The English cover of the first volume of the Higurashi When They Cry manga released by Yen Press on November 18, 2008 in North America.
The manga series Higurashi When They Cry is written by Ryukishi07 and illustrated by several different manga artists working separately on one to three of multiple story arcs primarily based on the Higurashi no Naku Koro nivisual novel series by 07th Expansion. The first manga, an adaptation of Onikakushi-hen, was serialized in the manga magazineGangan Powered published by Square Enix between March 24, 2005 and March 22, 2006, illustrated by Karin Suzuragi, who also draws the manga adaptation of Tsumihoroboshi-hen which was serialized in Gangan Powered between June 22, 2006 and April 22, 2008, and Matsuribayashi-hen which started serialization in Gangan Powered on June 21, 2008. Yutori Hōjō draws the adaptations of Watanagashi-hen, which was serialized in Gangan Wing between April 26, 2005 and March 26, 2006 published by Square Enix, and Meakashi-hen which was serialized in Gangan Wing between June 26, 2006 and February 26, 2008. Jirō Suzuki illustrates the adaptation of Tatarigoroshi-hen which was serialized in GFantasy between May 18, 2005 and May 18, 2006, published by Square Enix. Yoshiki Tonogai illustrates the adaptation of Himatsubushi-hen and was serialized in Monthly Shōnen Gangan between January 12, 2006 and October 12, 2006, published by Square Enix. Hanase Momoyama illustrates the adaptation of Minagoroshi-hen which was serialized in GFantasy between June 18, 2008 and June 18, 2010. Another manga entitled Kokoroiyashi-hen (心癒し編,Heart Healing Chapter?) and drawn by Yuna Kagesaki was serialized Kadokawa Shoten's Comp Ace between August 26, 2008[1] and February 26, 2009. Finally, Rechi Kazuki illustrates the adaptation of Hirukowashi-hen which was serialized in Gangan Online between March 26 and September 24, 2009.[2]
In addition to the main series, there are three side stories related to the main Higurashi story, but with new characters. The first, named Onisarashi-hen (鬼曝し編,Demon Exposing Chapter?), is drawn by En Kitō and was serialized between March 26, 2005 and September 26, 2006 in Comp Ace, published by Kadokawa Shoten. The next, entitled Yoigoshi-hen (宵越し編,Overnight Chapter?), is drawn by Mimori and was serialized between in GFantasy between June 18, 2006 and July 18, 2007. The last side story known as Utsutsukowashi-hen (現壊し編,Reality Breaking Chapter?) is also drawn by Kitō and was serialized between in Comp Ace between December 26, 2006 and June 26, 2007.
The chapters for the question arcs, Onikakushi-hen, Watanagashi-hen, Tatarigoroshi-hen, and Himatsubushi-hen were collected into two bound volumes each between December 2005 and December 2006 in Japan. The first two answer arcs, Meakashi-hen and Tsumihoroboshi-hen, were collected into four volumes each. Onisarashi-hen and Yoigoshi-hen were collected into two volumes each released in Japan between April 2006 and August 2007. Utsutsukowashi-hen was released in a single volume in December 2007 in Japan, and a single volume of Kokoroiyashi-hen was released in March 2009. Hirukowashi-hen was published in a single volume in December 2009. As of April 2010, 31 volumes have been released over the entire series.
Yen Press licensed the manga series at New York Comic Con 2008 under the title Higurashi When They Cry for release in English in North America.[3] The manga was initially serialized in Yen Press' Yen Plus anthology magazine, the first issue of which went on sale on July 29, 2008. The first English volume of the manga was originally planned to be sold in early 2009,[3] but was released in November 2008.[4]