The film does not feature LGBTQ+ characters or explore non-cisnormative identities. The story focuses on the protagonist's immediate familial and social ecosystem within a traditional Taisho-era setting.

The narrative centers a young female protagonist in a position of significant professional and communal responsibility. Okko's growth from a grieving child to a capable leader subverts traditional hierarchies that often relegate young girls to secondary roles.

As a culturally specific Japanese production, the film presents a homogeneous ethnic cast. It provides authentic immersion into Japanese folklore, using yokai as a metaphorical layer for exploring the coexistence of the 'other.'

The film focuses on the complexities of grief and the coexistence of the mundane and supernatural. It respects traditional Japanese institutions while critiquing the rigidity of social integration through Okko's personal struggles.

The film offers a nuanced portrayal of invisible disability by focusing on psychological trauma and grief. It treats Okko's emotional dysregulation with depth, avoiding tropes by focusing on the difficult process of psychological integration.