Higurashi no Naku koro ni (When they Cry)

[Momo-P]

I wrote a review for the first series some time ago, but I guess it got rejected. *sweatdrops* Ah well...still, I wanted to ask if there was anyone else out there who loved this show.

I originally saw it back when the first series was still going, and I totally fell in love with it. Yes, I won't lie, the show definitely has a great deal of violence, but I don't think it's anything much worse than most horror movies. Unfortunately there's just not many animes that focus on this subject though, so it painfully sticks out when you watch. ^^; Probably the only piece of violence I really couldn't hand in the series was--

[spoiler]When Rika gets injected in the one reality and begins to kill herself with the knife. Also the scene where Shion totally loses it and slashes Satoko. For a regular person that would've been bad enough, but I think that scene really hit a heart string because Satoko is a child, and also because she's my favorite character.[/spoiler]
Other than that...stabbing, baseball bats, really isn't not much worse than a horror movie. In fact I think some scenes would've probably been worse had it been in live action. Being animated can always be a blessing, kind of forces the animators to only get so detailed. XD

But all that violent stuff aside, the story and characters are absolutely amazing. When you're first thrown into it, you don't even know what to think! You definitely find it interesting and stick around to see what comes out of it, but then what happens? Watanagashi-hen starts! Any thoughts you once had are thrown out the window and you're left stunned and confused. Even as you press on to Tatarigoroshi-hen you don't know what to think, but once you start picking up on the pieces? It suddenly becomes animated crack. You instantly get addicted and must press forward to find the answers...and even then you can't figure anything out! It's not until the second series does everything start to become clear...and then it's just an ultimate race against time.

Honestly, this is probably the only show I've watched where I really strived for the characters to suceed. As a child you do that a lot, but as an adult? It's strange to be rooting so hard for them, but after you do see all the violence they're subjected to....you just gotta see it turn out good!

I also just love Satoko and Rika-chan, they're the most adorable things in the universe! T~T There's also another little cutie I would mention, but anyone who's seen the series know who she is. She definitely can't compare to our Lord Jesus Christ (then again nobody can), but honestly...she's probably the only fantasy diety I can accept. At least she's actually meak, gentle, loving and forgiving. In fact...

[spoiler]The scene in episode 24 of Kai blew me away. Hearing Hanyu say she'd actually take humanity's sins upon herself to forgive them, I was totally amazed. I think that's the first time I've seen an anime mention something so Christian-like before, and not actually treat it like it's a bad thing. Usually when you hear Christian beliefs in anime it's like "but we don't need God, because we believe in ourselves" and all that nonsense.[/spoiler]
So ya. I've ranted enough on my love for this show. XD Anybody else like it? Or interested and want to ask questions? I've watched both animes, read much of the mangas, and even had stuff to do with the original Japanese games, so there isn't too much I'm not aware of.

[TriezGamer]

I'm slowly -- Very slowly -- plodding my way through season two. I love the series as well, and I'm greatly frustrated that I won't be able to get the rest of season one on DVD. Thanks a lot, Geneon. -_-

[Momo-P]

I'm slowly -- Very slowly -- plodding my way through season two. I love the series as well, and I'm greatly frustrated that I won't be able to get the rest of season one on DVD. Thanks a lot, Geneon. -_-

x_x Ugh, I know, totally depressing. Makes me wonder why Geneon even bothered at all. They must've knew they were getting toward the end of their rope when they were releasing these things, why not release a boxset or something? I believe that's what they did when their license on Sailor Moon was coming to a close, just threw out full season boxsets so people wouldn't be left hanging.

On the bright side of things though, a third season is getting released. There's also going to be a live action movie. Call me crazy, but I think that may make it easier for this show to get picked up, yanno...popularity and all. I especially hope some American movie producer sees the Japanese movie and tries to release an American adapation. Not just because it'd be cool to see, but it also might make getting merchandise easier. ^^;

[everdred12a]

You were more upset about...
[SPOILER]Rika killing herself with the knife[/SPOILER]
...than...
[SPOILER]the ending of Minagoroshi-hen?[/SPOILER]

I still need to finish the rest of Matsuribayashi-hen, which is already a bit disturbing as it is, IMO.

But generally, I think Higurashi/Kai is amazing, and I'm hoping they'll animate/localize all of the arcs that were only available as manga or on the PS2.

Also

[Momo-P]

You were more upset about...
[SPOILER]Rika killing herself with the knife[/SPOILER]
...than...
[SPOILER]the ending of Minagoroshi-hen?[/SPOILER]

Oh no, no, no! I totally agree, that ending really ticked me off as well, but the thing with the knife...eh. It was just hard to really watch. Kind of like Shion's "apology" to the family. One of those things that makes you cringe and turn away from the screen.

[TriezGamer]

Shion's Apology is the only part of the show I actually winced enough that my eyes were shut.

[SnEptUne]

Shion's Apology is the only part of the show I actually winced enough that my eyes were shut.

You meant the finger nails trimmer? Yes, that was difficult to watch, more so than Rika's knife.

Season one is darker than the depth of abyss with its insanity and realism (fear, jealousy, anger, betrayal/distrust); in contrast, seaon two is like the light than dissolve the darkness, with faith, trust, and best of all forgiveness to those who have sinned and hurt us.

What I like best is the symbolism and metaphor used in the story, and how each of the sinner fell but were later redeemed. It is very Christian-like indeed.

[Osirilen]

Ah this is a series I love, and definatley one of my favourites. Mainly since overall this is just the type of thing I enjoy. I got really excited about it just from reading about it in an anime magazine a friend of mine had, and jumped at the chance to get the dvd when I saw it. But thank goodness for the internet, only way I was able to finish it and see the second season....can't wait for the third though.

[Ingemar]

It's old news, but Funimation picked up this series.

[Lady Kenshin]

Thanks for your positive comments about this series!!! I got into it because of you and it's pretty awesome... and scary... LOL!

[Detective L]

I am sorry for posting this here... I just joined a few minutes ago, and am trying to figure out how to post threads.
I was wondering...
My dad bought me a few books of the Higurashi manga. I started reading it, and some of the material is questionable. I was wondering if anyone could tell me more about this Manga, and whether it fits in with Christian beliefs.
Thank you, and God Bless!

[Atria35]

Dead thread- it hasn't been posted in in 3 years. You should make a new thread in the Manga section, because this one will probably be locked (go to the bottom of the threads on that page, and you'll see a button that says 'new thread').

As far as answering your question, Japan is not a Christian nation, and nothing out there will really fit in with Christian beliefs because 98% of Japan is not Christian, and that statistic is reflected in those who make anime and manga. The key is whether you can find Christian themes and beliefs in it.

For instance, while there are Shinto and Buddhist beliefs shown (not surprising because they're in Japan and the creator isn't Christian), I feel that there are strong themes of hope, sacrifice, forgiveness and redemption. It's not apparent until the answer arcs, but Rika [spoiler]sacrifices some of her sanity, and even her life time and time again in order to try and save her friends- no matter how hard it gets for her, she never gives up because she never gives up the hope that one day she will save them and the town. You could liken her to a type of Christ-figure in that regard.[/spoiler]

While forgiveness and redemption don't often occur in the question arcs (usually it's the rejection or inability to accept it that causes the issues and makes things spiral into the 'bad endings'- which you could liken to the acceptance of God's forgiveness and redemption as saving you or the rejection bringing you down into the devil's clutches), sometimes it doesn't stop the bad things from happening but brings peace to the characters (which you could compare to God bringing peace to Christians but bad things can and do still happen to us in real life), and at the end, it plays into the good ending finally coming about.

[spoiler]Since Rika needs everyone's help to overcome the 'bad ends' that keep happening, it's not a direct Christ reference, but does reflect how we as Christians need to support and love another and others in order to overcome our type of 'bad end', going to hell.[/spoiler]

I hope that this helps in some way.