Sasameki Koto (TV)

In ep 3, Sumika Murasame resembles Sunako Nakahara from the anime The Wallflower, when she stands in front of the skeleton (Josephine) and an anatomical figure (Hiroshi-kun).

In episode 1, the book that Kazama replaces on the shelves in the library, and pauses to dwell on, is Ugetsu Monogatari ("Tales of Moonlight and Rain"), an 18th century collection of ghost stories, written by Ueda Akinari. A perennial favourite with Japanese readers, the stories tend to focus on emotional themes, with occasionally deep psychological plots.

In episode 1, the book that Murasame Sumika returns to the library is Kaze Tachinu ("The Wind Has Risen", 1936-1937), written by Hori Tatsuo. The book is more or less a Japanese counterpart to Thomas Mann's brilliant Der Zauberberg ("The Magic Mountain", 1912-1924), but less captivating than Mann. Both stories deal with the psychological states of inmates at a tuberculosis sanitorium.

In episode 5 at around 16:28, the 2 characters on the cover of the book written by Kazama's elder brother bear a striking resemblance to Yumi and Sachiko from Maria Watches Over Us, a very popular "yuri" series. The book is also being read by Aoi in the anime in episode 8.

In episode 6, Sumika's triplet brothers resembles Ryu from Streetfighter.

In episode 6, Sumika's housekeeper Hayasumi Noe comes into Sumika's room to ask what they would like for dinner. Seeing the two girls struggling, she playfully suggests osekihan, and Sumika reacts with embarrassment. This dish, sticky rice steamed with azuki beans to give it a red colour, is usually eaten on festive occasions -- and especially when a young woman gets her first period. In other words, it is associated with "becoming a woman", hence Sumika's reaction.

In episode 7, the three fat otaku who Sumiko runs into in the alley attack her with the "Jet Stream" attack. This is a direct reference to Mobile Suit Gundam, in which 3 Dom type mobile suits would attack in the same fashion.