Higurashi

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, commonly shortened to Higurashi, is a Japanese visual novel series created by 07th Expansion, led by writer Ryukishi07. The first game was released for Windows in 2002, with subsequent enhanced editions through 2006. The title, meaning When the Cicadas Cry, is set in the fictional rural village of Hinamizawa and follows Keiichi Maebara and the villagers as a pattern of murders and disappearances unfolds around the annual Watanagashi Festival.

The series is noted for its cyclical, multi-arc structure. It presents a set of “question” arcs that reveal alternate outcomes before the “answer” arcs resolve the mysteries. The narrative blends psychological horror, mystery, and elements of folklore, exploring memory, paranoia, and trauma across time loops that reset after tragic events.

Media adaptations include anime, manga, and live-action. An early anime adaptation by Studio Deen aired in 2006–2007 (two seasons) and was followed by a 2007 completion. A live-action feature film was released in 2008. The franchise has spawned several manga adaptations by different artists. In 2020, a new anime adaptation by Studio Passione premiered as Higurashi: When They Cry, with subsequent season Gou and Sotsu released in 2021.