It turns out that the new Higurashi anime’s title, Higurashi: When They Cry – NEW, isn’t its real title.
Funimation revealed in a blog post that the anime is actually called Higurashi: When They Cry – GOU, with the initial title deception being an intentional move. The meaning behind the title remains a mystery, but Funimation offered a hint by writing, “Gou, or 業, is a Japanese kanji that has multiple meanings and usages, but can be used to mean karma, or the fate resulting from one’s actions in past lives, based on Buddhist concepts.”
In addition, a new key visual was released that raised even more questions. In the center of the key visual are two Rikas — the young one that fans will recognize, and an older teenage-looking one.
What this all means will undoubtedly be revealed as the series progresses. But at the moment, it looks like Higurashi: When They Cry – GOU could either be a sequel of sorts or a Final Fantasy VII Remake-esque take on the original story. Either way, this is certainly an unexpected turn of events.
Source: Funimation
