Bloodhounds

	This article is about an organization in Higurashi When They Cry.

MAJOR HIGURASHI SPOILER WARNING This article or section contains untagged major spoilers for all of the original Higurashi When They Cry story and possibly the console-exclusive arcs. Readers who have not completed the story are advised not to proceed further.

The Bloodhounds (番犬, Banken) are a secret elite combat force deployed by Tokyo for the utmost emergencies.

Background

Similar to the Mountain Dogs, the Bloodhounds were formed by Tokyo as a secret military unit attached to the Self-Defense Force. Unlike the Mountain Dogs however, the Bloodhounds are specially trained in combat and weaponry, having far superior equipment than the former.

Divisions and Members

Members of the Bloodhounds have codenames as Retrievers.

Story

Minagoroshi

The Bloodhounds are mentioned for the first time when Tomitake figures that their presence is not necessary for protecting Rika.

Matsuribayashi

Irie suggests calling in the Bloodhounds to help defeat Takano and the Mountain Dogs, however he's concerned that they'll destroy evidence and annihilate the village, the same thing Takano was planning anyway. Akasaka assures him that there won't be such a thing, as their goal should be to resolve the conflict quietly while villagers are still confused.

Tomitake speaks to Bloodhound members, who are investigating Takano's background. They discover evidence of embezzlement committed by the Irie Institute and that Takano had close relationships with the late Koizumi and Dr. Takano, when it was assumed they were completely unrelated. The Bloodhounds come to the conclusion that Takano has received funding from Koizumi for purposes unrelated to research and has amassed over 1 billion yen.

The Bloodhounds later inform Tomitake that Rika Furude the queen carrier has been found dead, though it was over 48 hours ago and no change in Hinamizawa has been reported. They also tell him that the Mountain Dogs were assembled. Tomitake tells the Bloodhounds to be on standby in a few hours to prepare for potential revolt by the Mountain Dogs.

After Tomitake discovers what Takano and the Dogs are planning, he joins Rika's group and is taken to a phone booth outside Okinomiya, where he tells the Bloodhounds everything he's been through and summons them to the village. The Bloodhounds finally arrive after 20 minutes to take control of the Irie Clinic and arrest the Mountain Dogs. They also surround Takano and try to arrest her as well but Tomitake defends her when he says she's developed Hinamizawa Syndrome.

It's suggested later that some of the Bloodhounds were impressed by Satoko's traps and asked her for tips.