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This article is about an object in Higurashi When They Cry. |
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  This article or section contains untagged major spoilers for all of Higurashi When They Cry Gou-Sotsu or Gou-Meguri. Readers who have not completed the story are advised not to proceed further. |
The Onigari-no-ryuuou as it appears in episode 4 of Higurashi When They Cry Rei.
The Onigari-no-ryuuou (鬼狩柳桜, lit. "Demon-hunting willow cherry") is an ancient sword sealed inside the ritual warehouse of the Furude Shrine that was used to slay a demon lord.
Background[]
Ouka wielding the Onigari-no-ryuuou against Hanyuu
According to Matsuribayashi's TIP, the Onigari-no-ryuuou was bestowed from Heaven to Ouka Furude, the first half-human-half-demon, to slay her mother Hanyuu who was masquerading as a demon god. The sword was shaped like a willow branch with its tip splitting three ways, each point representing Heaven, Earth, and unity between people.
After the deed was done, the Onigari-no-ryuuou was sealed inside of a statue of Oyashiro-sama inside the Furude Shrine's ritual warehouse. The statue's head is supposed to shatter and reveal the sword when faith in Oyashiro-sama dissipates and the world of man attempts to pass blame onto others once more.
Role in the Story[]
Matsuribayashi[]
The sword's existence and its origins are explained in the only TIP, "The forbidden treasure: Onigari-no-ryuuou".
Higurashi Gou and Sotsu[]
The empty space inside the Oyashiro-sama statue
The Onigari-no-ryuuou is featured again. In Watadamashi, Keiichi Maebara repairs the statue of Oyashiro-sama after his group breaks it, where it is shown there is an empty slot where the sword should be. This suspicion is confirmed in Nekodamashi, where Hanyuu informs Rika Furude that the sword can kill those who live in time loops. Kagurashi shows Satoko Houjou also learning about the sword and revealing it in the statue, which has now materialized, and stealing it but accidentally leaving behind a fragment. Rika herself heads to the shrine later and finds this fragment.
Kagurashi-hen culminates in Rika and Satoko battlling, where Rika attempts to use the sword fragment to kill Satoko and uses it to obtain a superpowered shrine maiden form. Satoko uses the rest of the sword itself to gain her own super form. Their battle results in the sword and fragment recombining into one.
Rika discards the sword, and Hanyuu summons it to the Sea of Fragments to wield against Eua and attack her "horn".
Higurashi Gou (manga) and Meguri[]
When Satoko becomes a looper due to Eua's power and plots to trap herself and Rika in an eternal loop, Satoko decides she'll give up if Rika manages to kill her first and wants to let Rika maintain some of her memories between loops. Eua informs her about the Onigari-no-ryuuou being something that can kill loopers.(Satokowashi-hen Manga Chapter 5)
Satoko obtaining the sword and throwing it into the swamp
In one world, Satoko obtains the sword and tosses it into Onigafuchi Swamp.(Wataakashi-hen Manga Chapter 2) When Keiichi and company break into the ritual storehouse later and break the Oyashiro-sama statue, Keiichi sees a slot inside the statue where the sword should be.(Watadamashi-hen Manga Chapter 2)
Later, Hanyuu informs Rika of the sword's existence.(Nekodamashi-hen Manga Chapter 3)
Kotohogushi-hen[]
Ryuuou emerging from the swamp
"Ryuuou" is Hanyuu's personal sword that she keeps in Onigafuchi Swamp.
Kotohogushi-hen (console)[]
- Main article: Ryuun-Ohc
This console-exclusive arc provides a possible explanation for the Onigari-no-ryuuou's existence.
Yeasomul wielding Ryuuou in its basic form
The Onigari-no-ryuuou was a simple katana wielded by Yeasomul and had the artificial intelligence Ryuun-Ohc (later nicknamed "Ryuuou") inhabiting it. It could grow three prongs when an incantation was spoken, for use in killing Putus and demonified Ryuun.
Hanyuu bestowed Ouka with the weapon since it was the only thing that could kill a Ryuun like her for good. After Ouka reluctantly killed her mother with it, the sword remained in its three-pronged form, seemingly a message to never use it again. Ouka cast the sword into Onigafuchi Swamp afterwards.
Other Appearances[]
- Hanyuu can wield the sword in Higurashi Daybreak.
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Mei features the Onigari-no-ryuuou being wielded by several characters in various stories.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The Onigari-no-ryuuou appears to be inspired by a real-life sword called the shichishito, or seven-branched sword.