Higurashi When They Cry

The Onigafuchi Legend and the Origin of Oyashiro-sama Worship

Village folklore tells that demons once emerged from a swamp called Onigafuchi to terrorize the people, until the god Oyashiro-sama mediated a coexistence between humans and demons. This legend forms the religious bedrock of what would become Hinamizawa.

The Village is Renamed from Onigafuchi to Hinamizawa

Amid Meiji-era administrative reorganization, Onigafuchi Village is renamed Hinamizawa Village. Its old legends fade into the background as its history as a rural mountain community begins.

The Hinamizawa Dam Construction Plan Emerges

Citing flood control and power generation needs, the national government proposes a dam that would submerge Hinamizawa and neighboring settlements — 291 households and roughly 1,300 residents. The plan meets fierce local opposition.

— Based on TIPS-derived background material (07th Expansion Wiki, etc.); the exact year of the plan's announcement varies across secondary sources.

Kidnapping of the Construction Minister's Grandson

The grandson of the Construction Minister overseeing the dam plan is kidnapped. Investigators suspect possible involvement by dam opponents within the village, but the boy is rescued unharmed and no charges are filed.

Death of the Dam Project's Site Manager and the Plan's Cancellation

On the night of the Watanagashi Festival, the dam project's on-site manager dies. The plan is effectively cancelled in the aftermath, and the incident comes to be remembered in the village as the first case of what would be called 'Oyashiro-sama's curse.'

Four Consecutive Years of Deaths and Disappearances on the Night of Watanagashi

From 1979 through 1982, one death and one disappearance occur in the village every year on the night of Watanagashi or the following day. The pattern becomes known as 'Oyashiro-sama's curse,' a local legend that draws outside attention.

Furude Shrine and the Furude Family — Keepers of Oyashiro-sama's Faith

Furude Shrine, dedicated to Oyashiro-sama, is Hinamizawa's central shrine, historically overseen by generations of the Furude family as its priests. The Watanagashi Festival and other village rites are centered on the shrine.

The 'Three Families' and the Sonozaki — Influential Clans in Village Governance

Hinamizawa's long-established influential families are known collectively as 'the Three Families,' among which the Sonozaki are known for the strong cohesion of their extended clan and are said to have played a central role in uniting the village against the dam.

Keiichi Maebara Moves to Hinamizawa

Keiichi Maebara, having moved from the city, transfers into Hinamizawa's local middle school. The story's 'present day' begins from this point in June 1983.

Keiichi Befriends Rena, Rika, Satoko, and the Sonozaki Sisters

Keiichi grows close to his classmates Rena Ryūgū, Rika Furude, Satoko Hōjō, and the Sonozaki twins Mion and Shion, becoming part of their after-school club activities.

Detective Kuraudo Ooishi Continues Investigating the Mysterious Deaths

Since the 1979 incident, local police detective Kuraudo Ooishi has continued investigating the string of mysterious deaths and disappearances tied to the dam controversy, quietly gathering information of his own.

Keiichi Learns the Origins of the Watanagashi Festival

Keiichi learns from his friends about the origins of the annual Watanagashi Festival honoring Oyashiro-sama, and the meaning of the ritual in which cotton is symbolically drawn from an effigy.

Hinamizawa Approaches Its Fifth Watanagashi Under the Curse's Shadow

As the fifth Watanagashi Festival since the rumors of 'Oyashiro-sama's curse' began approaches, the village proceeds with its usual preparations. Keiichi and his friends' daily lives are about to be shaken by what unfolds around this festival.