* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: In episode 41 of the original anime, there is a brief crossover with ''Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow''. No, [[https://calva-kun.tumblr.com/post/625370723638181888/in-episode-41-of-the-1978-1979-anime-adaptation-of really ]].
* ChannelHop: The '70s anime was originally run on the Creator/TVAsahi network (the production station was Creator/AsahiBroadcastingCorporation in Osaka). It was rerun in the 1980s on Creator/TVTokyo and in the early 2000s on NHK-[=BS2=].
* FridgeHorror: [[spoiler: Shingo, Tamaki]], you guys should have really NOT [[spoiler: moved to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchuria#History_after_1860 Manchuria]]...]]
* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The 1978 anime achieved mediocre ratings in Japan despite its cult-classic status, but is much loved in Italy, where it was known as ''Mademoiselle Anne'', and was popular enough for the original manga to eventually get released there.
* HarsherInHindsight:
** Halfway during the series, Tsumeko's stomping is compared to [[spoiler: the 1923's Great Kanto Earthquake]]. In the finale the [[spoiler: Great Kanto Earthquake]] actually happens and [[spoiler: destroys Tokyo]].
** The WhamEpisode [[spoiler: and BittersweetEnding]] of the manga involves [[spoiler: Tokyo being destroyed by 1923's Kanto Earthquake]]. Flashforward to March 2011...
* SignatureScene: The early scene in which Benio wearing her IconicOutfit[[note]]a kimono with arrow fletch motif called ''yagasuri'', a maroon ''hakama'', a big ribbon tying her half-up hair[[/note]] rides a bicycle amids CherryBlossoms. Perhaps the most memorable image of the franchise despite lasting barely two pages in the original manga. The scene itself was probably based on the "cherry garden" print in a Taisho-era flyer sample book ([[https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/1682622 see here at page 99]]).
* SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome: In the 2017 film, Benio does a report on how a storehouse is holding rice while the people are starving. Benio decides to not stand by and breaks in, allowing people to take food and she holds of five police officers ''by herself with only a bamboo pole'' before she is arrested. Tousei hires her after he bails her out.
* TheWoobie: Larissa and Shinobu's grandmother are ''made'' of Woobie material. [[spoiler: Benio]] later becomes this, and finally evolves into IronWoobie.
* {{Woolseyism}}: In the 2017 film when Benio starts to take care of the Iijyuin, she tells Ranmaru to "be the man you were meant to be". The English dub changes this to a line about Ranmaru to become an actor.