 SPOILER: The show often references real events and personalities  from the era of the Meiji Restoration, such as the aforementioned  Saitoh. Another such reference is in the Kyoto Arc, and surrounds  Makoto Shishiohs final plans to burn down Kyoto and Tokyo to  overthrow the Meiji government. It explicitly follows a alleged  failed plot by Imperial supporters in June 1864 to burn down Kyoto  and cause major havoc in an attempt to fatally embarrass the  Tokugawa Shogunate.