When the character played by Toshiro Mifune sees two children playing with stick swords, he calls them out by their names "Toshiro" and "Akira", a reference to himself and director Akira Kurosawa, who directed Mifune in 16 films.
Toshiro Mifunes penultimate film role
Originally scheduled to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 1994 but was withdrawn at the filmmakers' request and instead premiered the following year.