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Higurashi When They Cry Manga Japanese Numbering #11
Higurashi When They Cry: Eye Opening Arc, Vol. 1
After a year at boarding school, Shion Sonozaki flees the oppressive institution and secretly returns to her hometown in the mountains, telling only her twin sister Mion of her arrival. Though the Sonozaki family has kept the sisters apart to prevent conflict over who would become the next family head, Mion and Shion have remained close - enough so that Shion can easily impersonate her identical twin. When Shion encounters Satoshi Hojo in town, he is completely taken in by her "Mion" disguise. And Shion is quite taken with him...
194 pages, Paperback
First published January 27, 2007
11 people are currently reading
255 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 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 19, 2017
Woooow, Shion victim-blaming Satoko? That's really low. I don't remember her acting like that in the anime ever, and Mion/Shion already weren't my favorites. Shion bores me for the most part but now I'm starting to actively dislike her.
So we get to see the fabled Satoshi, alive and ... not really well.
Something I just thought of - in one of the previous volumes Mion freaked out about Keiichi saying things that were similar to stuff that Satoshi said and she even yelled at him like he was Satoshi. But it's Shion that likes Satoshi, so did they switch for that day?
*goes back to look*
(chapter 9 of Higurashi When They Cry: Curse Killing Arc, Vol. 2 if anyone also wants to look)
I'm writing this as I'm reading, and the phone call with Satoshi mentioned in the previous volume was with Shion. They even go so far as to say that on the day Mion and Shion switched in this volume, Satoshi called the Sonozaki house wanting to talk to Mion (who has been Shion) but actual Mion tells him she (meaning actual Shion) will call him back instead and she tells Shion this so he talks to the right person. So ... when Mion starts crying about Keiichi sounding like Satoshi, that was Shion pretending to be Mion again? The only thing I don't understand is why they would switch. I went back to chapter 8 and I didn't see anything super out of character or important for Shion to be a part of.
Confusing.
But yeah that can't be Mion in the Curse Killing Arc. Mion didn't make any promises to Satoshi and didn't talk to him on the phone. She also mentions that Satoshi called a second time to reject her so I'm hoping that comes up in the next volume.
Onward!
So we get to see the fabled Satoshi, alive and ... not really well.
Something I just thought of - in one of the previous volumes Mion freaked out about Keiichi saying things that were similar to stuff that Satoshi said and she even yelled at him like he was Satoshi. But it's Shion that likes Satoshi, so did they switch for that day?
*goes back to look*
(chapter 9 of Higurashi When They Cry: Curse Killing Arc, Vol. 2 if anyone also wants to look)
I'm writing this as I'm reading, and the phone call with Satoshi mentioned in the previous volume was with Shion. They even go so far as to say that on the day Mion and Shion switched in this volume, Satoshi called the Sonozaki house wanting to talk to Mion (who has been Shion) but actual Mion tells him she (meaning actual Shion) will call him back instead and she tells Shion this so he talks to the right person. So ... when Mion starts crying about Keiichi sounding like Satoshi, that was Shion pretending to be Mion again? The only thing I don't understand is why they would switch. I went back to chapter 8 and I didn't see anything super out of character or important for Shion to be a part of.
Confusing.
But yeah that can't be Mion in the Curse Killing Arc. Mion didn't make any promises to Satoshi and didn't talk to him on the phone. She also mentions that Satoshi called a second time to reject her so I'm hoping that comes up in the next volume.
Onward!
January 2, 2015
Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni is one of my favorite animes, and being honest the manga is actually better.
This story tells the story in the Cotton Drifting Ball Arc by Shion's point of view. From all the Characters in my opinion The best.
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BECAUSE SHE'S MY FAVORITE YANDERE! That's right above Gasai Yuno;) Sonozaki Shion is a BOSS! I really love her.
This story tells the story in the Cotton Drifting Ball Arc by Shion's point of view. From all the Characters in my opinion The best.
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*MINOR SPOILER*
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BECAUSE SHE'S MY FAVORITE YANDERE! That's right above Gasai Yuno;) Sonozaki Shion is a BOSS! I really love her.
September 15, 2024
-What's the word that comes to your mind when you hear about this manga?
-Blood
-Blood
August 29, 2025
Finally back on the Higurashi train, yeeeeee!
November 16, 2020
Mion and Shion Sonozaki are twins, yet they are two very different people. Mion is being groomed to be the next head of the family (and that entails exactly what it sounds like it does), while Shion is basically imprisoned in a girls’ school. That doesn’t take and Shion is soon embroiled in the ongoing mess that is Hinamizawa village. And of course there’s a boy involved, but maybe not the one you were expecting...
The covers of the so-called ‘answer arcs’ in Higurashi are white, rather than black, and imply something a bit lighter (though it’s probably meant to be more illuminating) might be on the way. Yeah, not so much.
If anything, this volume makes the case that maybe the ending where the village was wiped out wasn’t SO bad and maybe they should have salted the earth just to be on the safe side. Human culprit or no, this village absolutely represents and brings about the worst in people.
It starts off in 1982 with the introduction of the enigmatic Satoshi, Satoko’s brother who has mysteriously... transferred... by the time Keiichi has moved in. If anything tantalizes in this particular volume, it’s the promise that we might see what exactly caused him to be out of the picture come 1983.
Of course, he and his sister are orphaned because of the dam project and quite possibly as a result of the village being manipulated by the Sonozaki’s. Which all adds up to make Shion’s own involvement with him and subsequent feelings even more tragic.
Don’t worry though, this book is just setting you up to become grim as all get out. One of the nastiest depictions of child abuse I’ve seen in a while is played out in here, along with a brutal moment where Shion goes from sympathetic to murderously awful, an apt summation of the village if there ever was one.
It’s a good story - even with revelations ahead, there are still plenty of crazy moments, some interesting character beats (Satoko’s certainly different but she sure loves her traps) and the event closing the book promises a wild ride next time out. It’s an interesting implication here that finding the truth can be just as painful as never knowing.
Downside wise, well, usual caveats that this is incomplete at one volume and heaven help you if you haven’t read the previous stories. Also I hate the horny doctor character, who clearly somebody thinks is funny but is also very clearly not me. It’s not something the story needs at any point, but just a sign of the times.
3 stars, possibly 3.5, but I don’t want to go too high from the get-go in case the second part lets me down. I liked this, don’t get me wrong, but it’s certainly one of the hardest reads in the series yet.
The covers of the so-called ‘answer arcs’ in Higurashi are white, rather than black, and imply something a bit lighter (though it’s probably meant to be more illuminating) might be on the way. Yeah, not so much.
If anything, this volume makes the case that maybe the ending where the village was wiped out wasn’t SO bad and maybe they should have salted the earth just to be on the safe side. Human culprit or no, this village absolutely represents and brings about the worst in people.
It starts off in 1982 with the introduction of the enigmatic Satoshi, Satoko’s brother who has mysteriously... transferred... by the time Keiichi has moved in. If anything tantalizes in this particular volume, it’s the promise that we might see what exactly caused him to be out of the picture come 1983.
Of course, he and his sister are orphaned because of the dam project and quite possibly as a result of the village being manipulated by the Sonozaki’s. Which all adds up to make Shion’s own involvement with him and subsequent feelings even more tragic.
Don’t worry though, this book is just setting you up to become grim as all get out. One of the nastiest depictions of child abuse I’ve seen in a while is played out in here, along with a brutal moment where Shion goes from sympathetic to murderously awful, an apt summation of the village if there ever was one.
It’s a good story - even with revelations ahead, there are still plenty of crazy moments, some interesting character beats (Satoko’s certainly different but she sure loves her traps) and the event closing the book promises a wild ride next time out. It’s an interesting implication here that finding the truth can be just as painful as never knowing.
Downside wise, well, usual caveats that this is incomplete at one volume and heaven help you if you haven’t read the previous stories. Also I hate the horny doctor character, who clearly somebody thinks is funny but is also very clearly not me. It’s not something the story needs at any point, but just a sign of the times.
3 stars, possibly 3.5, but I don’t want to go too high from the get-go in case the second part lets me down. I liked this, don’t get me wrong, but it’s certainly one of the hardest reads in the series yet.
March 4, 2011
We're finally here. This is the start of the answer arcs of Higurashi, so be on the lookout for all sorts of clues as to who the perpetrator is. (Assuming you haven't already gone to wikipedia or one of the many fansites out there & looked everything up or watched the second season of the anime.)
This arc concerns itself with the Sonozaki sisters Shion & Mion. It picks up a few years before the series normally begins (with Keichi not yet appearing) & we get to finally meet the possibly ill fated & mysterious Satoshi. We discover Shion's infatuation with him & how this turn of the Higurashi wheel will eventually spiral into a painful & sad ending.
I know I've said this before, but I love how each arc of the series has a different artist. It captures how similar yet different each turn is & manages to keep the reader from becoming too overly adjusted to the look & feel of the various characters. I have to admit, I didn't know if I'd like this arc due to the pretty strong themes of abuse & neglect that run through it. This isn't as hard to read as some of the other volumes in the series, but I'll warn people that it's pretty heartbreaking to see the interactions between Satoshi & Satoko, knowing what the inevitable conclusion to this arc will be.
For fans of the series, this is a must buy. For those who see the "Vol 1" on the title, be aware that this is only volume 1 of this particular arc & not the beginning of the series. (It's actually about volume 11, if I'm not mistaken.) To really know what is going on you'll have to start at the beginning with the Cotton Drifting Arc.
This arc concerns itself with the Sonozaki sisters Shion & Mion. It picks up a few years before the series normally begins (with Keichi not yet appearing) & we get to finally meet the possibly ill fated & mysterious Satoshi. We discover Shion's infatuation with him & how this turn of the Higurashi wheel will eventually spiral into a painful & sad ending.
I know I've said this before, but I love how each arc of the series has a different artist. It captures how similar yet different each turn is & manages to keep the reader from becoming too overly adjusted to the look & feel of the various characters. I have to admit, I didn't know if I'd like this arc due to the pretty strong themes of abuse & neglect that run through it. This isn't as hard to read as some of the other volumes in the series, but I'll warn people that it's pretty heartbreaking to see the interactions between Satoshi & Satoko, knowing what the inevitable conclusion to this arc will be.
For fans of the series, this is a must buy. For those who see the "Vol 1" on the title, be aware that this is only volume 1 of this particular arc & not the beginning of the series. (It's actually about volume 11, if I'm not mistaken.) To really know what is going on you'll have to start at the beginning with the Cotton Drifting Arc.
July 28, 2015
I'm so excited! I'm finally on the answer arcs! I cannot wait to see what was actually going on during the Cotton Drifting Arc. (Eye Opening Arc is the answer to Cotton Drifting)
This arc starts out a year before most of the others start, and we finally get to meet Satoshi Hojo, who up until this point, we had only heard other characters talk about. Shion escapes from her school and returns home, only to fall in love with Satoshi. I really have a bad feeling about what's going to happen there, because we already know what will ultimately happen to Satoshi...
This arc starts out a year before most of the others start, and we finally get to meet Satoshi Hojo, who up until this point, we had only heard other characters talk about. Shion escapes from her school and returns home, only to fall in love with Satoshi. I really have a bad feeling about what's going to happen there, because we already know what will ultimately happen to Satoshi...
September 10, 2016
Another rating: 8/10 (foe whole series)
Ok, finally some answers and lot of unpredictable twists (lots of crazy twists), glad that some deaths were finally revealed but still who killed the victims from years before? What happened to Satoshi? Those questions must be answered!
Also Shion and Mion are really complex characters and I liked it!
But this felt kind of, I don't know too much pushed? Didn't enjoyed it as much as I would wanted even some mayor questions were answered.
But still finally!!
Ok, finally some answers and lot of unpredictable twists (lots of crazy twists), glad that some deaths were finally revealed but still who killed the victims from years before? What happened to Satoshi? Those questions must be answered!
Also Shion and Mion are really complex characters and I liked it!
But this felt kind of, I don't know too much pushed? Didn't enjoyed it as much as I would wanted even some mayor questions were answered.
But still finally!!
June 16, 2022
This is the first of the answer arcs and I remember being so addicted with this when I first read it! The story begins when before Satoshi disappears and I think it was the most graphic of the arcs I have read.
October 22, 2012
What more can be said, other than, IT'S FINALLY MAKING SENSE! :D I love Higurashi.
July 18, 2021
I like Satoshi but not really a fan of Satoko or Shion
When Satoko and Satoshi both get adopted by their aunt and uncle why is Satoko such a brat pulling a prank on the aunt, if she didn’t do that she wouldn’t of got punished
I’m not saying abusing children is okay but if something bad happens because you’ve done something wrong you shouldn’t expect people to be happy
Satoshi’s life would be easier if Satoko stopped acting up and stopped relying on him for everything
Why should Satoshi take any responsibility for his sister’s actions? Especially when she doesn’t do anything for him
With Shion she needs to take responsibility for her actions too and stop doing horrible things while pretending to be Mion, Mion will be the one suffering for it
When Satoko and Satoshi both get adopted by their aunt and uncle why is Satoko such a brat pulling a prank on the aunt, if she didn’t do that she wouldn’t of got punished
I’m not saying abusing children is okay but if something bad happens because you’ve done something wrong you shouldn’t expect people to be happy
Satoshi’s life would be easier if Satoko stopped acting up and stopped relying on him for everything
Why should Satoshi take any responsibility for his sister’s actions? Especially when she doesn’t do anything for him
With Shion she needs to take responsibility for her actions too and stop doing horrible things while pretending to be Mion, Mion will be the one suffering for it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2025
I rate this 3.5 stars.
I read the last Higurashi volume in August 2024, then took a break (I don’t know why). I was planning on continuing the series in October or November of that year, but for some reason it just didn't happen. Part of the reason might be because I still had 16 volumes left (also since we're in the answer arcs), and I wanted to read them close to one another so that the events would still be fresh in my mind, but it just felt so daunting at the time, so I ended up putting it off without realizing it.
It's interesting that Shion's pov, despite being from Hinamizawa, is showing everything as an outsider so far, like it was with Keiichi in the question arcs.
Blog: nazreads.ca
Twitter: Naz_readsanime
Instagram: nazreads01, nazcosplay, nradesigns, charmedanimegirl01
I read the last Higurashi volume in August 2024, then took a break (I don’t know why). I was planning on continuing the series in October or November of that year, but for some reason it just didn't happen. Part of the reason might be because I still had 16 volumes left (also since we're in the answer arcs), and I wanted to read them close to one another so that the events would still be fresh in my mind, but it just felt so daunting at the time, so I ended up putting it off without realizing it.
It's interesting that Shion's pov, despite being from Hinamizawa, is showing everything as an outsider so far, like it was with Keiichi in the question arcs.
Blog: nazreads.ca
Twitter: Naz_readsanime
Instagram: nazreads01, nazcosplay, nradesigns, charmedanimegirl01
August 25, 2020
El inicio del que quizas es el mas cruento de los mangas de Higurashi.
Shion, la gemela abandonada de Mion (Heredera de la familia Sonozaki), regresa a Hinamizawa tras su escape de la escuela en Okinomiya. La serie de recurrentes asesinatos relacionados con la maldicion de Oyashiro-Sama perturba a la joven desde un principio. El aura de misterio acompaña a este arco todo el tiempo.
Shion, la gemela abandonada de Mion (Heredera de la familia Sonozaki), regresa a Hinamizawa tras su escape de la escuela en Okinomiya. La serie de recurrentes asesinatos relacionados con la maldicion de Oyashiro-Sama perturba a la joven desde un principio. El aura de misterio acompaña a este arco todo el tiempo.
December 8, 2019
Start of the Shion and Satoshi arc, explaining both the curse and the cause of Renata's and Satoshi's hard family life. The subtle distinctions between Shion and Mion are also made clear through Shion's view.
November 8, 2018
Really loving this series!!!^.^ one of the best Psychological mangas I’ve read!!!👌😁😻😻
May 4, 2020
There are 4 volumes to this series. I was liking it through volume 3. Then volume 4 ruined the whole series for me. TOO DARK!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 18, 2021weebing with Berfin dostumm #13
November 2, 2021
Curious to see how the answer arcs are depicted in manga form.
January 28, 2012
Read/Own the Japanese edition, read the US edition - both are great!
September 16, 2013
They were the craziest pair out of any of them rest. then again in her position I would probably go crazy too.
June 13, 2014
Awesome! Great storyline!
August 20, 2014
Yeah this was an intense arc start. I mean yikes, was this hard to read at times. Especially near the end. Sad even. And yet you want to know what happens. Good volume.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews