Hinamizawa, a small rural village in Japan, circa 1983. The village is known for its annual Watanagashi Festival, which honors the local deity, Oyashiro-sama.
The story follows Maebara Keiichi, a teenage boy who has recently moved to Hinamizawa with his family. He quickly becomes friends with a group of local girls: Ryuuguu Rena, Sonozaki Mion, Houjou Satoko, and Furude Rika. On the surface, Hinamizawa is a peaceful, tight-knit community. However, Keiichi soon discovers that the village harbors dark secrets and a history of mysterious disappearances and gruesome murders that occur each year around the time of the Watanagashi Festival.
Episodes
Cast
Season 1
1. Onikakushi
11h
10th Aug 2002
On a certain day in June, someone dies, and someone else goes missing. The series of deaths is connected to the upheaval surrounding the dam construction project. A murder case that was covered up is being reenacted. Is it a conspiracy? A coincidence? Or perhaps a curse?
2. Watanagashi
15h
29th Dec 2002
Keiichi wins a game tournament and gives his prize, a doll, to Rena stating that Mion will not be interested in such girly things, though Mion is actually rather hurt that Keiichi thinks about her that way, though she pretends not to mind.
3. Tatarigoroshi
14h
15th Aug 2003
Satoko's uncle Teppei returns to Hinamizawa to take custody of Satoko and resume an abusive relationship with her, where he treats her like a slave while demanding money from her. Keiichi cannot accept this stalemate, and he makes it his personal mission to rescue Satoko.
4. Himatsubushi
7h
14th Aug 2004
Akasaka Mamoru, a detective is sent to Hinamizawa to rescue Inukai Toshiki, the grandson of a government official, who is taken hostage. While waiting for Makino, he meets a younger Furude Rika at the bus stop.
5. Meakashi
12h
30th Dec 2004
Sonozaki Shion escapes from her private school to return to Hinamizawa. During her time there, she meets Satoshi, who protected her from a group of thugs.
6. Tsumihoroboshi
14h
14th Aug 2005
Is the curse really real? This chapter presents the events from another view, which reveals additional information about Rena's past and Keiichi's reasons for moving to Hinamizawa from Tokyo.
7. Minagoroshi
15h
30th Dec 2005
Furude Rika is in an altered state of reality. Around her, various prisms float and circulate her. As she examines them, she mentions that they are "fragments" from the various Junes of 1983.
8. Matsuribayashi
21h
13th Aug 2006
The final arc in the Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai series. It is mostly told from the viewpoint of Rika Furude, as well as her other friends.