Oct 202025
We’re finally here.
After 4 years of talking about Higurashi, ever since I played Onikakushi back in 2021, it’s time to talk about Higurashi When They Cry Chapter 8: Matsuribayashi.
Wrapping up Higurashi during our spooky games celebration only feels fitting, but at the same time, it almost feels out of place. This final chapter of Higurashi might be the one where the “horror” description applies the least. After the previous chapter finally provided clear answers about what is happening, this chapter was all about finding the solution.
As a result, it’s much more straightforward, with no huge shocks or twists, and there were a few points where it felt like things went a little too smoothly.
But I’ll forgive it everything for the emotions it managed to make me feel this time around. Last time, I wondered if we’d get to learn the antagonist’s motivations, and not only did this chapter deliver, but it did so to such an extent that I found myself feeling bad for the antagonist despite everything.
Whenever a story can provoke such an emotional reaction toward a character who previously seemed irredeemable, that’s great writing. I love that sort of thing. It makes the conclusion that much more satisfying.
Now that we’re at the end, I want to take a look back at Higurashi as a whole. The first chapter still stands out to me as the most intense, especially since you know nothing about what’s going on. The sheer paranoia of that chapter is unmatched. The next few chapters each had their own focus, showing tragedy from different angles and provoking more emotional moods. Chapter 4 in particular was where I felt I could finally start piecing together a theory.
It’s funny to look back on the later chapters now, because when I started the Answer Arcs, I felt like none of my questions were being answered, but now I can see how they did provide me with pieces of the puzzle.
Chapter 6 brought back the intense paranoia the very first chapter had (quite fittingly), and then Chapter 7 brought everything together by providing answers at last in time for the final conclusion here in Chapter 8. Higurashi goes through many different tone shifts across the chapters, but when I view them as a whole, it all feels natural. I would say my favorite parts ended up being Chapter 1, Chapter 5, and Chapter 7, although they’re all good.
Higurashi When They Cry gave me a 70-hour journey through a mysterious but ultimately satisfying story. There are still some bonus arcs I’ll want to check out eventually, but now that I’ve read Higurashi When They Cry Chapter 8: Matsuribayashi, the main journey is complete. I’m happy I saw Higurashi through to the end at last.
Congratulations on making it! And 2 chapters both in the spooky month too! Almost makes me think you should have saved this for last, because how are you going to top finishing an 8-chapter story? But you got it done when you got it done!
Haha, that’s a good point. But I wanted to get it finished since I kept saying I’d finish Higurashi before playing Silent Hill f.
Well reading the end of your blog posts, you did not get to Silent Hill f this year but it’s still an accomplishment to get this done!
Yes. This also paves the way for Umineko, too…
Finally the journey is complete! I’m kind of glad I’ve mostly forgotten about what happens in the anime, except for some gruesome scenes that unfortunately stick around rent free in my brain. But I think I’ll jump into this now so I can definitely see more of the story in detail.
Yes, you should! And then you can see those random screenshots I sent you in-context and realize they don’t make any more sense with context than without. 😂😂 Seriously, though, it’s great and worth reading!
Well I fully expect to be like “What the heck is happening?” several times, so that’ll keep me on my toes!