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This article is about a story arc in
Umineko When They Cry.
Uwtc eng
Overview

Legend of the Golden Witch is the first episode of the Umineko When They Cry series, and was first released at Comiket 72 on August 17, 2007. It is the first of four Question Arcs, and is followed by Turn of the Golden Witch.

Introduction[]

Welcome to Rokkenjima. The Golden Witch extends her heartfelt greetings. Please, take it easy and relax for the time being.

There's no need to think overly hard about any of this.
Quietly accept all that is about to happen.
That is all that is being asked of you.

The difficulty level is standard.
We might as well at least start by taking the easy road.

Plot Summary[]

Main article: Legend of the Golden Witch/Summary

October 4 and 5, 1986. The Ushiromiya family has gathered on the private island of Rokkenjima for their annual family conference. Chief on the agenda concerns the struggle for the inheritance assets of the ailing family head, Kinzo. But as the family is trapped on the island by a typhoon, they receive a letter claiming to be from the rumored witch of the island, Beatrice, and mysterious events begin to occur.

Characters[]

Main Characters[]

Ushiromiya Family

Supporting Characters[]

Ushiromiya Family

Attending physician

Servants

Witches (Spoilers for the tea parties)

Release History[]

Original Release (Comiket 72)[]

Legend of the Golden Witch first released on PC at Comiket 72 on August 17, 2007.

Comiket 73[]

This arc was rereleased with Turn of the Golden Witch at C73 on December 31, 2007. The ???/Hidden Tea Party, which originally had to be unlocked via a special method[1], was changed to where it unlocks after completing the regular Tea Party. The original intent was for users to discover the Hidden Tea Party on their own, but since not many people actually found it, it was changed to where it automatically unlocks after completing the Tea Party.[2]

Comiket 74[]

This arc was rereleased with Banquet of the Golden Witch at C74 on August 16, 2008.

Comiket 75[]

This arc was rereleased with Alliance of the Golden Witch at C75 on December 29, 2008.

English Release[]

The Question Arcs were officially translated to English and released by MangaGamer on July 8, 2016. It featured new character artwork based on the pachinko game. There are also a number of new CGs, however these are not enabled by default as they were added before release and could not be tested or approved.[3]

Saku[]

Umineko no Naku Koro ni Saku released as a compilation of every arc on PC on October 4, 2019.

Ports[]

This arc has been featured in the following console ports:

Adaptations[]

Manga[]

The manga adaptation of Legend of the Golden Witch was illustrated by Kei Natsumi and serialized in Square Enix's Gangan Powered magazine from January 22, 2008 to February 22, 2009, and then in Gangan Joker magazine from April 22, 2009 to August 22, 2009 with 23 total chapters. It was later collected into four volumes. Yen Press published them in English in two omnibus volumes.

Chapter Name Magazine Release Date
Chapter 0 Gangan Powered No. 10 (March 2008) January 22, 2008
Chapter 1 Gangan Powered No. 10 (March 2008) January 22, 2008
Chapter 2 Gangan Powered No. 10 (March 2008) January 22, 2008
Chapter 3 Gangan Powered No. 11 (April 2008) April 22, 2008
Chapter 4 Gangan Powered No. 12 (June 2008) April 22, 2008
Chapter 5 Gangan Powered No. 12 (June 2008) April 22, 2008
Chapter 6 Gangan Powered No. 13 (August 2008) June 22, 2008
Chapter 7 Gangan Powered No. 13 (August 2008) June 22, 2008
Chapter 8 Gangan Powered October 2008 August 22, 2008
Chapter 9 Gangan Powered October 2008 August 22, 2008
Chapter 10 Gangan Powered December 2008 October 22, 2008
Chapter 11 Gangan Powered December 2008 October 22, 2008
Chapter 12 Gangan Powered February 2009 December 22, 2008
Chapter 13 Gangan Powered February 2009 December 22, 2008
Chapter 14 Gangan Powered April 2009 February 22, 2009
Chapter 15 Gangan Powered April 2009 February 22, 2009
Chapter 16 Gangan Joker May 2009 (Little Joker Higurashi X Umineko Supplement Booklet) April 22, 2009
Chapter 17 Gangan Joker May 2009 (Little Joker Higurashi X Umineko Supplement Booklet) April 22, 2009
Chapter 18 Gangan Joker June 2009 May 22, 2009
Chapter 19 Gangan Joker June 2009 May 22, 2009
Chapter 20 Gangan Joker July 2009 June 22, 2009
Chapter 21 Gangan Joker August 2009 July 22, 2009
Chapter 22 Gangan Joker September 2009 August 22, 2009
Chapter 23 Gangan Joker September 2009 August 22, 2009
Vol. Cover Release Date Chapters
1 1-1 June 21, 2008 (JP)
November 20, 2012 (EN)
2 EP1-2 December 22, 2008 (JP)
November 20, 2012 (EN)
3 EP1-3 June 22, 2009 (JP)
February 26, 2013 (EN)
4 EP1-4 December 22, 2009 (JP)
February 26, 2013 (EN)
  • Chapter 17
  • Chapter 18
  • Chapter 19
  • Chapter 20
  • Chapter 21
  • Chapter 22
  • Chapter 23

Novels[]

Kodansha released two volumes adapting Legend of the Golden Witch:

  1. Umineko no Naku Koro ni Episode 1 Legend of the Golden Witch volume 1 (released: July 1, 2009)
  2. Umineko no Naku Koro ni Episode 1 Legend of the Golden Witch volume 2 (released: August 4, 2009)

Anime[]

The 2009 Umineko: When They Cry anime by Studio DEEN adapted Legend of the Golden Witch in Episodes 1 to 5. All episodes in the anime open with a variation of the opening titles with the song "Katayoku no Tori" by Akiko Shikata, featuring a portrait of Beatrice; the episodes of Legend feature the original portrait of Beatrice that can be seen in the Main Hall of the Rokkenjima Mansion.

  1. Opening (aired: July 2, 2009)
  2. First Move (aired: July 9, 2009)
  3. Dubious Move (aired: July 16, 2009)
  4. Blunder (aired: July 23, 2009)
  5. Fool's Mate (aired: July 30, 2009)

Stage Play[]

The stage play adaptation of Legend of the Golden Witch was produced by Shingidan and released in theaters on March 31, 2022-April 3, 2022.

Openings[]

Original Version[]

Umineko_no_Naku_Koro_ni_OP_EP1

Umineko no Naku Koro ni OP EP1

Umineko no Naku Koro ni by Akiko Shikata. The original opening for the first three arcs of the visual novel.

Umineko_no_Naku_Koro_ni_OP_v2

Umineko no Naku Koro ni OP v2

Umineko no Naku Koro ni by Akiko Shikata. An alternative opening used as a promotional video but not played in the visual novels.

PS3 Version[]

Umineko_no_Naku_Koro_Ni_PS3_OP_EP1-4

Umineko no Naku Koro Ni PS3 OP EP1-4

Senkyou no Igreja by Asriel (KOKOMI). Used for the PS3 remake Rondo of the Witch and Reasoning and contains spoilers for all Question Arcs.

Anime Version[]

Umineko_no_Naku_Koro_ni_OP_Anime

Umineko no Naku Koro ni OP Anime

Katayoku no Tori by Akiko Shikata.

Credits[]

  • Screenplay and Graphics: Ryukishi07
  • Directing and Scripting: Yatazakura
  • System, Scripting, and Web management: BT
  • Music Chief and debugger: dai
  • Backgrounds: Kameya Mannen-dou, Yatazakura, Nekozakura, MALI. ALL Season Colors of the Four Seasons
  • NScripter Naoki Takahashi
  • NScripter Extension Effects: Koubou Kimikagesou
  • Portraits: Takahito Ekusa (Alchemist)
  • Opening Movie: Yoyu (RMG), Nanagi (Hightension wires)
  • Opening Theme: Umineko no Naku Koro ni
    • Composition and Arrangement: Akiko Shikata
    • Lyrics: Noriko Mitose
    • Vocal and Chorus: Akiko Shikata by the courtesy of HATS UNLIMITED, INC.
    • Recording and Mixing Engineer: Minami Chokko
    • Acoustic Guitar: Jura
    • Bouzouki, Irish Bouzouki: Koichiro Tashiro
    • Violin: Seiko Onuki
    • Electric Guitar: Hiroki Ito
    • Percussion, marimba: Marie Oishi
    • Base: Koki Ohno
    • Recorder, tin whistle: Takashi Yasui
    • Studios: BS&T RECORDING & REHERSAL STUDIO, Rabbit Hole Studio, SOUND INN STUDIO
  • Music and SFX: -45, dai, M.Zakky, pre-holder, SB YUNE, zts, U2 Akiyama, Eriya Arai, Mizuki Kitaoji (grasun cat), sumiisan (Kaminoke Records), Hironori Doi, Pureco, Luck Ganriki
  • Special Thanks: General (GML), Shigeru Nakagawa (Alchemist), Kiichi Kanou (Alchemist), Michiko Koyanagi (5pb), Atsushi Seto (HOBIBOX), Hiroshi Nakamura (WAYUTA), Yasuyuki Hirata (Avex Entertainment), Takeshi Hiradate (Avex Entertainment), Tomoko Shinoda, Mariko Terashita
  • Produced By: 07th Expansion

References[]

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