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Higurashi When They Cry Manga Japanese Numbering #1
Higurashi When They Cry: Abducted by Demons Arc, Vol. 1
Life couldn't be better for Keiichi Maebara. Sure, he's moved to a sleepy, little town where nothing happens and high school consists of a one-room schoolhouse - but his new friends and fellow students are all cute girls! When he happens upon a story about a grisly local murder, however, his contentment turns to uneasiness as he finds himself drawn into a web of silent intrigue that involves his newfound friends...and threatens his very existence.
198 pages, Paperback
First published December 22, 2005
72 people are currently reading
2604 people want to read
About the author
Ryukishi07
299 books320 followersRyukishi07 (竜騎士07, Ryūkishi Zero Nana?, born November 19, 1973) is the pen name of a Japanese man originally from Chiba Prefecture who is well-known as the original creator for the idea of the visual novel series Higurashi no Naku Koro ni and Umineko no Naku Koro ni. He is the representative member of the group 07th Expansion. His pen name originated from the Final Fantasy series, "Ryūkishi" being the Japanese term for "Dragoon", and "07" goroawase for the name "Lenna". His illustration style is recognizable from the large hands he draws on people.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
November 3, 2016
Buddy Read with my best friend, and brother, Nicholas! ❤️
This manga is based off a game/visual novel, that is a very popular murder mystery where you search for clues to find out who is the murderer. And it is also been made into an anime, if that interests you more.
This story is set in the summer of 1983, and stars Keiichi, who has just moved to a small, isolated village named Hinamizawa. There is only one school for all of the children living in this village, and Keiichi soon befriends two girls and the rest of their gaming club! The club starts out lighthearted and fun, with the kids pulling innocent pranks on each other, but when Keiichi discovers that the village might be cursed, the book becomes much darker.
For the past four years, someone has been murdered, while another person has gone missing, on that day of the cotton drifting. And the murders are very, very gory and brutal. This series is definitely not for the weak of stomach or heart.
When Keiichi asks his two best friends about the murders, they either ignore him or play innocent. Their behavior is super suspicious, and makes him question everything.
This was sort of perfect for the Halloween season, because it is for sure creepy and has such an overall eerie feel. The village of Hinamizawa is filled with mysteries on every page, most of which I probably missed, but I cannot wait to try to find out all of its secrets.
Also, there is one (two sided) breathtakingly beautiful full colored page in this volume. I know the artist chose this page for a particular reason, and I'm sure it has a very important impact on the story, but it really is absolutely beautiful. I've looked at it about 100 times, studying it.
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This manga is based off a game/visual novel, that is a very popular murder mystery where you search for clues to find out who is the murderer. And it is also been made into an anime, if that interests you more.
This story is set in the summer of 1983, and stars Keiichi, who has just moved to a small, isolated village named Hinamizawa. There is only one school for all of the children living in this village, and Keiichi soon befriends two girls and the rest of their gaming club! The club starts out lighthearted and fun, with the kids pulling innocent pranks on each other, but when Keiichi discovers that the village might be cursed, the book becomes much darker.
For the past four years, someone has been murdered, while another person has gone missing, on that day of the cotton drifting. And the murders are very, very gory and brutal. This series is definitely not for the weak of stomach or heart.
When Keiichi asks his two best friends about the murders, they either ignore him or play innocent. Their behavior is super suspicious, and makes him question everything.
This was sort of perfect for the Halloween season, because it is for sure creepy and has such an overall eerie feel. The village of Hinamizawa is filled with mysteries on every page, most of which I probably missed, but I cannot wait to try to find out all of its secrets.
Also, there is one (two sided) breathtakingly beautiful full colored page in this volume. I know the artist chose this page for a particular reason, and I'm sure it has a very important impact on the story, but it really is absolutely beautiful. I've looked at it about 100 times, studying it.
Blog | Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Youtube | Twitch
March 15, 2017
I've seen the 26 episodes of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, the 24 episodes of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai and its 24 Specials, the Nekogoroshi-hen Special, and about half of Umineko (it just wasn't my favorite though I'd like to finish it one of these days.)
So, I'm familiar with this series, even if I haven't played the original game it's based on. I know this story: a guy named Keiichi moves into the small remote village of Hinamizawa and becomes friends with a group of girls. It starts off light and fun; they play pranks on each other and do club activities together, but their days take a darker turn as Keiichi realizes there's more going on in Hinamizawa than it seems. Every year people die and disappear and the truth is covered up, and Keiichi is determined to figure out if his friends are involved in it, what exactly the town is hiding, and who's going to die next.
This is such a dark, gory, and twist-filled series, and I love it. I haven't watched the anime in years, but I remember Oyashiro-sama, Watanagashi, and some of what's to come, although that doesn't mean I'm not enjoying it all over again. I like being able to look for hints and clues and I feel a bit of evil glee thinking, "I know what's going to happen to you ... hehehe." It's a lot of fun being able to revisit this series and its characters and watch their stories play out all over again.
This is a really great murder mystery series, a "whodunit" type of story, and if you like your manga dark and bloody this is a perfect one to pick up.
So, I'm familiar with this series, even if I haven't played the original game it's based on. I know this story: a guy named Keiichi moves into the small remote village of Hinamizawa and becomes friends with a group of girls. It starts off light and fun; they play pranks on each other and do club activities together, but their days take a darker turn as Keiichi realizes there's more going on in Hinamizawa than it seems. Every year people die and disappear and the truth is covered up, and Keiichi is determined to figure out if his friends are involved in it, what exactly the town is hiding, and who's going to die next.
This is such a dark, gory, and twist-filled series, and I love it. I haven't watched the anime in years, but I remember Oyashiro-sama, Watanagashi, and some of what's to come, although that doesn't mean I'm not enjoying it all over again. I like being able to look for hints and clues and I feel a bit of evil glee thinking, "I know what's going to happen to you ... hehehe." It's a lot of fun being able to revisit this series and its characters and watch their stories play out all over again.
This is a really great murder mystery series, a "whodunit" type of story, and if you like your manga dark and bloody this is a perfect one to pick up.
December 4, 2012
This is a creepy-crawly timey-wimey murder fest.
The story starts as the typical, "New Guy in Town" type of harem manga, but things get scary really fast. Then people start going missing, getting murdered, and the mystery of "wtf is going on here?" is introduced.
In short, not for people who don't like mysteries and who are freaked out by gratuitous amounts of blood.
For some reason, despite my normal aversion to horror, I read it anyway and wasn't too scared. Part of it is I went in knowing what to expect (having watched the anime to Umineko and Higurashii in my college's anime club). If you know what to expect, the blood, gore, and killing fest isn't too bad... just don't read it alone at night with a flashlight.
As for the timey-wimey-ness I mentioned earlier, it isn't brought up in this first volume of the first arc. I won't spoil here, but expect to be VERY confused later with the next arc.
Why only a three? Despite the story sucking you in and the impressive array of character development and expressions, the art felt a little inconsistent and sometimes looked just plain strange (page 11 with Rena facing away, 167 with the two standing together). Also, while some may disagree, the amount of fan-service seemed just a little over the top to me. Especially when it came to Satoko and Rika (though their fan-service moments was never as bad as the older two). I'm not opposed to fan-service in manga, but when there gets to be too much of it, it can distract from what's actually going on. Lastly, some panels it was hard to tell what was going on, such as with Rika and the festival. In the anime, it showed her cutting open the futon with the hoe. In the manga, she's shown with the hoe, and then the futon is showed split open being carried by some people. It's not clear that she cut it open. This was just the example that stood out, but there were other scenes that required more interpolation than others.
Overall, a manga that will freak you out.
The story starts as the typical, "New Guy in Town" type of harem manga, but things get scary really fast. Then people start going missing, getting murdered, and the mystery of "wtf is going on here?" is introduced.
In short, not for people who don't like mysteries and who are freaked out by gratuitous amounts of blood.
For some reason, despite my normal aversion to horror, I read it anyway and wasn't too scared. Part of it is I went in knowing what to expect (having watched the anime to Umineko and Higurashii in my college's anime club). If you know what to expect, the blood, gore, and killing fest isn't too bad... just don't read it alone at night with a flashlight.
As for the timey-wimey-ness I mentioned earlier, it isn't brought up in this first volume of the first arc. I won't spoil here, but expect to be VERY confused later with the next arc.
Why only a three? Despite the story sucking you in and the impressive array of character development and expressions, the art felt a little inconsistent and sometimes looked just plain strange (page 11 with Rena facing away, 167 with the two standing together). Also, while some may disagree, the amount of fan-service seemed just a little over the top to me. Especially when it came to Satoko and Rika (though their fan-service moments was never as bad as the older two). I'm not opposed to fan-service in manga, but when there gets to be too much of it, it can distract from what's actually going on. Lastly, some panels it was hard to tell what was going on, such as with Rika and the festival. In the anime, it showed her cutting open the futon with the hoe. In the manga, she's shown with the hoe, and then the futon is showed split open being carried by some people. It's not clear that she cut it open. This was just the example that stood out, but there were other scenes that required more interpolation than others.
Overall, a manga that will freak you out.
October 29, 2010
I'd first heard about this series through a documentary about Japan's geek culture. Well, to be more exact, I'd heard about the games. Mesmerized by the brief glimpse I'd seen, I tracked the series down... and discovered that it wasn't available in the US. Luckily for me, I did discover that it was going to be released in both manga & anime formats eventually. One book later, I'm hooked.
The beginning of the manga is deceptively peaceful. Keiichi Maebara has come to the small town of Hinamizawa, made friends & slowly gotten used to the easy life there. He spends his days in a small school that makes up the elementary, middle & high school classes, then passes the afternoons playing games with his new friends. It isn't until the night of the Cotton Drifing Festival that Keiichi begins to wonder what his friends could be hiding & why they're so quiet about the series of murder/disappearances that have occurred each year on the night of the festival.
The tone of this series is so freaky- I have to say that I love this series. There's a good mystery in this series & without reading the wikipedia entry for the series, I'd never have guessed what the whole secret of the town is. (Technically cheating, but I'd read the wiki entry before the series was brought over.) The tone is pretty adult though, so I wouldn't recommend this for extremely young readers or for those who don't like intense or semi-violent manga. The violence is all done mostly "off screen", although there are a few bits that will probably scare some readers. This manga is pretty much the whole package- it's got amazing art, GREAT storylines & you can really feel for the characters & their interaction with each other. I really do love this series!
The beginning of the manga is deceptively peaceful. Keiichi Maebara has come to the small town of Hinamizawa, made friends & slowly gotten used to the easy life there. He spends his days in a small school that makes up the elementary, middle & high school classes, then passes the afternoons playing games with his new friends. It isn't until the night of the Cotton Drifing Festival that Keiichi begins to wonder what his friends could be hiding & why they're so quiet about the series of murder/disappearances that have occurred each year on the night of the festival.
The tone of this series is so freaky- I have to say that I love this series. There's a good mystery in this series & without reading the wikipedia entry for the series, I'd never have guessed what the whole secret of the town is. (Technically cheating, but I'd read the wiki entry before the series was brought over.) The tone is pretty adult though, so I wouldn't recommend this for extremely young readers or for those who don't like intense or semi-violent manga. The violence is all done mostly "off screen", although there are a few bits that will probably scare some readers. This manga is pretty much the whole package- it's got amazing art, GREAT storylines & you can really feel for the characters & their interaction with each other. I really do love this series!
October 16, 2012
Warning: There are quite a lot of gore and blood in the manga as you go on! So if you don't like stuff like that, don't read! It's also for readers who are quick at understanding too because it can get a little confusing!
Higurashi starts in a little village of Hinamizawa where Keiichi has moved in from the big city. He has gotten used to his life there and has befriended the whole class, although he's more close to this crazy group of girls that meet up after classes to play games. Anyway, one of them who goes by the name of Rena drags Keiichi to a dump where he meets a photographer. This photographer comes every year to take pictures and to be present for the festival. Apparently, there is always someone who dies on the day of the festival. Rumors have it that it's a curse and it certainly seems so because these deaths couldn't be mad-made and were mysterious. Curious and slightly disturbed, Keiichi asks his new friends about it but they avoid the topic entirely. He drops it, thinking they're just scared, but when the photographer ends up dying on the day of the festival, he realizes there's something more to Hinamizawa than he first thought! Is the whole village behind the deaths? Or is there some greater force behind it?
Higurashi has a slow and leisurely pace, since it not only focuses on the mystery but also on the lives of Keiichi and his friends as well. Some people might find this annoying, but I find it effective. It adds to the creepiness and surrealness of the story. One moment it's a happy-happy scene and the next it's the exact opposite! There are a lot of twists in Higurashi and I recommend you try to finish it in order to fully understand.
Higurashi is a good example of Japanese manga horror at its best! I put it next in my shelf with Another! Oh, and since it's close to Halloween right now, it's the best time to read it! Happy reading!!!
Higurashi starts in a little village of Hinamizawa where Keiichi has moved in from the big city. He has gotten used to his life there and has befriended the whole class, although he's more close to this crazy group of girls that meet up after classes to play games. Anyway, one of them who goes by the name of Rena drags Keiichi to a dump where he meets a photographer. This photographer comes every year to take pictures and to be present for the festival. Apparently, there is always someone who dies on the day of the festival. Rumors have it that it's a curse and it certainly seems so because these deaths couldn't be mad-made and were mysterious. Curious and slightly disturbed, Keiichi asks his new friends about it but they avoid the topic entirely. He drops it, thinking they're just scared, but when the photographer ends up dying on the day of the festival, he realizes there's something more to Hinamizawa than he first thought! Is the whole village behind the deaths? Or is there some greater force behind it?
Higurashi has a slow and leisurely pace, since it not only focuses on the mystery but also on the lives of Keiichi and his friends as well. Some people might find this annoying, but I find it effective. It adds to the creepiness and surrealness of the story. One moment it's a happy-happy scene and the next it's the exact opposite! There are a lot of twists in Higurashi and I recommend you try to finish it in order to fully understand.
Higurashi is a good example of Japanese manga horror at its best! I put it next in my shelf with Another! Oh, and since it's close to Halloween right now, it's the best time to read it! Happy reading!!!
October 2, 2020
I decided it was high time to re-read this series! With Halloween it was a perfect time. I am not sure if I can still handle all the gore, but I want to try. This one begins pretty tame, at least in the beginning. We meet Keiichi as he begins living in Hinamizawa, a small town with barely anything in it. We see he becomes quick friends with people there, and one girl he likes (Rena). We see the group play games which often end in Keiichi losing. After the middle of the book things start to slowly change. Keiichi finds out things, his friends act a bit weird, and then there is the festival where things go totally wrong. I have to say that I did find it weird that the police inspector would tell Keiichi all the things, why? He is like 16-17, it seems weird that you would tell him all, I get that Keiichi is a stranger so not in the midst of everything, but still.
There is also a bit of fanservice. Not sure how I feel about it given it also involves two of the younger girls (Rika and Satoko).
The art is a bit hit and miss at times. Sometimes it looks good, but especially bodies and faces is where things go very wonky (which made the end part with Rena going craycray on the one hand very creepy, but on the other hand also very hilarious).
Things are starting now and I cannot wait to see what will happen next. I do remember vaguely the details but not which arc it all took place in. This is just the start, the gore begins soon. And so begins the mystery of why these events keep happening and if there is a way to stop them. I look forward to it. To the questions and to the answers. I am ready! This spooky and horrific manga.
There is also a bit of fanservice. Not sure how I feel about it given it also involves two of the younger girls (Rika and Satoko).
The art is a bit hit and miss at times. Sometimes it looks good, but especially bodies and faces is where things go very wonky (which made the end part with Rena going craycray on the one hand very creepy, but on the other hand also very hilarious).
Things are starting now and I cannot wait to see what will happen next. I do remember vaguely the details but not which arc it all took place in. This is just the start, the gore begins soon. And so begins the mystery of why these events keep happening and if there is a way to stop them. I look forward to it. To the questions and to the answers. I am ready! This spooky and horrific manga.
June 3, 2014
Amazon had the first volume on sale for $2.99, so I figured now would be a good time to finally give this series a try. Little did I realize it's like twenty volumes long, so now that I know how awesome the story is, I'm committed to dropping close to two hundred bucks on the rest of the books.
I'm on to your demon ways, Amazon.
I'm on to your demon ways, Amazon.
March 8, 2015
I consider Higurashi to be one of the best and most structurally bold manga of all time; certainly it's one of the best I've ever read.
Higurashi is about a rural village called Hinamizawa and the people who live there. The protagonist, however, is a newcomer to the village, and it is through his eyes that most of the story is experienced.
As for the story, it's set in the form of four 'question' arcs and four 'answer' arcs. You read the question arcs first, and then the answer arcs. This probably arose due to the manga being based on a series of games, but whatever the reason, it is in this structure that the genius lies. For in each of these arcs, something goes horribly wrong for one of the residents of Hinamizawa (or the newcomer and protagonist, Keiichi Maebara). Something goes wrong, but then in the next arc, everything starts from the beginning again, as if nothing happened. Sometimes the circumstances are different at the beginning of certain re-starts, but never drastically. As you progress through the question arcs, you learn about Hinamizawa and hints are given about why it is that things seem to repeat in this way - however actual answers are, naturally, withheld until the answer arcs.
Higurashi is very much a horror manga. The tension comes from the underlying sense of unease created by the inexplicable goings-on in the village. It gets very graphic very quickly (but always in a good way, never just for shock value), so if you're easily disturbed you should avoid this manga. However, if you can handle gore and really fucked up shit, then you'll love Higurashi. I recommend it to all lovers of horror in general, in fact, even if, or perhaps especially if you've never read manga before. I loved it, I still love it, and I can honestly say it inspires me in my own writing to this day.
Higurashi is about a rural village called Hinamizawa and the people who live there. The protagonist, however, is a newcomer to the village, and it is through his eyes that most of the story is experienced.
As for the story, it's set in the form of four 'question' arcs and four 'answer' arcs. You read the question arcs first, and then the answer arcs. This probably arose due to the manga being based on a series of games, but whatever the reason, it is in this structure that the genius lies. For in each of these arcs, something goes horribly wrong for one of the residents of Hinamizawa (or the newcomer and protagonist, Keiichi Maebara). Something goes wrong, but then in the next arc, everything starts from the beginning again, as if nothing happened. Sometimes the circumstances are different at the beginning of certain re-starts, but never drastically. As you progress through the question arcs, you learn about Hinamizawa and hints are given about why it is that things seem to repeat in this way - however actual answers are, naturally, withheld until the answer arcs.
Higurashi is very much a horror manga. The tension comes from the underlying sense of unease created by the inexplicable goings-on in the village. It gets very graphic very quickly (but always in a good way, never just for shock value), so if you're easily disturbed you should avoid this manga. However, if you can handle gore and really fucked up shit, then you'll love Higurashi. I recommend it to all lovers of horror in general, in fact, even if, or perhaps especially if you've never read manga before. I loved it, I still love it, and I can honestly say it inspires me in my own writing to this day.
February 26, 2010
Stacy recommended this to me because her daughter read it and thought it was creepy. At first, it wasn't all that creepy. Keiichi is a teenage boy who has recently moved to the village of Hinamizawa. He seems to get along well with many of his classmates, who invite him to join a game club, and in general he is obsessed with boobs. His friend Rena, who clearly likes Keiichi as more than a friend, goes into "adowable" mode wherein she tries to drag home cute cuddly things
When Rena drags Keiichi to a dump while in "adowable mode" (apparently she thinks oil drums and bicycle tires are cute too), Keiichi comes upon a photographer from outside the village. The photographer mentions a murder that took place in Hinamizawa, a murder which Keiichi's new friends deny ever happened.
But the murder did happen, and admist the weirdly comical antics of Keiichi and his schoolmates, Keiichi discovers that the village was once avoided by the population at large because it was rumored that demons possessed the people there. In fact, the villagers often use the expression "demoned-away" instead of "spirited-away" when talking about missing persons. Every year since the outside tried to build a dam which would destroy the village, one person has died and another has disappeared during the Cotton Drifting festival.
Toward the end of this volume, things did turn pretty creepy. The comic nature of the beginning only served to make the end weirder. Once I learned what the title meant, the title even become creepy (a higurashi is a type of cicada, so basically the title is "when the cicadas cry"). I look forward to reading more of this series.
When Rena drags Keiichi to a dump while in "adowable mode" (apparently she thinks oil drums and bicycle tires are cute too), Keiichi comes upon a photographer from outside the village. The photographer mentions a murder that took place in Hinamizawa, a murder which Keiichi's new friends deny ever happened.
But the murder did happen, and admist the weirdly comical antics of Keiichi and his schoolmates, Keiichi discovers that the village was once avoided by the population at large because it was rumored that demons possessed the people there. In fact, the villagers often use the expression "demoned-away" instead of "spirited-away" when talking about missing persons. Every year since the outside tried to build a dam which would destroy the village, one person has died and another has disappeared during the Cotton Drifting festival.
Toward the end of this volume, things did turn pretty creepy. The comic nature of the beginning only served to make the end weirder. Once I learned what the title meant, the title even become creepy (a higurashi is a type of cicada, so basically the title is "when the cicadas cry"). I look forward to reading more of this series.
August 30, 2016
Oh Higurashi, you creepy, creepy and did I mention creepy anime you were. Your theme songs are awesome though. Anyway, can't believe it took me this long to finally get around to reading the manga. So I'm guessing here and that throughout, it'll be a different arc but same characters. Somewhat similiar to American Horror Story then? I was in the mood for a creepy manga and so after reading Doubt and Judge, figure why not give Higurashi a read.
While reading this, I thought back to the anime and its creepy moments. Oh the creepy moments. Yeah not a good idea reading this at night. Still, it kind of, the keyword being, kind of, makes me want to revisit the anime. Once was enough. All in all, pretty good and of course creepy start.
While reading this, I thought back to the anime and its creepy moments. Oh the creepy moments. Yeah not a good idea reading this at night. Still, it kind of, the keyword being, kind of, makes me want to revisit the anime. Once was enough. All in all, pretty good and of course creepy start.
February 13, 2009
Keiichi moved from the big city to a tiny country town. Most teenagers would hate it, but Keiici actually enjoys the small town feel. He has only been there a short while but he has made friends with 4 attractive girls in his class. But everything changes when Keiichi finds out they are hiding something from him, a horrible secret. It turns out that this quiet town has a gruesome secret. Every year, on the day of the cotton festival, someone dies and someone goes missing. Keiichi is caught up in towns mystery now, and he has to figure out who is doing it before one of his friends is the next to go.
January 9, 2019
I have seen the visual novel of this (saying I "played" it seems a little weird). I think I preferred the visual novel simply in terms of the character sprites, but this has a lot going for it in terms of actual translation.
October 17, 2020
Keiichi is a recent addition to a sleepy little Japanese village. He spends his school days hanging out with cute girls, growing closer to Rena in particular. Life couldn’t be better...
...particularly if he just ignores everything else stirring around him. Some disquieting rumours put him in... uh... arm’s way and we start to see that behind the idyllic facade lurks something far more sinister.
Ah, okay, this was a corker. I don’t think I’ve read a book that was this good at sewing dread in a very long time. It takes a mid-aughts rom-com/VN starting point and uses it as a launching pad to a tale of isolation and madness.
The book takes its sweet time establishing Keiichi and the girls, then it starts offering little hints that things are not all they seem. And it continues to tug and tug at those story threads until things really begin to unravel.
There are some incredibly tense moments - one phone call ends up being utterly terrifying in retrospect - and the writing mixes in some crazy changes of expression and wild emotions. When things start to simmer it really conveys the feeling that they could boil over at a moment’s notice.
I love the backstory to these events too, an apparently extreme response to the very believable problem of a small village smack in the way of progress. As often happens, progress is going to have its way, until things go so horribly wrong and then the response to the original problem is itself twisted into something evil.
Or not. The book is entirely happy to suggest a lot and tell you little. We’ll see what answers are forthcoming, but it’s off to quite the start (I freely admit to having no knowledge of the series beyond the first episode of the new anime).
Downsides are sparse, but this reeks of the time it was published (2006) in terms of its aesthetic and personalities. It certainly uses that to its advantage at times, but you still have to go through a lot of it on the way to the creepier stuff.
The art is fine, but it’s definitely not the main draw. It absolutely nails the tone changes, so there’s that, but, again, it is of its time and lacks some finer detail that would help it stand out more.
3.5 stars, rounded up for such a strong first impression. Its style may be a touch outdated, but the feeling of unease and the menacing undercurrents are something else and hold up just fine to my eyes. If they can be trusted.
...particularly if he just ignores everything else stirring around him. Some disquieting rumours put him in... uh... arm’s way and we start to see that behind the idyllic facade lurks something far more sinister.
Ah, okay, this was a corker. I don’t think I’ve read a book that was this good at sewing dread in a very long time. It takes a mid-aughts rom-com/VN starting point and uses it as a launching pad to a tale of isolation and madness.
The book takes its sweet time establishing Keiichi and the girls, then it starts offering little hints that things are not all they seem. And it continues to tug and tug at those story threads until things really begin to unravel.
There are some incredibly tense moments - one phone call ends up being utterly terrifying in retrospect - and the writing mixes in some crazy changes of expression and wild emotions. When things start to simmer it really conveys the feeling that they could boil over at a moment’s notice.
I love the backstory to these events too, an apparently extreme response to the very believable problem of a small village smack in the way of progress. As often happens, progress is going to have its way, until things go so horribly wrong and then the response to the original problem is itself twisted into something evil.
Or not. The book is entirely happy to suggest a lot and tell you little. We’ll see what answers are forthcoming, but it’s off to quite the start (I freely admit to having no knowledge of the series beyond the first episode of the new anime).
Downsides are sparse, but this reeks of the time it was published (2006) in terms of its aesthetic and personalities. It certainly uses that to its advantage at times, but you still have to go through a lot of it on the way to the creepier stuff.
The art is fine, but it’s definitely not the main draw. It absolutely nails the tone changes, so there’s that, but, again, it is of its time and lacks some finer detail that would help it stand out more.
3.5 stars, rounded up for such a strong first impression. Its style may be a touch outdated, but the feeling of unease and the menacing undercurrents are something else and hold up just fine to my eyes. If they can be trusted.
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September 22, 2025I love the anime (Higurashi When They Cry--GOU), so I expected to like this as well. After all, I have seen so many reviews and posts from people saying that the manga is so much better than the anime.
That wasn't the case for me. Aside from the constant boob jokes (like seriously--enough is enough, they got old really quick), i felt like the character development wasn't as strong as it is in the anime. On top of that, I don't feel like the pacing was good. Overall, it was an okay read, but I don't think I'll continue reading. I'll just keep up with the anime. Maybe I'll eventually check out the game.
That wasn't the case for me. Aside from the constant boob jokes (like seriously--enough is enough, they got old really quick), i felt like the character development wasn't as strong as it is in the anime. On top of that, I don't feel like the pacing was good. Overall, it was an okay read, but I don't think I'll continue reading. I'll just keep up with the anime. Maybe I'll eventually check out the game.
June 7, 2022
As much as I love Higurashi it seems to be out of print now and because of that I will be reading the volumes I have for the final time and get rid of them. I have other series I want space to complete them that I love more than this one. This volume starts the series with what seems to be happy and cute things until the plot thickens and things turn quite dark. However the questions are only beginning,
December 25, 2019
Why did I read the scary parts at midnight O.0
January 16, 2021
My brother told me to read this and it’s really cool so far
November 27, 2022
wciagnelam sie bardzo, zakonczenie zmiotlo z planszy, po prostu ideal chyba nie musze nic dodawac
October 6, 2024
Like a 2.5 really but I will be continuing to see more Spooky
December 6, 2024
Read in high-school still as good as I remember
February 18, 2025
Chcę sobie odświeżyć historię so far, zanim wrócę do gry i Boże, jaka ta manga jest szpetna i chaotycznie narysowana (ale historia nadal się broni).
November 21, 2025
Drawn distastefully in parts and too much leaning into Rena/Keiichi, but i do love the way the horror is drawn. Really captures the obsessive leary feel that Rena has in her “moments”.
January 8, 2024
Se nota como Doki Doki está inspiradisimo en esta historia, tiene los mismos trucos como el harem que le imponen al protagonista, salvó por esos giros que sinceramente me dieron un pequeño escalofrío.
Puedo ver perfectamente por que el escritor se hará cargó de un Silent Hill.
Puedo ver perfectamente por que el escritor se hará cargó de un Silent Hill.
August 10, 2018
I love Higurashi. Most people who know me know that already, so I'm going to focus on things not having to do with the plot for this review. So, first off, there were some modest changes made between the VN and the manga of this arc. Most of these were removals of scenes (though fewer than in the anime). Most of these were understandable, as they're generally scenes that in manga form would come off as a little too talky. There were also a couple of small changes made to the famous "LIAR!!!" scene. Keiichi comes off slightly more aggressively, and there's actually something of a small Hope Spot just before Rena shouts at him. I thought both of these were good changes, the first serving to foreshadow certain developments in later arcs, and the second serving to up the scare factor. If there was one scene that I kind of missed, it's probably the picnic scene at the shrine. Normally, it's used to show the friendship dynamics within the club. I can see it being chopped for again being talky and mostly just kind of crazy humor (which is Ryukishi's favorite style of humor, it seems), but it's one of the only chances you have in Onikakushi-hen to see Keiichi interact with Satoko and Rika, who don't really get much attention otherwise in this arc. So maybe I would have liked in an ideal world to have had that scene left in.
The artwork here... hm... I don't want to say it's bad because it's not. However, in comparison to the mangaka that I'm used to doing the Umineko manga (and even some of the slightly later Higurashi manga I already own), it does seem a little rough. Certainly not anime-degree-rough, but just not as... detailed, maybe? as some of the other artists. This can work in the story's favor in some cases, less in others.
The artwork here... hm... I don't want to say it's bad because it's not. However, in comparison to the mangaka that I'm used to doing the Umineko manga (and even some of the slightly later Higurashi manga I already own), it does seem a little rough. Certainly not anime-degree-rough, but just not as... detailed, maybe? as some of the other artists. This can work in the story's favor in some cases, less in others.
November 30, 2012
I'm not sure if I'm just a wuss or if that was scary...
It's come to the time of year when I've run out of books and am working my way through my manga list. This has only been on the list since September, but it looked really good, so I tried it out.
Wikipedia tells me that it was based off a game, or, as it called itself, a "sound novel". Whatever it was based off must have been pretty damn good. It has like, 14 different arcs, spanning 38 volumes, by 8 different authors.
So, we have a transfer student who's just moved to this little village. Everyone knows everyone, happy happy, you know the scene. Keiichi has settled in well, and has made lots of friends. Rena, one of his friends takes him to the tip (yeah, I didn't get it either) and he meets a photographer there. The photographer tells him about some murders which happened a few years ago. Curious, Keiichi asks Rena about them, only for her to turn cold and claim to know nothing. This happens with everyone he asks who has lived in the village for some time. The volume then goes on to a festival. Then it gets kinda creepy.
I'm scared to look behind me for fear that Rena will be standing there. I have a wall behind me.
It's come to the time of year when I've run out of books and am working my way through my manga list. This has only been on the list since September, but it looked really good, so I tried it out.
Wikipedia tells me that it was based off a game, or, as it called itself, a "sound novel". Whatever it was based off must have been pretty damn good. It has like, 14 different arcs, spanning 38 volumes, by 8 different authors.
So, we have a transfer student who's just moved to this little village. Everyone knows everyone, happy happy, you know the scene. Keiichi has settled in well, and has made lots of friends. Rena, one of his friends takes him to the tip (yeah, I didn't get it either) and he meets a photographer there. The photographer tells him about some murders which happened a few years ago. Curious, Keiichi asks Rena about them, only for her to turn cold and claim to know nothing. This happens with everyone he asks who has lived in the village for some time. The volume then goes on to a festival. Then it gets kinda creepy.
I'm scared to look behind me for fear that Rena will be standing there. I have a wall behind me.
January 14, 2013
Manga.. this was a new adventure to read. Recommended to me by my "Manga" crazed library students, I had to take up the challenge after all I am the Otaku club advisor. I read vol. 1 and 2 (Arc). Hinamizawa is a close knit village and new student Keiichi Maebara quickly makes friends with 4 girls. Soon the tragic past of the village is revealed. This leads to the revelation of deaths that happen once a year after the same annual village festival. However, Keiichi begins to suspect his new friends by tying together clues from the villages' past and the bizarre "demonic" changes his friends are displaying. Will Keichii survive the curse on the village? Manga style death scenes are in the book, there is some mild mature content but nothing explicit. Appropriate for high school. I plan on reading the next few volumes.
June 6, 2013
This was a decent follow-up to the visual novel, but I would not suggest just reading the book by itself.
A lot of things are confusing, especially the scene with Rika and the futon during the festival. I would have had no idea what was going on if I had not played the game first.
I have no qualms about the art, as some others have mentioned, but some of the pictures could have maybe more detail. This does line up with my previous problem, about some things not being intuitive. Someone unfamiliar with the series will probably have a problem, here. I do realize they are trying to compress the story to fit into book-form, but I think it could have been done a little better.
Overall, I give three stars for following the story, and making it easier to backtrack when things get confusing. It is a great companion to the game, but definitely play the game first!
A lot of things are confusing, especially the scene with Rika and the futon during the festival. I would have had no idea what was going on if I had not played the game first.
I have no qualms about the art, as some others have mentioned, but some of the pictures could have maybe more detail. This does line up with my previous problem, about some things not being intuitive. Someone unfamiliar with the series will probably have a problem, here. I do realize they are trying to compress the story to fit into book-form, but I think it could have been done a little better.
Overall, I give three stars for following the story, and making it easier to backtrack when things get confusing. It is a great companion to the game, but definitely play the game first!
May 18, 2015
So, my only experience with this story is through this manga- I guess there is also a video game and anime, but I haven't seen either. I am also pretty new to manga...and, well, this was kinda boring. I understand that this is only a piece of a whole, so hopefully, the story will pick-up... The whole harem game thing was kind of annoying to me.
Also, there were a lot of illustrations that were blurry or messy- I couldn't quite figure out what the picture was supposed to be. I also feel like some of text was choppy and like I was missing something. I'm not sure if it was intentional for the sake of mystery or if I just didn't get it...
Also, there were a lot of illustrations that were blurry or messy- I couldn't quite figure out what the picture was supposed to be. I also feel like some of text was choppy and like I was missing something. I'm not sure if it was intentional for the sake of mystery or if I just didn't get it...
April 19, 2013
I'm not really understanding the appeal of this series. I gave it a chance (7 volumes of chance is pretty generous) and I understand what is going on. I just don't get why people like it so much. Cute characters killing each other isn't that revolutionary or scary to me. I feel like the shock factor is all this series has going for it and that wears off after this first arc.
So if you want to see moe characters kill each other you will probably like this. If you prefer a little more meat to your horror/psychological thriller then this one probably isn't for you.
So if you want to see moe characters kill each other you will probably like this. If you prefer a little more meat to your horror/psychological thriller then this one probably isn't for you.
August 10, 2014
Loved this series, even though it gave me quite a few nightmares. Creepy, chilling and kept me guessing until the end. Ending tied it all together nicely. Adored all the characters but Rena on the front of this volume(1) was/is my favorite. She may be an ax murderer but usually only to those who deserve & she wants to take everything she thinks is cute home with her, including people. Rena always seemed to have a bit more insight and believed more than the other characters.
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