This article lists the soundtracks to the

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

ese

visual novel A , often abbreviated as VN, is a form of digital semi-interactive fiction. Visual novels are often associated with and used in the medium of video games, but are not always labeled as such themselves. They combine a textual narrative with sta ...

and

anime is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...

series ''

Higurashi When They Cry is a Japanese murder mystery dōjin soft visual novel series produced by 07th Expansion that comprises the first two entries of the ''When They Cry'' franchise. The series focuses on a group of young friends living in the fic ...

''.

Visual novels

PC

Thanks/you

''Thanks/you'' is a music

album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

composed by

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

dōjin music , also called in Japan, is a sub-category of '' doujin'' activity. ''Doujin'' are non-official self-published Japanese works which can be based on official products or completely original creations. Such products are sold online on specialized ...

artist, dai, for use in the "answer" arcs to the

''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni''. Unofficially, fans had originally referred to this as the original soundtrack, even though it does not have all the scores that were used in the game. ;Track listing #"Thanks" #"Iru # #"Soul scour" # #"Confession" #"you" # # # # # # #"feel" # # #"Birth and Death" # #"you" (Vocal) # ;Production staff *

Composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

: dai *

Vocal The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal tract, including talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, shouting, humming or yelling. The human voice frequency is specifically a part of human sound production i ...

s: Yuzuki *

Lyrics Lyrics are words that make up a song, usually consisting of verses and choruses. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist. The words to an extended musical composition such as an opera are, however, usually known as a "libretto" and their writer, a ...

: Yuki, Yuzuki * Cover illustrator: capital of sea

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai Original Soundtrack

The for the visual novels playable on the PC was first released by Lantis on August 23, 2006. ;Track listing

=CD 1

= #"air pizz" #"Testament" # #"feel" #"you" (M.Box) # #"Soul scour" # #"Fearlessness" #"you – destructive" #"C-examination" #"search and destroy" # # #"being" #"Birth and death" #"confession" #"conviction" #"Iru" # #"Cradle song" #"Gray" #"years" #"LIVE" #"Thanks" # # #"you"

=CD 2

= # #"utu" #"Frozen memories" #"Solitude" #"door" #"Liberating" #"Over the sky" #"Rain" #"Squall" # # #"daily passing by" #"daily passing by" (celesta) #"soak" #"what is wished" #"Amber" #"Bellflower" #"Big Bear" # # #"pros" #"Sheep counts" # # # #

Higurashi Daybreak Original Soundtrack

The for the derivative game ''

Higurashi Daybreak is a Japanese dōjin third-person shooter developed by Twilight Frontier, first released on August 13, 2006 and is based on the popular visual novel ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni''. The game is Twilight Frontier's first attempt in making a 3D ga ...

'' was released by the game's developers

Twilight Frontier , known as Tasofro for short, is a Japanese ''dojin'' game developer. They are best known for their collaborations with Team Shanghai Alice (ZUN), which include seven official games in the '' Touhou Project'' series. Productions Games Music C ...

on April 22, 2007 in the thirty-fifth Sunshine Creation convention. Although a soundtrack for ''Higurashi Daybreak'', it includes tracks only featured in the fandisc ''

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei is a Japanese murder mystery dōjin soft visual novel series produced by 07th Expansion that comprises the first two entries of the ''When They Cry'' franchise. The series focuses on a group of young friends living in the fic ...

'' and the demos of the original games. A forty-page short story "Higurashi Outbreak", written by

Ryukishi07 is the pen name for a Japanese writer who is the leading member for the group 07th Expansion. He is the creator of the ''When They Cry'' visual novel series, which includes ''Higurashi When They Cry'', ''Umineko When They Cry'' and ''Ciconia Whe ...

, was included in the CD jacket. ;Track listing

=CD 1

= #"from the sky" #"today's hero" #"2 on 2" #"close mission" #"prize machine" #"far east" #"elastico" #"just cause" #"thanks" #"speedster" #"sacred curry empire" #"antiguo" #"dernier" #"camouflage legend" #"fearlessness" #"night chaser" #"victory" #"defeat" #"to the sky"

=CD 2

= # # # # # # # # # # # #"kneecap" #"bright sun" #"spinning seesaw" #"close mission" (Arrange) #"far east" (Arrange) #"elastico" (Arrange) #"night chaser" (Arrange) #"to the sky" (Arrange) #

PlayStation 2

Nageki no Mori

is a

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

Ayane Ayane (/aˈjaˌnɛ/) is the romanization of a feminine Japanese given name. Literally translated it means "colorful sound" (彩音 or 綺音). * or Junko Hirata, Japanese singer-songwriter *, Japanese television personality *, Japanese badminton ...

. The song "Nageki no Mori" was used as the opening theme to the

PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...

version of ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni'' entitled ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri'', while "Complex Image" was used as the opening theme to the ''Miotsukushi-hen'' on the same game. It was released the same day as the ending theme song single on February 22, 2007 by

Geneon (abbreviated as NBCUEJ) is a Japanese music, anime, and home entertainment production and distribution enterprise headquartered in Akasaka, Tokyo, Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Minato, Tokyo. It is primarily involved in the production and distributi ...

. ;Track listing # – 5:18 # – 4:59 # – 5:18 # – 4:59

Escape

''Escape'' is a

Kanako Itō is a female Japanese singer from Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Japan. She has sung a large number of songs that have been used in a variety of video games, visual novels, and anime. Itō has sung songs for many visual novels, one song in particular bei ...

. The song "Escape" was used as the ending theme to the ''Tsumihoroboshi-hen'' on the

version of ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni'' entitled ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri'', while "Friend" was used as the ending theme to the ''Miotsukushi-hen'' on the same game. It was released the same day as the opening theme song single on February 22, 2007 by

. ;Track listing #"Escape" #"Friend" #"Escape" (off vocal) #"Friend" (off vocal)

Nintendo DS

Tsuisō no Despair

is a

. The song "Tsuisō no Despair" was used as the opening theme song to the first volume of the

Nintendo DS The is a handheld game console produced by Nintendo, released globally across 2004 and 2005. The DS, an initialism for "Developers' System" or "Dual Screen", introduced distinctive new features to handheld games: two LCD screens working in tan ...

version of ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni'' entitled ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kizuna: Tatari''. It was released on the same day as the game was released, on June 26, 2008 by 5pb.. ;Track listing # # # #

Place of Period

is a

Mio Isayama Mio Isayama (諫山実生, Tokyo, 7 June 1980) is a Japanese singer. Biography Mio Isayama debuted as a singer in 2002 under the EMI Music Japan label with the song for NHK's program ''Minna no Uta , literally ''Everyone's Songs'' (Eng ...

. The song "Place of Period" was used as the opening theme song to the second volume of the

version of ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni'' entitled ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kizuna: Sō''. It was released on December 3, 2008 by 5pb.. ;Track listing # # # #

Hikari no Sora no Qualia

is a

by Cyua. The song "Qualia of the Shining Sky" was used as the opening theme song to the third volume of the

version of ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni'' entitled ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kizuna: Rasen''. It was released on June 10, 2009 by 5pb.. The second song on the single was sung by Velforest. ;Track listing # # # #

Angelic Bright

is a

. The song "Angelic Bright" was used as the opening theme song to the fourth volume of the

version of ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni'' entitled ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kizuna: Kizuna''. It was released on March 10, 2010 by 5pb.. ;Track listing # # # #

Anime

OP/ED themes

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

is the opening theme to the anime ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni''. ;Track listing # – 4:27 #*Lyrics:

Eiko Shimamiya , also called Eiko or Peko, is a female J-pop singer-songwriter, and producer who is currently affiliated with Heart Company. She is best known for singing the opening themes of the anime series ''Higurashi When They Cry''. Eiko also handles a s ...

#*Music: Nakazawa Tomoyuki #*Arrange: Nakazawa Tomoyuki & Takase Kazuya #*Sung by: Eiko Shimamiya # "all alone" – 6:04 # – 4:27 # "all alone" Instrumental – 6:04

Why, or Why Not

''Why, or Why Not'' is the ending theme for the anime ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni''. ;Track listing # "Why, or Why Not" – 5:41 #*Lyrics: interface #*Music/Arrange: Hiroyuki Oshima #*Sung by:

Rekka Katakiri is a female Japanese singer under the self-published Self-publishing is the publication of media by its author at their own cost, without the involvement of a publisher. The term usually refers to written media, such as books and magazines, ...

# – 5:30 # "Why, or Why Not" Instrumental – 5:41 # – 5:30

Naraku no Hana

is the opening theme single to the anime ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai''. The single was released on August 22, 2007, and is sung by

. ;Track listing # #"FLOW" # #"FLOW" (off vocal)

Taishō a

is the ending theme single to the anime ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai''. The single was released on August 22, 2007, and is sung by anNina. ;Track listing # # # #

Original soundtracks

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

=Volume 1

= ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Original Soundtrack'' is the first official soundtrack released for the series on July 21, 2006. ;Track listing # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # "Why, or Why Not" ~TV Version~

=Volume 2

= ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Original Soundtrack Vol. 2'' is the second official soundtrack released for the series on October 6, 2006. ;Track listing # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai

=Volume 1

= ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai Original Soundtrack Vol. 1'' is the third official soundtrack, released for the series on December 12, 2007. ;Track listing # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

=Volume 2

= ''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai Original Soundtrack Vol. 2'' is the fourth official soundtrack, released for the series on January 30, 2008. ;Track listing # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

Image album

The was first released on September 27, 2006. ;Track listing # #* Composition:

Tenmon is the ninja art of understanding and using meteorology Meteorology is a branch of the atmospheric sciences (which include atmospheric chemistry and physics) with a major focus on weather forecasting. The study of meteorology dates back mi ...

#"my home" #* Vocals: #"M・A・T・S・U・R・I-Meet Your Match！" #* Vocals: #"when they cry" #* Vocals: # #* Composition: zts #"hymn" #* Composition: onoken #* Vocals: #"samsara" #* Vocals: #"you –Visionen im Spiegel" #* Vocals: # #* Composition:

Character CDs

Volume 1

was released on March 28, 2007. The tracks on the album were sung by three of the

voice actors Voice acting is the art of performing voice-overs to present a character or provide information to an audience. Performers are called voice actors/actresses, voice artists, dubbing artists, voice talent, voice-over artists, or voice-over talent ...

from the anime adaptation: Soichiro Hoshi (as Keiichi Maebara),

Mai Nakahara is a Japanese Voice acting in Japan, voice actress and singer associated with I'm Enterprise. She played Rena Ryūgū in ''Higurashi When They Cry'', Nagisa Furukawa in ''Clannad (visual novel), Clannad'', Seele Vollerei in ''Honkai Impact 3rd'' ...

(as Rena Ryugu), and

Chafurin , better known by his stage name is a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator who is affiliated with Office Osawa. After graduating from Toyo University is a university with several branches in Japan, including Hakusan, Asaka, Kawagoe, Ita ...

(as Kuraudo Oishi). ;Track listing # # # # #

Volume 2

was released on April 25, 2007. The tracks on the album were sung by

Satsuki Yukino , better known by the stage name (previously , ), is a Japanese voice actress from Kyoto. She was a member of Ken Production until 2016. Filmography Anime series Movies and films OVA * ''Virgin Fleet'' (1998), Satsuki Yukimizawa * ''Love Hi ...

, who played both Mion and Shion Sonozaki in the anime. ;Track listing # # # # #

Volume 3

was released on July 25, 2007. The tracks on the album were sung by two of the

voice actresses Voice acting is the art of performing voice-overs to present a character or provide information to an audience. Performers are called voice actors/actresses, voice artists, dubbing artists, voice talent, voice-over artists, or voice-over talent ...

from the anime adaptation:

Yukari Tamura is a Japanese voice actress and singer affiliated with Amuleto (formerly Arts Vision and I'm Enterprise). She debuted as a voice actress in 1997, releasing her debut single "Yūki o Kudasai" on March 26, 1997. Her role as Nanoha Takamachi in th ...

(as Rika Furude) and

Mika Kanai is a Japanese voice actress and singer. She is attached to Ken Production. She is best known for her roles in '' Idol Tenshi Yokoso Yoko'' (as Yoko Tanaka), ''Tanoshii Moomin Ikka'' (as the Snork Maiden), ''Goldfish Warning!'' (as Wapiko), ''So ...

(as Satoko Hojo). ;Track listing # # # # #

Character case books

Volume 1

was released on December 29, 2007. The tracks on the album were sung by two of the

from the anime adaptation:

(as Rika Furude) and

Yui Horie is a Japanese voice actress and singer affiliated with VIMS and Starchild. She has been affectionately nicknamed by her Japanese fans. She debuted as a voice actress in 1997, releasing her debut single "''My best friend''" on . Since then, sh ...

(as Hanyuu). ;Track listing # # # # #

Volume 2

was released on December 29, 2007. The tracks on the album were sung by two of the

from the anime adaptation:

Tōru Ōkawa is a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator. While he went to a College of Art, Nihon University, he started his career as a stage actor, but after he moved to Mausu Promotion, his current agency, he came to focus on voice acting. Filmography ...

(as Jirō Tomitake) and

Miki Itō is a Japanese voice actress and narrator who is affiliated with the Office Osawa () agency.Doi, Hitoshi"Itou Miki" ''Seiyuu Database''. January 3, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2011. Biography She graduated from the University of Tsukuba. She beg ...

(as Takano Miyo). ;Track listing # # # # #

References

External links

Kenji Kawai's official website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Higurashi When They Cry Anime soundtracks Doujin music Film and television discographies

Albums An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century as individual 78 rpm records coll ...

Lantis (company) soundtracks Video game music discographies Video game soundtracks Soundtracks by media franchise