| This article is about the version of Miotsukushi-hen that functions as an alternate ending to the main Higurashi story. For the arc of a similar name that concludes the Advanced Story, see Miotsukushi-hen Ura. |
Miotsukushi-hen (澪尽し編, lit. Waterway Exhausting Chapter) is an extra arc from Higurashi no Naku Koro ni. It was originally released in Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri as an alternate ending to the series taking place after Minagoroshi. Miotsukushi-hen was added in place of Matsuribayashi to give fans who had read the original story incentive to read the PS2 version.[1]
Later ports feature an altered version titled Miotsukushi-hen Omote (澪尽し編・表, lit. Waterway Exhausting Chapter: Surface).
Contents
Plot Summary
- Main article: Miotsukushi-hen/Plot Summary
Rika wakes up in another world, aware of who her enemy is, but Hanyuu has mysteriously disappeared. Left discouraged about the fate of this new world, Rika grows increasingly uncomfortable as time goes on.
Keiichi takes notice of Rika's sadness, and she decides to trust him with the knowledge that she has been traveling between many worlds. Keiichi proves that he's much different than the Keiichis in the previous worlds, and Rika becomes determined to seize her fate.
As Rika tries to learn more about her enemies and their motives, tragedies from other worlds begin creeping in: Rina plots to swindle the Sonozaki family and dates Rena's father, Satoko's uncle Teppei returns to Hinamizawa, and a rift between Mion and Shion begins to grow. In order to bring everyone together, Rika and Keiichi work to resolve their friends' problems before it is too late.
Characters
- Rika Furude
- Keiichi Maebara
- Satoko Houjou
- Rena Ryuugu
- Mion Sonozaki
- Shion Sonozaki
- Hanyuu
- Miyo Takano
- Kyousuke Irie
- Jirou Tomitake
Release History
Original Release
Miotsukushi-hen was first released in Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri for the PlayStation 2 on February 22, 2007.
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kizuna
This arc was rereleased in Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kizuna Volume IV on February 25, 2010 for the Nintendo DS. Additional chapters were inserted into the middle of the arc that conclude the Advanced Story.
Besides the addition of these extra chapters, many significant changes were made to the original arc itself:
| Original Scene | Replacement |
|---|---|
| After a discussion with Rena, Keiichi hears Hanyuu’s voice. | Keiichi recalls memories from Onikakushi. |
| Natsumi attends the Watanagashi Festival and joins the club's games. | Natsumi attends the festival with her own friends and doesn't join the club. Miyuki joins instead. |
| After the cotton drifting, Keiichi and Rika see Hanyuu floating in the river. A flashback to Hanyuu's past occurs after this. | Rika falls into the swamp. |
Some other changes made include:
- Tomoe Minai making an appearance, with some scenes rewritten to involve her.
- A plot twist where Hanyuu has been disguised as Rika all along in this arc while the real Rika was sealed inside of the saiguden.
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Sui
This arc was rereleased in Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Sui, where the additional Kizuna section was split off as its own arc and given the Ura subtitle to distinguish it from the original version, which received an added Omote subtitle. However, Sui and Hou are officially treated as containing 19 and 23 arcs respectively, implying that Omote and Ura are collectively counted as one arc.
Sui released on March 12, 2015 for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita.
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Hou
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Hou included this arc and was released on July 26, 2018 for the Nintendo Switch and January 24, 2019 for the PlayStation 4.
References
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
