Among "The Man in the High Castle" production design team and producers there was much debate about what the Smith home should look like. How would a top figure within the Reich, someone at Smith's level and stature, live? Because Smith is an idealist and believes the national socialism of the Nazi party is improving America, he would live with a sense of humility. A classic upper middle class American home reflects his belief in a more reserved, orderly society. The interior color palette of the living room is drawn from that of the Luftwaffe uniform (grey) and the dining room drawn from Hitler's camel colored jacket.
An "Honorary Aryan" was a term bestowed on those to certify them as part of the Aryan race, if they were not biologically so. Hitler granted the Japanese, "Honorary Aryans" and he believed that the racial superiority they believed for themselves was true. This greatly improved German-Japanese relations throughout the war.
The Three Monkeys proverb originates from a carving in the Nikko Tosho-hu Shrine in Japan, believed to have been carved in the 17th Century by Hidari Jongoro. It depicts three monkeys sitting in a row, one covering its eyes, one its mouth and the other, its ears, widely translated as 'see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil'. It is thought to incorporate ideas from the Chinese philosopher Confucius' Code of Conduct.
Legend has it that Italian monks first made pretzels in 610 AD by folding dough into the shape of crossing one's arms in prayer. These were then given to children in reward for saying their prayers. Germany became the country most associated with pretzels because children would wear necklaces in the shape of pretzels during New Year celebrations for good luck for the coming year. In the world of "The Man in the High Castle," the Greater Nazi Reich would have adopted them as their favorite snack.
"Kaddish," the mourner's prayer, is said in honor of the deceased, and has been recited for over 2000 years. Normally there would be ten people present to recite the Kaddish. Reciting the Kaddish is one of Judaism's Mitzvahs - a true act of kindness. For a deceased parent, the Kaddish is recited daily for 11 months. For a spouse, child or sibling it is recited for 30 days.