@Zeroblade: The use of Seika works in the author’s favour in that respect. Using a name that could have conceivably become the current nengou makes the idea of a parallel universe all the more credible.

@Legionarion Conquistadorz: Under the right conditions, anime could be a great learning tool (not that we can count on any Ministry of Education taking that line!). One moment I was reading a header article on the Mainichi’s website, the next moment I was scratching my head thinking “Where have I heard the word Seika before?”. And before you know it, I’m off on a detective’s quest to dig out the facts. Of course, for as long as the emphasis is on sad girls in snow, buxom ladies and sword-induced decapitations anime’s appeal to parents as an instrument for education will remain very limited.