Dwango Co., Ltd. will implement a special project, 'Higurashi: When They Cry' Anime Series 2 Works (All 50 Episodes) Free Marathon Streaming, on its live streaming service 'Nico Nico Live' over two weeks starting Saturday, June 13, in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the TV anime broadcast.

The anime 'Higurashi: When They Cry' is a suspense work based on the sound novel game by Ryukishi07. The first TV anime season, 'Higurashi: When They Cry', started in 2006, and the sequel 'Higurashi: When They Cry Kai', which delves into the truth of the incidents, was broadcast in 2007. Its shocking developments and puzzle-solving elements touted as having a '1% correct answer rate' have sparked intense discussion and garnered significant反响.

The story is set in the remote mountain village of Hinamizawa in June 1983. On the day of the village's traditional festival, 'Watanagashi', a mysterious incident called the 'Hinamizawa Disaster Syndrome' occurs, where one person dies and another goes missing. From this day on, the peaceful daily lives of the characters suddenly transform into tragedy.

Since 2019, Nico Nico has been conducting marathon streams of this anime series around the time of 'Watanagashi Day' (the 3rd or 4th Sunday of June), which holds significant meaning in the story. For this seventh iteration, aligning with this year's 'Watanagashi Day' (June 21), they will broadcast all episodes of 'Higurashi: When They Cry' for free on June 13 (Sat) and 14 (Sun), and 'Higurashi: When They Cry Kai' on June 20 (Sat) and 21 (Sun).

Every year, related keywords trend on X (formerly Twitter) in Japan on 'Watanagashi Day', showing that even 20 years after the TV anime first aired, the work continues to captivate many fans. This year, they will also provide a space where fans can enjoy the show together with comments.

┃Overview of 'Higurashi: When They Cry' Anime Series 2 Works Marathon Streaming

Program Title: Higurashi: When They Cry Episodes 1-13 Marathon ■Viewing URL: https://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv350656577 ■Broadcast Date & Time: Saturday, June 13, 2026, 19:00 - 24:35 (scheduled end)

Program Title: Higurashi: When They Cry Episodes 14-26 Marathon ■Viewing URL: https://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv350656591 ■Broadcast Date & Time: Sunday, June 14, 2026, 19:00 - 24:15 (scheduled end)

Program Title: Higurashi: When They Cry Kai Episodes 1-12 Marathon ■Viewing URL: https://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv350656606 ■Broadcast Date & Time: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 19:00 - 24:15 (scheduled end)

Program Title: Higurashi: When They Cry Kai Episodes 13-24 Marathon ■Viewing URL: https://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv350656618 ■Broadcast Date & Time: Sunday, June 21, 2026, 15:00 - 20:15 (scheduled end)

*Time-shift viewing is available for 7 days, unlimited during that period. *No membership registration required; anyone can watch for free.

┃Introduction to 'Higurashi: When They Cry'

Summer of 1983. The chorus of cicadas during the day and evening cicadas echoed through Hinamizawa, as if welcoming the early heat of June. Keiichi Maebara had recently moved from the city to this remote mountain village of Hinamizawa, with a population of less than 2000. Cheerful and talkative, Keiichi quickly became friends with his classmates. His best friend and caretaker Rena, the leader and class rep Mion, the trap expert and underclassman Satoko, and Rika, the daughter of the Furude Shrine with a mysterious aura... He spent carefree days with his friends, which seemed like they would last forever. The annual festival in June, 'Watanagashi'. That day was supposed to be fun too. Until he learned of a mystery surrounding Hinamizawa... The tragedy that repeats on the festival day. A series of mysterious deaths that began a few years ago, where one person dies and one goes missing each year. What is the truth? Who is the culprit? Driven by curiosity, Keiichi steps into the village's darkness. From that day on, things around Keiichi begin to change, slowly but surely. Yes, everything... Only the cry of the evening cicadas remained unchanged, announcing a slightly early summer to Hinamizawa.

┃Introduction to 'Higurashi: When They Cry Kai'

Early summer of 1983. The chorus of cicadas during the day and evening cicadas echoed through Hinamizawa, a remote mountain village far from the city. The bright, lively voices of the 'Club Members' – Keiichi, Rena, Mion, Satoko, Rika, and Shion – echoed through Hinamizawa today. Amidst this, Rika occasionally showed a sad expression. It was because the annual June festival, 'Watanagashi', was approaching. The tragedy that has repeated for the past four years on the festival day. The 'Hinamizawa Disaster Syndrome', where one person dies and one goes missing each year. The tragedy will occur again this year. Rika knew everything. The beginning, and the end... Can the chain of repeating tragedies be broken?

┃Related Information

[Credits and Rights Notations Related to This Release] ・Higurashi: When They Cry: ©2006 Ryukishi07 / Higurashi: When They Cry Production Committee ・Higurashi: When They Cry Kai: ©2007 Ryukishi07 / Hinamizawa Gosanke

[Related Links] ●Nico Nico: https://www.nicovideo.jp/ ●N Anime: https://anime.nicovideo.jp/ ●New Anime List: https://anime.nicovideo.jp/period/now.html ●Free Anime: https://anime.nicovideo.jp/free/

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