#tessalations

- He came up with the idea while having tea with an anime industry person, saying "I wish I could make it an anime again" and they responded with "If it's a remake, why not transform it into a new work in the middle?"

“So I started coming up with new ideas for Higurashi.

- It wasn't what he originally envisioned. He wanted to respond to fans that said that they want to "erase their memory and read Higurashi for the first time again". Making it a different story would serve that purpose.

- When asked if he found it hard to write Higurashi again, he said they were "back in his heart immediately".

- When asked about why Satoko is the protagonist, he says it's because Satoko was much like a "damsel in distress" in Tatarigoroshi with Keiichi being the "prince", so he wanted Satoko to be a real protagonist now. He wanted to really dig deeper into Satoko's mind this time.

Interviewer: Satoko has grown into quite an unexpectedly impulsive child... R07: Ahaha, right. I've already shown the duality of Rena and Shion, so I wasn't sure if Satoko's shift would surprise anyone, but I'm happy it did.

- He said the director and animators understand him well, coming up with suggestions that he already had in mind and only had to correct a bit. He felt as if he'd bought 200 kg of tuna (expensive lol) and handed it over to the animators, and they did a great job with it (as a chef would).

Interviewer: Akio Watanabe's character designs sure are nice, they feel fresh yet nostalgic. R07: Yes, I wanted someone who could make Satoko look as good as possible. (especially fangs)

- The voice cast is the same to create a sense of familiarity. He did not inform them about the plot beforehand, and Hanyuu's seiyuu Horie Yui was shocked that she appeared in episode 2, saying "isn't it too early for me to appear?"

- He did not tell Yukari Tamura (Rika's seiyuu) about her role, but he did consult Mika Kanai (Satoko) and told her "it'll be quite tough to act Satoko this time".

Interviewer: All episodes are broadcast on TV, and people are making a lot of theories. How do you feel about it? R07: I think it's the ideal way to experience Higurashi. Back in 2006, it wasn't quite so easy to access social networking services.  I think it's great we live in a time where exchanging opinions casually is easy.

Interviewer: There are certainly many people watching it, from core fans to first-timers. R07: That makes me very happy. Higurashi was always meant to be less of a traditional mystery all about the murderers and the tricks they used, and more about the investigation and process itself. However, when it first aired, it really was seen as a game of guessing. I appreciate discussing our opinions and communicating over seeking what is the right or wrong answer.

R07: "I think social media has changed the way we enjoy content, and while it makes me happy there are people who are seriously thinking about (the logistics), I'm happy there are many ways to enjoy it.

- He says there are people who already have it all figured out, but whether or not your theory is right or wrong, the most important thing is to have fun while thinking about it. Wrong or not, it is a wonderful thing.

- He loves the old Higurashi anime and appreciates what Studio DEEN did, and does not want people to compare them and say "I liked this better" nor to make them uncomfortable.

- On the connection of Higurashi and Umineko: "I think people easily misunderstand it. Higurashi is a work that is complete within itself, you don't need Umineko to enjoy it. It's just that when you add Umineko to it, it may give you a new interesting perspective to think about.

- They compare it to Osamu Tezuka's "Phoenix". They are independent stories, but the same characters appear in the stories. In his head, they are a connected integrated world, but that's just how he views it. So, Umineko is not necessary, but of course, he would like you to read all of his works.

- He discusses how things go differently between the characters in the arcs, a tragedy occurs nonetheless, ie. Keiichi handing the doll over to Mion but things going awry regardlses. It's all original from Nekodamashi-hen on. He likens the end of the anime to how Matsuribayashi explains how Takano came to be the way she is, but this time, it explains Satoko's perspective. He says Satoko is certainly a hindrance to the future Rika wants, but he wants you to try and understand her emotions.

- The themes of the previous games were communication and relying on your friends, but this time, he does not want to reveal the themes out loud.

- He says the series is not over, and that he would love to expand on it if he ever came up with more Higurashi related ideas.

- One idea for a new story is Keiichi's children.

I know about you, but who am I? The sound of laughter and screams,  what else do you wish for? Miserably fighting amidst all the lies and traps,  who do you trust? The cry of the seagulls resounded.

Now, let’s begin the feast, I won’t let you escape from here. The truth sunk to the bottom of the ocean a long time ago. The paradigm of the past and the future, and the spiral of loving and hating. Who will have the last laugh...? It’s a lonely epilogue someone can create.

If I know about myself, in that case, who are you? What is the price of having feelings without a form? The color of love was dyed gold, and eventually, one day, it set fire to the flames of greed. 

My train of thought has already stopped, it will no longer move, and in order to fill in that gap, a dark shadow creeps in. The paradigm of the past and the future, and the spiral of loving and hating. Dance in the palm of my hand, and once everything is over, I wonder what will be left?

Nothing but sadness can be heard in this world, and if you listen carefully, a sad laughter can be heard.

A voice that cries out, a voice that begs for forgiveness, a voice that prays to God.

You laughed a bit, just for a while.

Nothing but sadness can be seen in this world, and if you take a good look, it’s full of people with pained expressions.

People who cry out, people who beg for forgiveness, people who seek God.

You laughed a bit, just for a while.

These eyes can no longer see anything. These ears can no longer hear anything. This mouth can no longer speak anything. Can no longer... Can no longer... Can no longer...

Doing nothing is the same as dying, I can't do anything, so I just wait. There's nothing there, nothing at all.

Nothing but hate is transmitted to this world, there's nothing here but pitiful people who have shut off their hearts.

Feeling nothing, giving up on everything, fearing God.

You laughed a bit, just for a while.

These hands can no longer touch anything. These legs can no longer walk anywhere. This skin can no longer feel the wind. Can no longer... Can no longer... Can no longer...

Doing nothing is in fact, death,  I can do nothing, because I just continue to wait. There’s nothing there, nothing at all.

The yellow-green earth is swaying, the purple sky is swaying, the red sea is swaying. It's a paradise where everything is forgiven, even for the sinful "us", with the Ten Commandments engraved in our hearts...

Even if nothing but sadness can be heard in this world, if you listen very carefully, a sad laughter can be heard.

A will to live, a forgiving voice, and a mother's love.