Chapter 1

[1] Japanese citizens can vote at 18 years of age, but are not considered adults until they reach 20. The voting age was reduced from 20 to 18 in 2016.

[2]  Refers to the Costco Wholesale retail shop in Iruma, Japan.

Chapter 4

[3] Gosetsu (五節) are a set of five festivals celebrated in Japan.

[4]  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokorozawa_Aviation_Memorial_Park

[5] Referring to the Kameya Eisen sweets shop. http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2016/04/history-with-sweet-potato-kameya-eisen-sweets-maker-kawagoe.html

[6] Echigoya is an oft-used name in period dramas for corrupt merchants who bribe officials to get what they want. http://kyouki.hatenablog.com/entry/2014/08/31/212641