 The character Yggdrasills name is taken from Norse Mythology.  According to the Norse, the Yggdrasill was the giant ash tree which  connected the three worlds, Asgard (land of the gods), Midgard (land  of the mortals), and Niflheim (the underworld). In the game, the  giant Kharlan tree has a similar function, being a "link that  connects the world." Furthermore, an identical tree appears in the  seriess first game, Tales of Phantasia, under the name  "Yggdrasill."