Murders, Cincadas and Seagulls

Read more for the whole story regarding Higurashi so far related to the incidents in Japan

Unfortunately the future of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai stands on a thin thread. Due to the recent press releases about several incidents supposedly having to do with this series, there has been many problems.

This all started when a 16 year old girl attacked and murdered her father with an axe. For some reason, two targets were picked out to take all the blame. Higurashi and School Days. Both of them were taken off the air and then released later on the following week by other stations. There has however been an increasing trend in murders with axes it seems now. On the day of the showing of Higurashi episode 12, there was another attack with a 15 year old boy attacking his father with an axe. He had volentary surrended to the police a little while later. On the day of the showing of Higurashi episode 12, there was another attack involving a schoolboy attacking his friend with an axe.

Both were still able to air on television with only minor changes. Higurashi had to remove the axe out of their opening scene (Which isn’t much when you think about it), and School Days had to premiere with not red blood, but black blood. (Reminds me of Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and depending what version you had, changed the blood of Ganon). Another attack occured a few days later this time with one student attacking another. The main problem is, the axe’s specifications were exactly the same as the axe used by Rena in the series.

After this incident, it seems like there has been a big frenzy regarding what is going to happen with the series. While it has been preempted on a few stations, one station has dropped the series altogether, that station being Teletama. This has been commented on in the animes official site found here. They say that they regret what has happened and that the focus of the anime isn’t murder. This does not conclude the anime related murders it seems. In Belgium, there was a case of a severed body found… and inside were two notes referencing to the anime Death Note.

It is very worrying that this has been occurring as soon there might be a lack of mystery animes or even worse, there being stricter guidelines on what may be displayed on Japanese television. Picture having to spend all your anime watching afternoons watching Spongebob Squarepants.

There has also been complaints made against anime such as this which you may find on this website: (http://blogs4brownback.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/anime-encourages-murder/). What will happen to Higurashi? Hopefully at least one station will air the series the whole 24 episodes as it would be a shame to lose an anime gem such as this.

Update: The anime blog zeNIME, recently got a reply from the person who posted that article. The original post made on the site can be found here, and the retaliation made can be found here.

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I am sure that this has been announced and discussed on many blogs before, but for those few that do not know, 7th Expansion has released their latest visual novel series Umineko no Naku koro ni (When Seagulls Cry) and features many similarities to Higurashi no Naku koro ni however is based on a beach island. Here is a preview

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Episode 14 of Higurashi seems to be shaping up quite well, from the preview on their website, it is going to be about Takanos past and why she decided to go on the mental murderous rampage she did. Definately looks interesting and I look forward to bringing it to you all.

Sorry if there are any inaccuracies in this article, I am rather tired and well… I am likely to have made a mistake or two.