Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai, Episode 22 : Analysis, Thoughts, and Random Comments

[Disclaimer]: This entry might contain MINOR spoilers. However, while the analysis might push you to these minorspoilers, NO foretelling spoiler is present. Therefore, please follow the same guideline, and understand that any spoiler can just ruin this critical part of the story for any reader. (NO spoiler will be tolerated. Any borderline hint either. Don’t even try to test me, instant edit/delete might fall without your permission. You have been WARNED). Good reading!
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Matsuribayashi-hen Analyses: [Makuake], [Trap], [48 jikan]

Be sure to have watched the episode before reading this!

Today, I will focus mainly on the following points:

1. Offense and Defense
2. Miracle
   
3. Random Thing: more original BGM
   

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[Analysis]

I. Offense and Defense

Since the club members are forced to hold on until Tomitake call forth reinforcements, they have to shelter themselves in a safe haven. Unfortunately, considering how the police is full with either Ooishi investigating on the spies and the rest monitoring the festival, the amount of allies is drastically cut short.
The same goes for the Sonozaki, who could barely help them against the spy Otaka. At least, Kasai and Shion are present, but considering the duty of the gosanke, pretty much the rest of the family is either at the festival, or taking care of some shabby affairs (Think about money scam such like Rina’s).

As mentioned by Okonogi, the Sonozaki are quite rich, considering the large lands they own. Consequently, the possibility to invade this area is quite harder. This is also an excellent “castle” considering the reinforced doors, the hidden basement working like a maze, the ressources (armory, etc) and so forth.

Unfortunately, that stronghold is far from being flawless. As you could see and might expect, being isolated in a reinforced place forces you to withstand a defensive position. Their goal is to actually survive until they can fight back. Thanks to Irie, they actually know that Tomitake was taken into Takano’s custody, and therefore, waiting for reinforcements would be a moot point.
Consequently, their goal is obviously switched to pure endurance, as they have to strike back the Yamainu’s weakness before they are crushed. Since they can’t presumptuouly attack full force during brightday, the Yamainu are obviously restricted to a specific margin of action and scheldule (considering the festival).

Therefore, if the club members can actually repell their first wave, they can obviously have some break, and so retaliate before Takano’s next move.
Ironically, the siege is also lessened because of the festival: even though the mainhouse of the Sonozaki is not that close to the Furude Shrine, it is sure around the surroundings, and therefore, the Yamainu cannot act much outdoors.

This is actually the reason why they don’t use their weapons recklessly, most likely due the discretion required.
Wonder why Akasaka could beat them without much worry? it is exactly for this reason: they can’t use their firearms brightday. And before you ask: none of them would actually expect to be attacked outside considering their position and timing.
Akasaka took them completely off guard, and it is basically their only weakness: their conceit position and the surroundings.
As demonstrated with the indoor explosive uses, they had to cover the noise with the Fireworks show around 10AM. Therefore, the use of firearms is suicide, as they would obviously draw the attention of the police, until they use these on the inner grounds or downright inside.
Furthermore, the brawl was intense… Imagine if the Yamainu men did a mistake and hurts or even kills Rika with a stray bullet? That would completely ruin Takano’s plan right instantly. And this is quite a possible reality: either Akasaka going too reckless, and so his movements disrupt their aim. Or another possibility: his attempt to disarm them might deal collateral damage on Rika.

As you can see, the siege wasn’t perfectly prepared, and this is because of the “Operation 48 hours”, which forced the Yamainu to assault them instead of preparing a proper plan to take them down.

II. Miracle

Rika was on the verge of giving up everything, after all this hardship. Why is that? Well… The world wouldn’t be the same for her if Shion or Kasai are dead. Even though she cannot save the previous victims of the “curse”, Rika refuses to live on, at the expense of her precious persons. This looks a bit conflicting with Minagoroshi-hen. However, as I wrote in the analysis 13, Rika was literaly crushed by Keiichi’s death and refused to live on if Keiichi is lost.
The problem is exactly the same, and it is worse considering it is the last world, the last chance for her happiness, for everyone’s happiness.

This is where Hanyuu acted correctly, as Rika was taking everything as granted. The hardship in the previous worlds are not something to be counterbalanced with “fortune”. Rather, the past worlds already gave fruits: how to create a miracle.
The pieces already proved that a strong will is a powerful catalyst which can alterate fate altogether.

Rika finally realized what is the most important thing: not to wait for any miracle to come as granted and “offered”. Rather, to take any opportunity, any probability for her. How is she supposed to live on if she sacrifice people around her? Not only it is against her own happiness, but it is surely not a guarantee of survival either. Basing to her own experience, she obviously know that Takano have to follow a specific method to kill her. So she “gambles” on it, as it might expand their range of actions. Rika didn’t expected any miraculous rescue, but rather, she increased the amount of possible way to rescue her.

Considering how they were trapped like rats, waiting for anything wouldn’t do any good, especially that the Yamainu are kept aware of any trap. Thus, betting on the possibilities was the best move on the long run. And this is actually how Akasaka could take the opportunity.
Any further guerrilla or hide-and-seek would obviously bring casualties or even loss on her side, and Akasaka would still be completely locked, due the situation on the yamainu’s side.

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For the last time, Fate of June 1983 is resumed
…the struggle against fate continues
as she gambled everything on her sacrifice…

…her safety was granted…for now…

Now… Doom is inevitable? Will everyone be happy?
This is your decision to witness the possible arrival of a miracle…
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai continues…

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[Random Thing]

 

As promised, more BGM are uploaded by your faithfully yours.
Akasaka’s batshit scene was excellent, despite some quality issues. The true problem was of course the BGM, which were quite dull… However, here I come, and trust me, it worth it ^^

[Niconico video]: This video captures much better how the feelings were given in Akasaka’s scene. The scene was originally much longer, especially with direct reference to Piece #51. If you want more information, please read Rias’ comments on AS ([1] [2]). Same goes for Shion and Irie scene, where Kawai Kenji’s track was HORRIBLY dull, compared to the marvelous transition of BGM in the original game.
Here are the BGM used in it:

• Akasaka intervenes:
  you – destructive (by dai)
  

• When Akasaka prepares himself before dealing the “true punch” to Okonogi, the BGM is silent, with some wind SFX, and then a huge thunder crash noise when his punch connects on the car.
  

• This BGM was used when Irie checks up Shion, while they discuss a bit
  amber (by 朱月笛丸)
  

• When Irie announces Satoshi is alive
  ふたり。 ひとり。(Futari Hitori by Dai)
  

And since I was late and I didn’t want to serve that without an extra bonus, here are the BGM for the last struggle in Minagoroshi-hen.
First, here is the whole scene from the PS2 game, as I already posted it in the Analysis 13
「山狗ターン」, on nico nico douga.

Now, here is the link how the anime would be with the true BGM.
[Anime version]
Note that Cross-Examination isn’t played at the start since the “anime” video occurs later in the time line. It would be played if the video has shown Satoko fleeing with Rika.
Also, please note the author forgot to use 一重 for Keiichi’s scene, s/he only used 嘘 for the wholme thing.

• Club Members against the Yamainu:
  Fearlessness (by dai)
  

• Keiichi’s is shot down… everyone is astonished in silence, then his dying speech.
  一重 (Ichi juu by dai)
  

• When Rena yells everyone to run away (in the original game, it is after the time stop, when Takano barges in, and killing everyone one by one)
  嘘 (uso by Dai)
  

• This BGM occurs when Rika decides to face her death consciously against Takano, while Hanyuu is supporting her, crying.
  conviction (by dai)
  

• The last BGM is the pinnacle: when Rika claims she won’t forget, and so, when Hanyuu claims she won’t either, and everyone appears before them, sharing the same wish.
  you (by dai)
  

The original anime BGM might be quite distracting with the mix. I guess you should probably try to listen to these aside. But they are really masterpieces… it is quite a shame they didn’t use them… (this might be a reason why I would wish that Kyoto Animation would do the adaptation. Not essentially for the visual quality, but certainly because they use original BGM in their adaptations >_>).

I hope you enjoyed these… That is the surprise I prepared for you… I might plan others, though it is a bit hard considering what is left ^^”

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Quite late entry, but I really wanted to find something despite how I’m horribly busy these days (had to write up an essay/report of my studies stage, and some preparations for the incoming exams). Still, I hope it was worth the wait for you all.
Don’t hesitate to request something specific, I might find a way to do so (though, as you might expect, no warez. Hosting such BGM with a online player is the max I can do about such things. So no link for download either BGM or game itself, that’s a given).