Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (ひぐらしのなく頃に・When the Cicadas Cry) is the opening for the 2006 Higurashi When They Cry anime adaptation. It was performed by Eiko Shimamiya and the first of many songs performed by her featured in the anime and live action movie adaptations. The song was written by Shimamiya herself. A titular single featuring the full version was released on 24th May, 2006.
I turned around
To look behind me (But who was in front?)
Within the darkness
It raised its claws (And tore apart the night)
雨だれは血の
しずくとなって頬を
つたい落ちる
もうどこにも
帰る場所が無いなら
Amadare wa chi no
Shizuku to natte hoho wo
Tsutaiochiru
Mou doko ni mo
Kaeru basho ga nai nara
Dripping rain turns into blood
The droplets streak my cheeks
Flowing freely
If you don't have a place
To return to anymore...
この指止まれ
私の指に
その指ごと
連れてってあげる
ひぐらしが鳴く
開かずの森へ
後戻りは
もう出来ない
Kono yubi tomare
Watashi no yubi ni
Sono yubi goto
Tsuretette ageru
Higurashi ga naku
Akazu no mori e
Ato modori wa
Mou dekinai
Rest those fingers of yours
On these fingers of mine
Let me take you away—
Fingers and everything
To the sealed forest
Where the higurashi cry
Even if you turn around,
There is no going back
ひとりずつ
消されてゆく （蒼い炎）
暗闇の
その向うに （朝はもう来ない）
Hitorizutsu
Kesarete yuku (Aoi honoo)
Kurayami no
Sono mukou ni (Asa wa mou konai)
One by one
They are extinguished (The blue flames)
Within the darkness
Where what lies beyond— (The morning will never come)
鏡の中で
蠢き伸ばしてくる
無数の手で
さぁ 誰かを
ここへ誘いなさい
Kagami no naka de
Ugomeki nobashite kuru
Musuu no te de
Saa dareka wo
Koko e izanainasai
Inside the mirror
They squirm, reaching for me—
With countless hands
Come on, anyone will do—
Lure them inside here
鬼さんこちら
手の鳴るほうへ
どんなに逃げても
捕まえてあげる
ひぐらしが鳴く
けもの道から
聞こえていた
声はもう無い
Oni-san kochira
Te no naru hou e[2]
Donna ni nigetemo
Tsukamaete ageru
Higurashi ga naku
Kemonomichi kara
Kikoeteita
Koe wa mou nai
Oh demon, come this way
Follow the rhythm of my hand
No matter how much you run
I'll be sure to catch you
From the animal trail
Where the higurashi cry
The voice that arose
Can no longer be heard
この指止まれ
私の指に
その指ごと
連れてってあげる
ひぐらしが鳴く
開かずの森へ
後戻りは
もう出来ない
Kono yubi tomare
Watashi no yubi ni
Sono yubi goto
Tsuretette ageru
Higurashi ga naku
Akazu no mori e
Ato modori wa
Mou dekinai
Rest those fingers of yours
On these fingers of mine
Let me take you away—
Fingers and everything
To the sealed forest
Where the higurashi cry
Even if you turn around,
There is no going back
鬼さんこちら
手の鳴るほうへ
どんなに逃げても
捕まえてあげる
ひぐらしが鳴く
けもの道から
聞こえていた
声はもう無い
Oni-san kochira
Te no naru hou e
Donna ni nigetemo
Tsukamaete ageru
Higurashi ga naku
Kemonomichi kara
Kikoeteita
Koe wa mou nai
Oh demon, come this way
Follow the rhythm of my hand
No matter how much you run
I'll be sure to catch you
From the animal trail
Where the higurashi cry
The voice that arose
Can no longer be heard
Notes
↑ 1.01.1Ushiro no shoumen daare? (後ろの正面だあれ, lit. Who stands behind when I face forward?) is a reference to a line from a Japanese warabe uta; Kagome Kagome. Kagome Kagome is a game in which one player is chosen as the "Oni" (鬼, lit. Demon) and sits down blindfolded as the others circle them and sing the rhyme. At the end, the Oni is asked to guess who is standing behind them. This line is a very popular reference in Higurashi as it can be found in many songs from the franchise.
↑Oni-san kocchira, Te no naru hou e (鬼さんこちら、手の鳴るほうへ, lit. Hey Demon, over here; follow my hand) is a common taunt in a game of Japanese tag. Tag is referred to as "Onigokko" in Japanese which literally means "playing demon". The "it" is referred to as the "Oni" (鬼, lit. Demon) and the other players may chant this particular taunt at the Oni mockingly.
This particular line even comes up directly in the VN and subsequent adaptations; when Ooishi sarcastically recites the chant as everyone teams up to lure out the culprit in Matsuribayashi-hen.
Trivia
The chants heard multiple times throughout the song are in fact the reversed audio of the chants starting at 03:14 from the opening song of the anime's second season. The chants which were unclear in Higurashi no Naku Koro ni are finally coherent in the second opening song, and can be transcribed as "Nigebanainda" (逃げ場ないんだ, lit. No place to escape to).
This little detail is in line with the fact that the first season comprises of the question arcs and the second season provides the solutions to those mysteries.
