But the alt history goes in part with the setting. If you're taking it out of the history you're effectively taking the series out of its roots in historical fantasy, which is one of the things that the series does really well.

It also lets players know what's allowed and what's available. Like, the Showa period wasn't very long ago at all. In that period we had: The NES, Super Mario, Godzilla, Ghibli, Kamen Rider, karaoke, and of course, the birth of Japanese Pro Wrestling.

If Japan is imperial after the Taisho era, however, there are plenty of implications and I really want answers as to what happened because maybe they pertain to my character. If it is in the Showa era, what year is it? What is Japan's foreign policy at this time?