootings, Rena's family situation, and the outcome of the dam project protests, always unfold the same way in every world? Or perhaps they've unfolded in different ways in worlds we don't get to see?
-Is Hanyuu connected to all of the Furude family, or just the females, or just Rika, or just who she chooses to be with, or just Rika, e.g. could Rika's parents see Hanyuu when they were alive?
-What is Hanyuu's backstory, exactly? I've heard that she was a demon, a human who died for her child in Watanagashi, a human who died to calm the villagers of Onigafuchi, a ton of conflicting accounts.

Kudos to anyone who wants to answer any of these questions, since most of them make you think. Thanks to anyone who can answer.

Really I wouldn't read my answers. Go watch Higurashi no naku koro ni rei which is an OVA. It has a lot of the answers you're looking for except the first question.

Spoiler for Answers:

1. No idea.
2. She can only communicate with Rika because there has been 8 generations of first born daughters. Watch Higurashi rei as it has some focus on this.
3. No, it is said that in the beginning she could reset it to when Rika was newborn. But everytime she does it she loses power and can't reset it as far back.
4. They unfold different, it's even mentioned about a world where Keichi doesn't come to Hinamizawa. Also watch higurashi rei as it shows a world where everything is different.
5. They couldn't see Hanyuu. Hanyuu is connected to every female born in the Furude family as she is able to communicate if there is 8 generations of first born daughters.
6. Actually they are all kind of true. She was a demon and she had a child with a human. She took on her all the sins of the village and told her daughter to sacrifice her so that the people would stop fighting between eachother. She was the first watanagashi sacrifice.

[Kantoku]

Originally Posted by Komari

-Why does Hanyuu appear as a child when we see her, and sound like Rika when she was (mentally) a kid? I thought that Hanyuu died as a young adult.

I don't think that can directly be answered (possibly in Kizuna during her arc, but I haven't read that yet). My guess it that she mentally is / wants to be a child and chose to take the form. She did say a couple times in the VN that she has always wanted to join the club members' childish fun.

[Joly]

About Rika's (physical) age...

So I was looking back in my Higurashi Kai summary book at the character line drawing section. I know it has always been said that none of the characters are given an official age and that we can only estimate, but I noticed Rika has a different line drawing for herself in 1981 (when her parents die.) Her dress and hair is a little shorter than her design for present time.

The line drawing is labeled:
梨花9歳
Rika, 9 years old.

I wonder if it would be safe to accept that as an actual official age...? I've also been seeing "August 25th" around as Rika's official birthdate (Japanese wikipedia, fans on Pixiv), but I don't know the source of that.

[Ithekro]

That would put her at 11 during the events of 1983, going on 12.

[Joly]

That's what I thought too, assuming August 25th is her official birthdate.

Also, going back to this question:

Originally Posted by AyaSai

Is the Nintendo DS version of Miotsukushi-hen different from the PS2 version? Including the ending? How?

Spoiler for ending:

Did Hanyuu survive in the NDS Miotsukushi-hen?

Spoiler for NDS Miotsukushi-hen:

I have went through all of NDS Miotsukushi-hen and seen most videos of the PS2 version. I can't give a detailed explanation since I don't understand enough Japanese to completely understand the story, so this is based on my observations.

But what I've noticed is that the DS original characters, Tomoe and Nagisa are included. It seems to heavily focus on Tomoe for a good portion of the arc. The characters from Natsumi's story arc are also involved.

I think Hanyuu survived. At the very end of the arc, Shion and Satoko show a shocked face and the screen turns white with the text in black, "tadaima" (I'm back). There's a bit of other text before that though... I don't know what it says.

(Then after that, Kotohogushi-hen is unlocked...)

Someone else who has played through and fully understood the arc may have to clarify my information.

EDIT:

Ugh. Replying to more old questions...

Originally Posted by Kantoku

Also, a question from myself, has anyone read the PS2 Kakera Asobi sound novels, and all of Kataribanashi-hen?

Because apparently...

Spoiler for Is this really canon:

In the ending credits of Kakera Asobi, Rika is shown being pregnant and Hanyuu actually gave those two a blessing before she died. In Kataribanashi-hen, which, according to someone else, are "fan-comics Ryukishi07 deems as canonical", there's a story that's in-depth on Rika's crush on Keiichi and it turns into a full-blown relationship.

Can someone confirm that this is actually true, and there are no other comics in Kataribanashi-hen that portray any other pairing actually having a relationship? Because this just makes me wonder what exactly happened to Mion (and possibly Rena) then.

Spoiler for what the heck:

If I remember correctly, WarriorKK mentioned that Kataribanashi-hen is a bunch of fan-comics and stories that were submitted in a contest and chose by Ryukishi07 to be compiled into (multiple) tankoubon. I own almost all of comic anthologies except for the first volume and it contains a variety of different stories (comedy, drama, horror, etc.) I know the story involves Rika having to mistaken her crush as a sickness and she asks Hanyuu for advice. Hanyuu reveals the sickness she's feeling is love.

...As for the rest of the story, I still need to attempt to try translating the rest of it myself. Mion and Rena appear supportive of Rika during all this.

As for Rika being pregnant...

I saw the very end credit of Kakera Asobi, and that is not Rika. Looking at the character design, it's just Hanyuu sitting on the shrine porch. Though I guess I can understand why they thought she was pregnant because the artist makes her look a little big in some scenes/angles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2IFCGTrpMs

Here is the ending credits on YouTube.

[Kantoku]

Originally Posted by Joly

Spoiler for what the heck:

If I remember correctly, WarriorKK mentioned that Kataribanashi-hen is a bunch of fan-comics and stories that were submitted in a contest and chose by Ryukishi07 to be compiled into (multiple) tankoubon. I own almost all of comic anthologies except for the first volume and it contains a variety of different stories (comedy, drama, horror, etc.) I know the story involves Rika having to mistaken her crush as a sickness and she asks Hanyuu for advice. Hanyuu reveals the sickness she's feeling is love.

...As for the rest of the story, I still need to attempt to try translating the rest of it myself. Mion and Rena appear supportive of Rika during all this.

As for Rika being pregnant...

I saw the very end credit of Kakera Asobi, and that is not Rika. Looking at the character design, it's just Hanyuu sitting on the shrine porch. Though I guess I can understand why they thought she was pregnant because the artist makes her look a little big in some scenes/angles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2IFCGTrpMs

Here is the ending credits on YouTube.

That..is quite an old question ^^; thanks for the reply, though I actually realized a day after asking that the person on Fanfiction who strongly believed in the picture being a pregnant Rika probably just saw wrong. Her and the obi does make her look a little big.

Also, can somebody identify which OST this instrumental was based off of?
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30520334/Track3.mp3

Same goes with this one. Sounds very familiar, but I can't pinpoint the exact OST it was based off of.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30520334/Track4.mp3

*I'll remove if links are not allowed

The composer titled it "Giwaku", but the original Giwaku from the Higurashi OSTs sounds nothing like this. Unless it has a meaning to it? But the first half of the track does sound very familiar.

[Joly]

I noticed there was no answer to your question, so I thought I'd try to answer it to clarify some things. (That person is really deeply into KeiichiRika...)

Where did you find those tracks, by the way? I don't recognize any of them. They sound a bit un-Higurashi-like. (Or maybe they are just fan songs...)

[Kantoku]

Originally Posted by Joly

I noticed there was no answer to your question, so I thought I'd try to answer it to clarify some things. (That person is really deeply into KeiichiRika...)

Where did you find those tracks, by the way? I don't recognize any of them. They sound a bit un-Higurashi-like. (Or maybe they are just fan songs...)

I actually saw your request (er, more like a comment) for the "dai on classics" album by Ruined Well and went to go look for it. Unfortunately, I was only able to find many people selling the album CD. However, I did come across different albums by a different composer(s?) in the process For some reason or another, though, the original composers are unknown, and the album got mixed with another I think? Also found another album by violinist TAM of TAMUSIC.

Edit: Never mind, just found out that they were arrangements of various visual novel BGMs ^^; finished uploading all of them as well, both albums can now be heard here.

[Nasanieru]

yup never ever have i seen an anime that i was almost sick.

[Oblivion]

Originally Posted by Nasanieru

yup never ever have i seen an anime that i was almost sick.

If you watch season two, I'm sure you'll change your mind after. Out of all the three seasons, it's probably the best one.

[AyaSai]

Originally Posted by Joly

Spoiler for NDS Miotsukushi-hen:

I have went through all of NDS Miotsukushi-hen and seen most videos of the PS2 version. I can't give a detailed explanation since I don't understand enough Japanese to completely understand the story, so this is based on my observations.

But what I've noticed is that the DS original characters, Tomoe and Nagisa are included. It seems to heavily focus on Tomoe for a good portion of the arc. The characters from Natsumi's story arc are also involved.

I think Hanyuu survived. At the very end of the arc, Shion and Satoko show a shocked face and the screen turns white with the text in black, "tadaima" (I'm back). There's a bit of other text before that though... I don't know what it says.

(Then after that, Kotohogushi-hen is unlocked...)

Someone else who has played through and fully understood the arc may have to clarify my information.

Oh..! Well, I do remember in Kakara Asobi that after Miotsukishi-hen, before the credit rolls in Matsuri, I heard Satoshi's voice said "tadaima." Unless.......

Anyone, in NDS Miotsukishi, do you know any more details in Tomoe's side? Is she alright (I heard she died in that arc (WUT?!))? And what about Nagisa (didn't she died in Tokihogushi-hen, that' what i heard of)? And what about this Shirou Hanada character? Is he another antagonist in Miotsukishi-hen, like Takano? Is Shirou working for Takano and Tokyo? Also, did Natsumi's parent survive in that arc?

Sorry, I was just trying to work on a crossover fanfic based on Higurashi Kizuna, that I wanna know more details about the game (yet, there's not enough info...)...

[Joly]

Oh. I guess I'm wrong then. Miotsukushi-hen appears to be the only non-voiced arc in Kizuna 4, so I can't quite tell who's talking. orz I'm sorry!

I think the best I can tell you is what characters showed up in NDS Miotsukushi-hen that makes it different from the PS2 videos I've seen. Shirou Hanada also shows up in the NDS version. (He gives me the impression that he's a villain in Tomoe's story...)

I don't really know if Tomoe died in this ending? It looks like she was only badly injured judging from the CGs. She shows up during the ending credits eating at a restaurant with Natsumi.

[AyaSai]

Originally Posted by Joly

Oh. I guess I'm wrong then. Miotsukushi-hen appears to be the only non-voiced arc in Kizuna 4, so I can't quite tell who's talking. orz I'm sorry!

I think the best I can tell you is what characters showed up in NDS Miotsukushi-hen that makes it different from the PS2 videos I've seen. Shirou Hanada also shows up in the NDS version. (He gives me the impression that he's a villain in Tomoe's story...)

I don't really know if Tomoe died in this ending? It looks like she was only badly injured judging from the CGs. She shows up during the ending credits eating at a restaurant with Natsumi.

I KNEW IT! I KNEW TOMOE DIDN'T DIE IN THAT ARC!!

Thank you!

Wait, Miotsukishi-hen's unvoiced in the NDS?! Aww.... (well, that explains why Shirou doesn't have a seiyuu).

And I'm wondering how Nagisa appeared in Miotsukishi-hen (since I thought she died in Tokihogushi-hen, unless she's mentioned or something (like her ghost appeared or something))?

Also, this question is about Kotohogushi-hen. Well, I know who Riku is (Rika's ancestor, Hanyuu's husband), but what happen to him? Did he died in the Fire?

[blaze0041]

Originally Posted by AyaSai

Also, this question is about Kotohogushi-hen. Well, I know who Riku is (Rika's ancestor, Hanyuu's husband), but what happen to him? Did he died in the Fire?

Oh darn it, now I wish I had finished Kizuna 4 last year... I wonder what happened to Riku as well.

[Joly]

Originally Posted by AyaSai

I KNEW IT! I KNEW TOMOE DIDN'T DIE IN THAT ARC!!

Thank you!

Wait, Miotsukishi-hen's unvoiced in the NDS?! Aww.... (well, that explains why Shirou doesn't have a seiyuu).

And I'm wondering how Nagisa appeared in Miotsukishi-hen (since I thought she died in Tokihogushi-hen, unless she's mentioned or something (like her ghost appeared or something))?

Also, this question is about Kotohogushi-hen. Well, I know who Riku is (Rika's ancestor, Hanyuu's husband), but what happen to him? Did he died in the Fire?

I think they left Miotsukushi-hen unvoiced to give Matsuribayashi-hen, Saikoroshi-hen, and Kotohogushi-hen voices. (Maybe not enough memory on the game to have all arcs voiced...?)

It seems like Nagisa appeared like a ghost or a memory. At one point during the story, her sprite shows up transparent.

Spoiler for Kotohogushi-hen obersvations:

About Kotohogushi-hen... these are just more observations since I can't fully understand it (and skimmed through the whole thing/I am typing this by memory):

I do think Riku died during the fire, because he's no longer present during the second half of the story. (Not the same fire where an older Ouka killed Hanyuu...)

Hanyuu may have died too and came back as a spirit. Why do I think this? ...Ouka is alone, grows up. She's ten-years-old now. The Rika sprite is used for ten-year-old Ouka (second part of the story timeskips to an older Ouka, which is what the older Ouka sprite is for, of course.) Then Hanyuu shows up at the shrine and Ouka sees her. Another note: I was listening to their conversation by ear and was actually typing out some of the dialogue into a translator, so...

Ouka doesn't recognize Hanyuu as her mother during this time, but she DOES know that she's a god. (At first, she keeps addressing Hanyuu as "kami-sama") Hanyuu asks her where her parents are and she responds by saying that she's alone. She stays at the shrine because it's an important place to her.

Ouka asks what kami-sama's name is... and Hanyuu doesn't introduce herself with the name "Hanyuu". Instead, she uses her longer, original name: Hai-Ryun Ieazomuru Jieda.

Little Ouka has too much trouble saying her name, so very much like Riku does, she shortens Hai-Ryun to "Hanyuu". And tells her that Hanyuu is the name of a person precious to her.

[AyaSai]

Originally Posted by Joly

I think they left Miotsukushi-hen unvoiced to give Matsuribayashi-hen, Saikoroshi-hen, and Kotohogushi-hen voices. (Maybe not enough memory on the game to have all arcs voiced...?)

It seems like Nagisa appeared like a ghost or a memory. At one point during the story, her sprite shows up transparent.

Spoiler for Kotohogushi-hen obersvations:

About Kotohogushi-hen... these are just more observations since I can't fully understand it (and skimmed through the whole thing/I am typing this by memory):

I do think Riku died during the fire, because he's no longer present during the second half of the story. (Not the same fire where an older Ouka killed Hanyuu...)

Hanyuu may have died too and came back as a spirit. Why do I think this? ...Ouka is alone, grows up. She's ten-years-old now. The Rika sprite is used for ten-year-old Ouka (second part of the story timeskips to an older Ouka, which is what the older Ouka sprite is for, of course.) Then Hanyuu shows up at the shrine and Ouka sees her. Another note: I was listening to their conversation by ear and was actually typing out some of the dialogue into a translator, so...

Ouka doesn't recognize Hanyuu as her mother during this time, but she DOES know that she's a god. (At first, she keeps addressing Hanyuu as "kami-sama") Hanyuu asks her where her parents are and she responds by saying that she's alone. She stays at the shrine because it's an important place to her.

Ouka asks what kami-sama's name is... and Hanyuu doesn't introduce herself with the name "Hanyuu". Instead, she uses her longer, original name: Hai-Ryun Ieazomuru Jieda.

Little Ouka has too much trouble saying her name, so very much like Riku does, she shortens Hai-Ryun to "Hanyuu". And tells her that Hanyuu is the name of a person precious to her.

Aww... that last part of the Kotohogushi-hen observation... so touching...so sweet...

Spoiler for now I had a feeling...:

that if Hanyuu did die in Miotsukushi-hen, she's probably reunited with Riku...

Wait? There's 2 fire incidents in Onigafuchi?! One I thought was when Ouka perform the Watanagashi?! How did the other fire incident happen?

Spoiler for also:

so that 2nd fire incident... does this mean that Ouka killed Hanyuu's spirit? Even though Hanyuu is already dead from the first fire?

[Dante of the Inferno]

Originally Posted by AyaSai

Spoiler for also:

so that 2nd fire incident... does this mean that Ouka killed Hanyuu's spirit? Even though Hanyuu is already dead from the first fire?

Spoiler for Clarification:

No, Hanyuu did not die in the 1st fire, Riku did. Hanyuu was killed by Ouka in the 2nd fire.