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ローゼンメイデン 
Opening Theme: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni by Shimamiya Eiko - PSP format (11.1MB) | AVI format (43.8MB)
I am sorry that I haven't got around to write the last episode of School Rumble 2nd Term but I've been trying to catch up with Higurashi no Naku Koro ni. Some people recommended the title to me a few weeks ago but the problem was, I couldn't get myself motivated to watch more than half of the first episode. So this time around I decided to jump straight into the second episode to see if it's any different. And true enough, the good stuff actually starts in the second episode. So if the first episode turned you off with the cute antics and squabbling of the characters, I'll recommend jumping right away into the second episode then revisit the first one. It's been a while since I was freaked out like this seeing something on screen. Unfortunately I didn't have the time to do episode-by-episode analysis so I decide to just talk about the first 4 episodes right away. This arc is what is known by the gamers as Onikakushi-hen or Spirited away by Ogre
Opening Theme: Flowers and Butterfly
The opening theme features many shots of flowers and butterfly. While I have not heard of flowers whose scent can induce paranoia in person, it's probably worth a little note. Butterfly, on the other hand, is a rather interesting symbol, which usually suggests duality, change, metamorphosis, and regeneration. As can be seen in the next few episodes, the characters in this series seem to possess dual personality from time to time. Their metamorphosis from seemingly normal characters to crazed and deranged ones is one of the many mysteries, which make the series interesting. In addition to this, the opening also features Mion and her twin in a shot where both of them are curled up in foetal position with their little finger linked together. Butterfly is often used to symbolise a link between two individuals, especially twins. The opening also shows that one of the girls seem to have a strange-looking scar/mark on her backside.
The Murder Scene
The first scene establishes a murder whereby a boy uses a bat to bash two girls into bloody pulp. The date was June 1983. The boy shares similarity with Keiichi, the male protagonist in this series, and the girls that he bashed, look like Rena and Mion.
Prologue
Keiichi mentions that it's been a month since he moved to Hinamizawa. What is the reason for this transfer? Keiichi then meets Rena and then Mion, who wonders "How many years has it been?" and Keiichi grumbles and said that he was only away for "2 days". Keiichi also claims that he was at "A funeral" whilst on the city.
Tomitake
Tomitake is the man that Keiichi met while waiting for Rena as she looks for stuff in the dumpster. Tomitake looks as if he was taking Keiichi's picture. His attire is military-like but claims that he's just a photographer. Note: Tomitake is the first person who mentioned the murder incident after Keiichi jokes around about it. This seems to be the trigger that freaks Keiichi out.
The Dam Construction
Mion mentions that the government tries to force everyone in the town to leave but everyone in the town fought the government. Somehow the case became forgotten after a while according to Mion.
Rena's and Mion's sudden denial
When Keiichi asks about the dam and if there is any incident associated with it, the two girls suddenly becomes cold and unresponsive. Note: Both scenes were taken from a 3rd person POV. In other words, viewers are supposed to see the change in Rena's and Mion's expression while Keiichi is not supposed to.
Magazine clipping
Keiichi finds a magazine clipping which seems to confirm what Tomitake said. The article said that the victim was killed using pickaxe and his body was cut into six parts. "One of the murderers is still at large". Note: someone may have purposely placed the Magazine since Keiichi didn't have problem finding one right away.
Keiichi's suspicion begins
Keiichi's suspicion of Rena and Mion begins after he read the magazine article. He remembers how both girls were elusive when he asked them about the case.
Tomitake frequent visit to Hinamizawa
Rena and Mion knows Tomitake quite well since apparently he comes to Hinamizawa 2-3 times a year.
Furude Rika and Watanagashi Festival
Furude Rika is the festival committee of the Watanagashi festival. She also serves as a priestess during the ceremony. Watanagashi festival is an event where one crumples cotton with both hands before throwing the cotton into a river. It is suppose to take bad things from one's body.
Tomitake's mysterious companion
Keiichi sees Tomitake in the middle of talking to a blonde-haired woman. Note: The woman seems to have known Keiichi somehow.
The Curse of Oyashiro-sama
Tomitake and his mysterious companion are the first two people who mentioned the Curse of Oyashiro-sama to Keiichi. They claimed that the Murder that happened 4 years ago is believed to be the curse of Oyashiro-sama. They claim that it's the way the Guardian of the town punished those who tried to sink the town. The woman also adds that ever since then there's always murder happening every year during Watanagashi festival. The 2nd victims were a resident who supported the dam construction and his wife. Both fell off a cliff but his wife's body was not found. The 3rd victims were a Shrine owner and his wife. The Shrine owner died of mysterious illness while his wife committed suicide by throwing herself into a swamp. The 4th victim was a housewife whose husband is the younger brother of the 2nd victim. Note: What happened to the husband of the 3rd victim? Was there any one missing as well in this particular case?
Oishi-san
Oishi-san claims to be a detective from another town. He wants to talk to Keiichi secretly because he was the last person to saw Tomitake and his companion before they found Tomitake's dead body.
Tomitake's death
According to Oishi-san's note, Tomitake's body was found 5 minutes to 24:00. The ground was splattered with blood and vomit. Oishi-san says that Tomitake died by slitting his throat using his own nail, rupturing the blood vessel in the process. The police suspected substance abuse but can't find anything in his body after autopsy. They, however, found many injuries on his body, possibly due to abuse by multiple people. Estimated time of death was between 21:00 and 23:00. His female companion was missing and never found so the police suspects she's involved in the murder.
Keiichi the Informant
Oishi asks Keiichi to find information for him since Keiichi is an outsider who doesn't seem to believe in Oyashiro-sama's curse. Oishi, however, doesn't want someone like Mion or other townsfolk to find out about it. Note: it is strange for an adult like Oishi to ask for a favour from a teenager. If he wants a more reliable snitch, wouldn't Keiichi's parents be far more useful? Oishi also seems to go out of his way to ensure that Keiichi doesn't talk about the case with Mion.
Onikakushi
Keiichi seems to overhear Rena and Mion talking about the missing woman being "Spirited away by Oyashiro-sama". Rena seems to think that she maybe next because of her association with someone called Satoshi.
Mion leaves the club suddenly
That same day, Mion claims that she can't play with the others because she has to help her uncle.
Satoshi the transfer student
When Keiichi asks Rena if she knows Satoshi, she claims that she doesn't know him because he already transferred before she arrived. Note: if Keiichi really did hear the 'Onikakushi' conversation then Rena clearly lied about not knowing Satoshi.
Accusation and personality switch
Keiichi accuses Rena and the others of hiding something from him and in return Rena accuses him of the same thing and tells him that she knows he went to talk to Oishi. It is here that Rena shows an entirely different personality from the one she usually sports. Note: Rena looks deranged from Keiichi's POV but she made a good point as to why Keiichi would talk to a stranger like Oishi.
Hinamizawa, the town of Ogre
Oishi claims that Hinamizawa was once known as a town where Ogre resides. The man-eating kind of Ogre.
The Six Murderers
Apparently there were 6 murderers involved in the first killing. One of them is still on the loose. Oishi believes that the one who is on the loose has actually been "Spirited-away by Ogre". He also informs that the wife of the 2nd victim was actually never found. The same can be said about the wife of the 3rd victim. When the 4th victim died, a child from that family went missing. That child was Houjou Satoshi. The boy who used to sit in the seat currently occupied by Keiichi.
Rena eavesdropping Keiichi's conversation
Rena is revealed to have been secretly listening to Keiichi's and Oishi's conversation over the phone.
Keiichi suddenly not feeling well
Keiichi feels sick all of a sudden and decides to visit a local hospital. The doctor decides to give him a shot. In the hospital, he finds out that the name of the woman who was missing is Takano.
The four girls and their family
Oishi-san reveals to Keiichi that all of the dead victims have connection to the four girls that Keiichi knows. The 1st victim had a fight with Sonozaki Mion, the 2nd victims were seen with Houjou Satoko. In the 3rd year, the two dead couple are actually the parents of Furude Rika. The woman who died in the 4th year was Satoko's aunt-in-law who took her in after Satoko's parent passed away. Houjou Satoshi who disappeared also happens to be Houjou Satoko's real brother. Rena seems to be different on a glance but upon investigation, it was found that she once destroyed the window of her previous school. She attended counselling and often is heard saying about Oyashiro-sama. As it turns out, Rena and her family used to stay at Hinamizawa before they move to Ibaraki and then back to Hinamizawa.
Keiichi's life is in danger
Or at least this is what Oishi claim. This claim, however, is quickly proven when at night, Keiichi receives visitation from both Rena and Mion who gives him a box containing Ohagi (rice balls covered with red beans). The girls ask Keiichi to figure out which Ohagi was made by Rena. The situation, however, turns creepy when all of a sudden both Rena and Mion start to behave like psycho. They seem to know about Keiichi having lunch with Oishi. Note: while the tone and the look of the girls sound creepy, this could simply be a projection of Keiichi's paranoia.
The Ohagi
Keiichi opens his gift and finds five Ohagi marked with letters from A to E. He picks Ohagi E and eats it. Halfway through chewing it, however, he feels something inside his mouth and upon throwing it up, realises that the thing is a needle. Keiichi turns manic and starts to throw all of the Ohagi into the wall. Note: this could be his paranoia since there wasn't any blood coughed up along with the remains of the Ohagi.
The attempted murder
Someone in a white van tries to run over Keiichi. The figure inside the van seems to be wearing a grey hat and uniform.
The Bat
Keiichi finds a bat from inside a locker to defend himself. Satoko seems to be upset to see this so Rika asks him not to lose that bat. Later on Rika, who follows Keiichi, asks why he uses the same bat that Satoshi used. Rena claims that Satoshi started to show the same behaviour as Keiichi not long before his transfer. Note: Rena's appearance from 3rd person POV looks more terrified than anything else. However, when it is seen from Keiichi's POV, she does look intimidating.
The Missing Needle
When Keiichi told his story about the Ohagi, he realises that he can't find the needle. Note: For that matter, there doesn't seem to be any trace of the Ohagi in the rubbish bin or on the wall. Is it possible that Keiichi imagined all of it?
Rena the stalker
Keiichi receives visitation from Rena who offers him dinner. Keiichi, however, is too afraid to let her in and pretends that he already has something prepared. Rena, however, knows that Keiichi's dinner is only a cup noodle. She then starts rattling the lock and tries to open the door. In his fear, Keiichi forcefully close the door, jamming Rena's fingers in the process. Rena keeps saying "I'm sorry, I'm sorry" while her fingers are jammed by Keiichi. Note: Did Rena really sound as scary as she does or is it all in Keiichi's imagination?
Rena waiting outside the house
After the above incident, Keiichi continues his conversation with Oishi-san who informs him that maybe the curse of Oyashiro-sama does exist. He then informs Keiichi that Rena actually hurt 3 people during her rampage at the previous school but no one wants to talk about it. Keiichi then sees Rena outside the house standing in the rain saying "I'm sorry, I'm sorry".
Conversation with Mion
Mion apologises for not telling Keiichi the truth about the dam but becomes angry upon finding out that Oishi has been feeding information to Keiichi. She suddenly claims that she should have killed the guy but decided to spare him because he's going to retire this year. Note: the conversation seems to make it seem as if Mion is really dangerous. But again, this could simply be from Keiichi's POV.
Psycho Rena
Keiichi sees that Rena has been following him while carrying an axe. She claims that she regrets never talking to Satoshi about his problem. When Keiichi asks Rena to inform him about the murderer, she claims that the murderer is not human. It is the work of Oyashiro-sama. She asks Keiichi if someone has come to her and apologises over and over again for a long time. Rena then kisses Keiichi before laughing like a psycho.
Mysterious Men
3 Men wearing grey shirt and hat are seen chasing after Keiichi after he escapes from Rena.
Rena's and Mion's Final Conversation
Keiichi wakes up only to find himself being nursed by Rena. Mion then arrives and asks Rena if she has called "The superintendent". Rena then holds Keiichi in place while Mion tries to inject him with something that Keiichi believes caused the death of Tomitake. Keiichi proceeds to bash Rena and Mion with his baseball bat (which is conveniently inside his room) to a bloody pulp.
The superintendent and his men
Is that the superintendent standing outside Keiichi's house? He looks similar to the Doctor that Keiichi visited back in episode 3.
The Desperate Call
Oishi receives a phone call from Keiichi who sounds terrified. Oishi dispatch his men to pick Keiichi but unfortunately they will take 5 minutes to get there. Keiichi thinks he won't make it that long. He first thought that the murderer is a human but now he believes that Oyashiro-sama does exist and it is right behind him. Keiichi then dies by clawing his own throat like Tomitake.
Keiichi's last memo
Keiichi mentions that someone is after his life but doesn't know who or why. All he knows that it has to do with Oyashiro-sama's curse. He thinks Rena and Mion are a part of criminal ring including a few adults with a white Van. If a person reads this memo, he'll be dead by this time. Keiichi begs a person to solve this mystery for him.
Questions
I can't help but asking some of these questions as I watched the series. I figure it will help to list them all just for future reference.
1. Why did Keiichi and his family moved to Hinamizawa?
2. Why did Rena moved away from Hinamizawa and then back?
3. Who is Tomitake and did he really die that night?
4. Why would an adult like Oishi asks a teenage boy like Keiichi to be his lead? Wouldn't his father or mother would be far more suitable candidate?
5. What happened to Houjou Satoshi. Did he really go on a transfer or did he got "taken by Ogre"?
6. What did the doctor injected Keiichi with? Flu shot or something else?
7. Did Rena and Mion really came to give Keiichi a box of Ohagi?
8. If point 7 is true, was there a needle in Ohagi E?
9. Did Rena and Mion really display psychotic behaviour during their interaction with Keiichi or was it all a product of his paranoia?
10. What did Rena mean by her "I'm sorry" speech?
11. Who are the men in grey?
12. Who is "The superintendent" that Rena and Mion refers to?
13. What did Mion try to inject into Keiichi?
14. What kind of an God/Ogre is Oyashiro-sama?
15. What was behind Keiichi?
16. Why did Oishi sounds as if he was talking to the murderer seconds prior to Keiichi's death?
17. What causes Keiichi to claw his own throat? Paranoia? Drugs?
18. Why did the men who came to Keiichi's house simply ripped the middle half of the letter but leave the top and bottom part?
Keiichi's Death
Why did Keiichi clawed his own throat? Was it due to self-induced paranoia, drug use or was it due to supernatural element like Oyashiro-sama? For now, I would like to rule out the first possibility: that Keiichi suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. If Keiichi was the only one who died in this manner, that would have been a possible explanation. However, Tomitake also died in the same manner, suggesting that there is external influence at play. Obviously this theory relies on two assumptions: that Tomitake died that night and Oishi was telling the truth about his death. If these were the case, then that leaves out drug use and supernatural element. I will address the supernatural element first because that is the theme of the first four episodes.
Onikakushi/Spirited Away by Ogre
This seems to be what this chapter and the conclusion of episode 4 would like the viewers to believe. The 4 episodes built a case in which the majority of the evidence point to the involvement of Oyashiro-sama or some kind of possession. From Keiichi's out of nowhere throat slit to Rena's and Mion's sudden psychotic outbreak, it could be said that something has possessed them to do all of these things. It's true that people don't switch personalities out of nowhere like Rena and Mion. If it's only just one person, one can attribute to the possibility that the person may suffer from personality disorder. But when more than one person starts doing the same thing, one has to wonder if an external influence may influence their behaviour. Let's assume that these two are actually possessed by Oyashiro-sama, who wants to ensure that Keiichi does not stuck his nose where it does not belong. As unbelievable as it may sound, Ogre possession is one possible explanation for this.
And in a way, I supposed this is what the chapter intends to do: to lead the characters in the series as well as the viewers to believe that there is a supernatural cause behind the incident. That Oyashiro-sama exists. However, there are some inconsistencies and random element introduced in the entire incident that questions the validity of this theory. To begin with, all of Oyashiro-sama's victims have always been dead during the Watanagashi festival. Keiichi, Rena and Mion are anomalies in this yearly 'ritual sacrifice'. Arguably, Oyashiro-sama is not exactly the most consistent Ogre/deity when it comes to murder. In the first murder, the missing person is actually the one who committed the murder instead of one half of the victims that characterises the 2nd and subsequent murders. In addition to this, if Oyashiro-sama wants to ensure that no one interferes, why didn't it kill Oishi? Especially if he always creates trouble.
Human-related external influence
There seems to be those who want others to believe that Oyashiro-sama exists. To begin with, Keiichi begins to know about the murder because Tomitake mentioned it out of nowhere. This was the point where Keiichi's paranoia started to set. After this, he begins to see Rena in a more sinister manner. Around this time, Keiichi visited a hospital and is given a flu shot by the local doctor. The same doctor seems to be the man who appears in front of Keiichi's house on the night of his death. After the shot, Oishi invited Keiichi for lunch. During lunch, Oishi's additional information only serves to heighten Keiichi's fear, especially when the police told him that his friends are involved and that his life is on danger. Ever since then, Keiichi begins to experience attempts on his life. It is arguable whether or not these attempts are real or just the creation of his escalating paranoia. Either way, the result leads to Keiichi being defensive and committing a murder.
Silly Conspiracy Theory
This is just a silly theory but maybe there was some mass experimentation done on the village's population. Mion said that she was surprised that they won against the government in the dam case. But what if they actually didn't win but simply believing that they did win? What if the village they are currently occupying are not their real village? Maybe that village really was turned into a dam and these villagers have been moved to another place. In order to ensure that the villagers don't remember, they have been controlled either through drugs or hypnosis that ensures they go into the state of paranoia or uncooperation. To complement the hypnosis, the army/the government created a myth that those who were involved in the dam construction were either killed or 'Sprited away' by Oyashiro-sama, creating a sense of false satisfaction amongst the villagers who have thirst for revenge. Isn't it possible that those who were 'Spirited away by Ogre' were actually taken by the government and brainwashed?
Ending Theme: Why or Why not by Oshima Hiroyuki feat. Katakiri Rekka - PSP format (8.57MB) | AVI format (34.9MB)
Not as good or creepy as the opening and but is not too bad either. I'm rather surprised that the song ends up being in English considering the nature of the story, which touches some of Japanese folklore and mythology.
Oishi is a detective since in some of the scenes without Keiichi he is at work and calling for vehicles and knows about the investigations since he did recover what was left of the evidence. He also has some resources to call upon.
Keiichi is an ideal informant because his already close to Mion and Rena both of which are connected to the murders. A kid snooping around draws less attnetion than an adult asking questions. Oishi can't be targeted because his is an officer of the law and his death would draw an even greater investigations, at least in the US since cop-killers are more rigorously pursued. Oishi is also a known outsider thus if he goes missing its bound to attract attention from areas outside of the town's control.
Since Keiichi was brought home instead of a hospital his paranoia was probably justified, syringes have only two uses, drug use or medical, Mion is in all probability not a registered nurse. The mystery men are probably part of it if not the whole town since Mion and Rena can't be every where at once and will probably need help in shadowing keiichi's movements.
I'd rule out government consipracy as the the amount of resources required to create an accurate geographical copy of the old village would have been a monumental task to plant all the fauna to the exact size and shape to fool the majority of villagers not to mention moving mountains. It be much simpler to simply to pass the legislation over their heads and force them out at gun point if they insist on staying when the resivoir is flooded.
I highly suspect cult activity here since the village has a heinous fascination with a deity that kills people off. The fact that Mion and Rena have help indicates the possibilty of a line of politically motivated killings under the guise of a religion. Afterall an ignorant mind is easily filled with religion.
The manner of Tomitake's death and Keiichi's is far too similar to be a coincidence. The fact that their deaths had to ruled as suicides reinforces the fact that the village or the powers responsible have limited or no control over the authorities other wise a murder would have been much more quick. Since Oishi has taken a heightened interest they know that a simple murder will not suffice as it had in the past.
Very nice summary. Interesting how you keep stating "from Keiichi's POV" as though it's all in his head. It's possible that the shot the doctor gave him in episode 3 was what started his delusions, if they hadn't already existed (assuming they exist).
When I first saw that Keiichi was dead, I seriously thought it was all some kind of hallucination, but I guess the whole autopsy thing pretty much seals the deal.
I think the answer to your fourth question is pretty easy, actually. He approached Keiichi because he had suspisions of Rena and Mion, and Keiichi was the closest person to them, and he didn't believe in the curse (it's possible his parents are involved, remember they're conviently out of town on the day he dies)
You bring up some interesting observations - especially the bit about the ohagi. I has just assumed that it had been cleaned up, but why wasn't there blood in his mouth? Nice catch.
Anyway, from what I've heard, the next chapter is basically a rewind and replay with Keiichi taking a different path.
Oh, and the twins in the opening are Mion and her sister, not Rena.
I've been wondering if Rena even gave him the Ohagi. There doesn't seem to be any remains of it when Keiichi checks his rubbish bin. But Mion did make a reference of it before injecting him with the needle. And that twin thing was just a typo -_-;; Sorry about that.
No problem. Actually, there one other thing that's been bugging me. Keiichi's last words: "Go-na-i". Based on what Oishi says when he puts down the phone, I guessed Kei was trying to say 'I'm sorry', though I could be wrong.
Yeah, I've been wondering about that. When I first heard it, it doesn't make sense until Oishi guessed that Keiichi may have tried to say "Gomenasai" but that doesn't make sense either since when most people abbreviate that word, they use "Gomen". But then again Keiichi was dying so correct pronunciation wasn't exactly at the top of his list.
And who could possibly behind him? The cicadas? His shadow? the butterfly? Also, isn't it strange that he suddenly tells Oishi about Oyashiro-sama when beforehand, he was being chased by a group of men. One would think he'll inform Oishi about them instead of talking about a supernatural being.
May 02, 2006 | Wererat42 wrote:
"When I first saw that Keiichi was dead, I seriously thought it was all some kind of hallucination, but I guess the whole autopsy thing pretty much seals the deal."
I'm a bit confused at your meaning, do you say that Keiichi was under the influence of the some sort of drug that the Doctor gave him? If that's the case the anime disagrees with you since the autopsy stated that there were no signs of drug abuse.
I don't think Keiichi's portrayal, of Rena is too far from the truth despite his delusions, especially if consider the incident in the other school with her school that Oishi told him about, and let's not forget that murders and disappearances did happened, so there is something clearly wrong here with the 5 of them besides Keiichi.
I'm glad you started blogging this anime. It's really awesome. I can't believe the main character dies.
He's definately drugged. Why would the girls go to the trouble of giving him a shot if it wasn't going to affect him. Let's not forget how the syringe dissappeared after Keiichi's death, which means someone was trying to hide it (even up to the point where they tore the middle part out of Keiichi's memo).
Just because the autopsy didn't find any drugs doesn't mean that it wasn't drugs. It could have left his system quickly or was undetectable.
Mustang84 does have a point. Maybe the medical technology in 1983 wasn't advance enough to detect anything. Correct me if I'm wrong.
For question 18, maybe they left the bottom half (the one where he says Rena and Mion are involved with the murders, I believe) because Keiichi had already murdered them, so perhaps they were viewed as expendable? The letter as a whole also stands as proof that Keiichi was clearly losing his mind (well, at least that's how it'd probably look to others), so maybe the letter help solidify the case as a double murder-suicide to those who don't know about what's happening in Hinamizawa?
things are just getting creepier. i think it's all Keiichi's hallucination, he's so scared since the conversation he had with Oishi. and the injection by the doctor might as well worsen it all. and is it just me or there's Mion on next episode? ugh.. all i can say is let's wait for the next episode.
"and is it just me or there's Mion on next episode? ugh.. all i can say is let's wait for the next episode."
Yeah, the series is apparently going to do a rewind. But that's actually Shion, Mion's sister.
You don't get a fly vaccine after you've gotten the flu. At first I thought the doctor probably gave him a fake shot to make him feel better, but now I'm not so sure anymore.
I find the absence of Keiichi's parents highly suspicious. Also, Rena looked really weird when Keiichi said her mother was making him dinner, and knew it was a lie right away. His parents are possibly dead like Satoshi's parents. Considering the coincidence of Keiichi transferring in just as Satoshi "transferred" out, there may be a connection.
About the letter, anyone noticed it is already fully written in episode 3 (11:35) ?
At least it seems to match both the letter from episode 4 (16:00) and what Oishi is reading at the end.
This is as far as my poor Japanese skills can go, could anyone try to translate it from ep3 ? It looks like some of it wasn't read.
Anyway, this observation is my starting point for all sort of cool theories.
Also, why did the men not catch him like they did before ?
http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=31732
Some game fans including me decided to translate the "TIPS" section from the game. It covers various topics, from everyday discussions about the school to police reports about the autopsy and such.
I tried to watch the 4th episode alone in the night , without any light . I was so scarred that i stopped after 2 minutes.... It really surprised me , i thought i had more courage than this ,but "i had no idea of who i really was". Sometimes subconscious prevail on consciousness.
Another Question , was there a secret message with The Ohagi like Rena said?
Maybe the needle was a coded message or something like this.
Anyway, it seems that many more questions will arise along the anime.
There's one thing nobody seems to have mentioned yet... in episode 04, Keiichi is chased by the men in grey, then hit over the head by third. Next thing we know, he is at his home with Rena. What happened? If the men simply would've liked to dispose of him, he would've never woken up again. Did Rena do them with her machete (confirming she IS psychotic murderer)? Did the men carry him home instead and call Rena there too? Did they set the whole thing up so Keiichi would eventually kill Rena and Mion? They certainly remembered to bring the baseball bat back to Keiichi's home... either Rena and Mion's deaths were set up or they grossly underestimated Keiichi's psychosis/willingness to kill.
I just finished watching ep 4 and I must say this is something I haven't seen in a long time. There is something that has been bothering me for awhile. I notice no one actually mention this after all the posting and theories were explained. Was it really a coincidence that Keiichi's mother and father had to go to Tokyo because of some business issue? Wasn't it odd that they were nowhere to be seen when the parents claim they will be home at the night of their return (the same night when Keiichi killed Rena and Mion)? Were they even notified by Oishi that their son was killed? What if they are actually the DIRECTORS? I know it may sound something stupid but you must take every single little fact into detail. Another thing I can't seem to understand is how come Rika and Satoko were the only ones who didn't have that derranged look that Mion and Rena had? Maybe they did but nothing was shown. Another point that was not mention was the CLUB. Exactly what kind of club is it really? Why aren't there are more members? The mystery game the group were playing in ep 2...where Rika killed someone in the medical office with poison...would it be possible that may link to one of the actual killings that took place for 4 consecutive years? Rika did admit she like killing someone slowly with poison (can't tell if she was serious or not since she was smiling happily). There are too many questions, theories and assumptions that an actual answer can't be pinpointed. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to watching the whole series in order to figure out this mystery on my own.
The syringe that Mion and Rena had was definately used, you can see it for a short bit. Probably explains his behavior afterwards. And I imagine that the additional adhesive on the clock would suggest that Keiichi had attempted to attach the syringe to the back. Of course that, along with the part of the note that suggested drug abuse was removed.
Haha... seen episode 5 yet? Those opening 19 seconds were beautifully insane. @__@;
The idea of triggering paranoia is kinda the best claim so far, apart from supernatural possession, though I kinda refuse to even believe such a thing would be possible. I've got a puzzling theory. What if Keiichi was insane all along, having psychological problems?
Perhaps he was moved to the village as a potential cure for his mental illness, because he had too much to fear in the city. However, learning that a murderer was loose inside the village, along with Rena and Mion's suspcious actions, which might have been simply to not let their good friend know of the horrors they'd been through, triggered a reemergence of the paranoia, which would explain Rena's first personality switch.
Oishi doesn't help, and the doctor is a mysterious character. We know that Keiichi was faking a cold, he wouldn't even have a temperature, why take a shot? Unless the shot was some supressor (i have no idea), and when he finally went berserk, Mion and Rena went to his house to cheer him up, pretending that it was a punishment game, and hoping to inject him with the same thing the doctor had given him to make him well?
Then he misinterpeted the entire situation, killed them, and proceeded to run away, where his paranoia increased to the point, all the jumbled facts in his mind came together into one giant lump. He believed Oyashiro was behind him, quite similar to what he'd heard about Rena, and started scratching out his throat, similar to what Tomitake had done. Perhaps?
*point to the comment that mention the episode 5*
i was like--> o_o'
and i was a little confuse in the beggining..i was like..wait..he was death right..but before some mins of watching it..i understood that is like a err..i can't remember the word for this but it was like..neverseen history ..
i wish they show all the answer for the questions for the episode 4 ..curiosity is killing me ~_~
This anime sort of confuses me alot. O_o
And I think it's the drug that induces paranoia. I remember in one episode of CSI that some kids were taking drugs, and that lights, loud sounds and such would scare them really badly, and sometimes they'd be so scared they would hallucinate that there were things that weren't there. Sometimes people would claw under their skin to get rid of what they believed was under there, it's pretty scary. O_o
I think however that maybe the village believes in this God so much that they would make themselves "profits" of this God, and "carry out his work".
I don't know, but it really confuses me, but I want to see more, it's very interesting. >_<
I finished the first 5 episodes and I had no idea what to think. Reading over this review and comments has brought up a lot of possibilities and many explanations for a lot of my questions, but the idea that Mafuyu brought up fits best in my mind. It explains a lot of the things that happen. Either way I want to watch the first four episodes again, now that I have read all of this and can look out for some of it.
I'm thinking more and more that everything was caused by Keichii's paranoia,wether it comes from the Doctor's drug or not.
It just gets too creepy how Reno and Mion know everything about Keichii's life.It doesn't make any sense that the girls would keep a constant watch on Keichii like that.
Also who's the "Director"?Are they referring to Oyashira-sama or another entity altogether?
Well it couldn't have been all paranoia because somone did take the syringe and take off part of the letter that no one has seen which may have explained what really happend even if you assume everything from his point of view was a hallucination the part after his death proves someone/something was out to get him
I, too, believe that the doctor has something mysterious about him.
So I thought:
1. Couldn't have really been some kind of drug that caused an halucinated Tomitake - and later Keiichi - to scratch their own throat?
2. If it's so, who could have synthesized a drug that leaves no traces in the body (Oishi said that no drugs where found in Tomitake's corpse) other than the doctor?
3.Why in episode 4 the doctor comes to Keiichi's house (remember? right after Rena and Mion are killed)
4.Why is the doctor with the two men in green? Wasn't that the coach who almost killed keiichi back in ep.2?
Although I couldn't answer to the first two questions, I gave totally opposite answers to 3 and 4.
The doctor could be behind all the mess and used rena and mion, as well as other people, as pawns or...........
Keiichi became insane because of something and started to think Rena and Mion were after him. Assuming this second answer is right, the doctor sent the girls to sedate Keiichi and he came with two men of the psychiatric ward to take him away....
Dunno, but that's really intriguing...
I rewatched ep3, and the letter was complete there as someone mentioned above. My japanese is limited, but here is my attempt of making sense of it.
"Please investigate again the victim of the torn apart murder [this refers to the victim in the dam project?]. He is alive. Here is the syringe that is the evidence of Tomitake's death relating to an unknown drug."
It is likely that the syringe was used again to cause Keiichi's death.
My question is: why does Keiichi has that syringe?
The timeline of the events seems a bit screwed up... the memo was written before and written again after the killing.
also, when the van tried to run over kei earlier, i had the impression that it somehow turns back to front instantly.
i very much doubt that these details are animation errors, so they must be clues to either kei's paranoia or something else. (?)
Check out this parody of the last episode!!!!!!!!!!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5UfIRmkv28
ok, don't worry about my last comment... they fixed the letter (ep3) in the dvd version, so only the first paragraph was written.
I have a theory about the riceballs-
Maybe Rena's grandmother made the one with the needle in it by mistake? Seeing as how she's a grandmother, who are old, and have access to sewing needles, and can be senile... Maybe?
Also, I don't think that the fact that Keiichi didn't spit up blood with the needle-ball is enough to suggest that they didn't exist. Anyone who's ever stepped on a pin can tell you that although it hurts like hell, it only leaves a tiny wound that doesn't really bleed.
So as far as that's concerned, I figure that it might have been an innocent mistake (or an attempt on his life?), but I'm also fairly sure that he was really given them by the two girls.
Tomitake's murder seems a bit pointless in methodology. His attackers could simply have beaten him to death just as easily so why use such a clumsy murder technique? Maybe the sequence of events is:
1. Killer injects Tomitake by surprise and runs.
2. Tomitake pursues killer as what was injected into him starts to take effect.
3. Killer reaches friends who try to stop the now crazed Tomitake.
4. Tomitake finally turns on himself and dies, killing himself .
5. Friends agree to cover up everyone's involvement, not knowing what Killer did.
It makes sense that Keiichi imagined the whole ohagi incident, but then later on when he's talking to Mion, he mentions spitting blood... but it never showed any blood... maybe, he imagined himself spitting blood? or maybe he didn't bleed at first when he spit it out? hrm :/
Yuffie: In the manga he was spitting blood, but not in the anime
Uhm, well sorry for my bad english^^"
I saw some uncensored pictures of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni and the pictures in episode 23 are really scary @-@
1. Why did Keiichi and his family moved to Hinamizawa?
2. Why did Rena moved away from Hinamizawa and then back?
One of her parent's (I think it was her mother) jobs relocated and they moved to Ibaraki. Once her parents got divorced, she moved back to Hinamizawa with her father.
3. Who is Tomitake and did he really die that night?
Who? I'm not sure.
Did he really die? Yes.
4. Why would an adult like Oishi asks a teenage boy like Keiichi to be his lead?
Wouldn't his father or mother would be far more suitable candidate?
*shrugs*
Maybe because the others were familiar with him.
5. What happened to Houjou Satoshi. Did he really go on a transfer or did he got "taken by Ogre"?
*big spoiler*
So he's not dead, and he didn't transfer.
And if you consider Irie-sensei an ogre, Satoshi was "stolen by ogres."
6. What did the doctor injected Keiichi with? Flu shot or something else?
*shrugs*
7. Did Rena and Mion really came to give Keiichi a box of Ohagi?
Maybe Keiichi was hallucinating.
8. If point 7 is true, was there a needle in Ohagi E?
In Keiichi's "hallucination."
9. Did Rena and Mion really display psychotic behaviour during their interaction with Keiichi or was it all a product of his paranoia?
Who knows?
10. What did Rena mean by her "I'm sorry" speech?
I think she just wanted him to stop crushing her hand.
11. Who are the men in grey?
I think they're conspiring with Takano.
12. Who is "The superintendent" that Rena and Mion refers to?
*shrugs*
13. What did Mion try to inject into Keiichi?
Something that makes you go crazy is my guess. Either that or something that makes you extremely paranoid.
14. What kind of an God/Ogre is Oyashiro-sama?
15. What was behind Keiichi?
Hm...? *is too lazy to go back and look for it*
Oh, when Keiichi told Oishi that something was behind him? My guess is that he was just paranoid.
16. Why did Oishi sounds as if he was talking to the murderer seconds prior to Keiichi's death?
*shrugs*
17. What causes Keiichi to claw his own throat? Paranoia? Drugs?
I think it was the thing that Mion injected him with.
18. Why did the men who came to Keiichi's house simply ripped the middle half of the letter but leave the top and bottom part?
Something incriminating against him.
I think they are with Takano. (If I explained it would be a spoiler for Kai.)
For the Question 5 (in response to Kairi04621)
In response to Ryuguu Rena / answer for question 17:
Now, remember the main symptom of the Hinamizawa Syndrome: paranoia. In Onikakushi-hen, Keiichi is injected with L5 of the disease (in theory), is overcome with paranoia, and kills Mion and Rena. In Watanagashi-hen / Meakashi-hen, one of the twins injects Rika with it. Rika is overcome with paranoia and repeatedly stabs herself in the head.
This is only a theory, but it makes a lot of sense.
Answer for question 18:
In the manga, the ohagi is real and Keiichi bled. Maybe the blood was removed when they made the anime to create more confusion to the audience. Also, Rena and Mion made the ohagi because they heard Keiichi is sick that it is his assignment from skipping club activities.
To Fallen: The ohagi part had no blood. It probably seemed that way in the manga, but it was most likely filling or the sauce that was covering up the rice.
Here are some things to help clear up a few parts (Spoilers Ahead):
1. Why did Keiichi and his family moved to Hinamizawa?
Keiichi was a deliquent in the city.
2. Why did Rena moved away from Hinamizawa and then back?
Rena's parents went through a divorce and she went with her father back to Hinamizawa because she hated her mother.
3. Who is Tomitake and did he really die that night?
Tomitake is a soldier of some sort and he did die.
4. Why would an adult like Oishi asks a teenage boy like Keiichi to be his lead? Wouldn't his father or mother would be far more suitable candidate?
Like others have said, it's less suspecious of a newcomer, especially a teenager, would go around and ask questions.
5. What happened to Houjou Satoshi. Did he really go on a transfer or did he got "taken by Ogre"?
Satoshi was diagnosed with L5 Syndrome and is in care now.
6. What did the doctor injected Keiichi with? Flu shot or something else?
It was probably just a regular medical shot.
7. Did Rena and Mion really came to give Keiichi a box of Ohagi?
Yes.
8. If point 7 is true, was there a needle in Ohagi E?
No, just spicy sauce which probably gave him that stinging feeling to make him think there was a needle.
9. Did Rena and Mion really display psychotic behaviour during their interaction with Keiichi or was it all a product of his paranoia?
Product of his paranoia.
10. What did Rena mean by her "I'm sorry" speech?
She was sorry for whatever it is that she did, but she doesn't know. So she repeats 'I'm sorry' over and over in hopes of being forgiven. (-personal speculation-)
11. Who are the men in grey?
*Spoilers* forces
12. Who is "The superintendent" that Rena and Mion refers to?
Dr. Irie :D
13. What did Mion try to inject into Keiichi?
Nothing. There was no syringe. She had a marker.
14. What kind of an God/Ogre is Oyashiro-sama?
A cute one. :D
15. What was behind Keiichi?
Probably Oyashiro, but in shame that they couldn't save him.
16. Why did Oishi sounds as if he was talking to the murderer seconds prior to Keiichi's death?
Keiichi was talking funny. The words and tone he used weren't normal. Why would Keiichi, a firm nonbeliever of Oyashiro, suddenly say he was wrong?
17. What causes Keiichi to claw his own throat? Paranoia? Drugs?
A type of virus.
18. Why did the men who came to Keiichi's house simply ripped the middle half of the letter but leave the top and bottom part?
Who knows?
1. Why did Keiichi and his family moved to Hinamizawa?
the father... if i remember clearly, dicided that they move to a more peaceful place than the city...
2. Why did Rena moved away from Hinamizawa and then back?
her mother had a job in a certain city (which the name is something i could not remember) and then her parents had a divorce... she moved back with her father...
3. Who is Tomitake and did he really die that night?
this could be ansered by atching KAI (second season)
4. Why would an adult like Oishi asks a teenage boy like Keiichi to be his lead?
keiichi was the only person who was closest to the two and seemed like he would be honest...
Wouldn't his father or mother would be far more suitable candidate?
..... i don't think so....
5. What happened to Houjou Satoshi. Did he really go on a transfer or did he got "taken by Ogre"?
could be answered by watching KAI
6. What did the doctor injected Keiichi with? Flu shot or something else?
maybe the *SPOILER ALERT* hinamizawa syndrome??? (refer to KAI)
7. Did Rena and Mion really came to give Keiichi a box of Ohagi?
yes
8. If point 7 is true, was there a needle in Ohagi E?
yes... probably an accident...
9. Did Rena and Mion really display psychotic behaviour during their interaction with Keiichi or was it all a product of his paranoia?
paranoia....
10. What did Rena mean by her "I'm sorry" speech?
since keiichi was acting phsycotic... and acted violently against rena (the door scene)... since rena is rena, she thought keiichi as mad at her and tried to say sorry for whatever she had done...
11. Who are the men in grey?
refer to KAI
12. Who is "The superintendent" that Rena and Mion refers to?
i can't remember.....
13. What did Mion try to inject into Keiichi?
if my theory is correct, they visited the doctor... and asked about keiichi's condition... then they *SPOILER ALERT* found out that keiichi had the hinamizawa syndrome and the syringe had the TEMPORARY cure for it.... but keiichi, thought it as a drug..... sadly, if i remember correctly, it only was able to clear out the signs of the drug with the hinamizawa syndrome and it didn't stop its effects....
14. What kind of an God/Ogre is Oyashiro-sama?
a cute little goddess names *SPOILER ALERT* Hanyuu, she has split personalities (refer to KAI)
15. What was behind Keiichi?
nothing, halucination...
16. Why did Oishi sounds as if he was talking to the murderer seconds prior to Keiichi's death?
can't remember.....
17. What causes Keiichi to claw his own throat? Paranoia? Drugs?
drugs... *SPOILER ALERT* hinamizawa syndrome (refer to KAI)
18. Why did the men who came to Keiichi's house simply ripped the middle half of the letter but leave the top and bottom part?
because it sais about a syringe and they thought it was about the *SPOILER* hinamizawa syndrome
Heres a Hint:
Best part about this anime is, you can't tell whats a hallucination and whats real, Its a pretty good Psychological thriller, which can show hallucinations at times. I'd say more but it may spoil it for you all.
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