higurashi when they cry

"Higurashi When They Cry" (Japanese: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni) is a Japanese murder mystery visual novel and anime series set in the fictional village of Hinamizawa in 1983. It follows Keiichi Maebara, a boy who moves to the village and befriends classmates involved in dark events surrounding the annual Watanagashi (Cotton Drifting) Festival. The village suffers from a mysterious curse called the "Oyashiro Curse," which is linked to a series of murders and disappearances during the festival over several years. The story is presented in chapters with alternate realities, where characters experience paranoia, violence, and attempts to uncover the mystery behind the curse and a disease known as Hinamizawa Syndrome. The narrative spans from lighthearted beginnings in summer 1983 to intense psychological and horror elements as the mysterious events unfold. The original visual novel series started releasing in 2002, with the first game "Onikakushi-hen" released on August 10, 2002. The story's timeline centers on the summer of 1983 in Hinamizawa, during and around the annual festival. In summary, "Higurashi When They Cry" takes place in the year 1983 in the small village of Hinamizawa, during the summer and specifically related to the time of the village's annual festival where strange and tragic events occur.