The first of four appearances by Japanese actor Mako, 1933-2006. He plays a different character each time.
The song being sung by Captain Spalding (Oh Tokyo) has the original title "North Korea Blues". The song was composed by Wainwright himself.
This is the first time Captain Spalding (the singing surgeon (played by Loudon Wainwright III) is shown. He is shown at the beginning and end of the episode singing "Oh Tokyo"
This is the fiftieth (50th) episode of M*A*S*H.
The character Captain Spaulding is an homage to the Groucho Marx character of the same name (as written) from the movie Animal Crackers. Alan Alda is a well-known fan of the Marx Brothers.