The title Hana yori Dango, more correctly "Boys before Flowers", is a pun on a Japanese saying, "Dumplings before Flowers", "Hana yori Dango" lit. "dango (rice dumplings) rather than flowers"). "Dumplings before flowers" is a well-known Japanese expression that refers to people who attend Hanami, but rather than enjoying the beauty of the flowers, head straight for the food vendor booths, preferring tangible things like food and drink to the abstract appreciation of the flowers' beauty.
Based on a Manga by Kamio Yoko of the same name.
The ringtone of the gold-plated phone Domyoji gifts to Makino is from the Allegro con fuoco from Dvorak's New World Symphony.