The character "Ambassador Morishima" is modeled after Japanese animation executive Tsuneyuki Morishima of Studio Pierrot, Tsuburaya, and Sony Pictures, Japan. In "The Sword of Yurikawa," Yurikawa refers to a legendary character in Japan which is a combination of a favorite minister of an early Japanese emperor and the stories of Ulysees which were brought to Japan from Europe in the 16th century. (Folk Legends of Japan, R. M. Dorson; Chs. E. Tuttle Co., Publishers, 1972)