1) Why is it that most of the Japanese names on the 4Kids show (especially Usagi Yojimbo characters) are so grossly mispronounced?
I suspect it's because none of the writers or voice actors actually
speak Japanese. I know none of us at Mirage do.
2) Likewise, why are Leonardo's weapons referred to as katana blades
(obviously a samurai's weapon), when they are both ninjato, or ninja
swords? Was this another representation of Peter & Kevin getting
something wrong early on (like the spelling of Michelangelo) that just
stuck?
Yup. It's an old error that's never been corrected, and at this point,
it probably never will be. When Kevin and Peter created the TMNT it was
done as a parody of popular comics of the time. Eastman and Laird
weren't students of the martial arts - thus they got their info from
other comics, and unfortunately those comics had incorrect information.
3) In Volume 4, Splinter-Sensei calls Stainless Steve "Steven", then
in a later issue, refers to him as "Stephen". Since my name is Steven,
I know that the name isn't interchangable with the alternate spelling
on a whim.
Unfortunately typos happen (especially when the editor is also the
writer).
4) I was reading through some of the older issues of Volume 1 (when
the TMNT met the Triceratons) and recognized several names, including
Prime Leader Zanramon and Commander Mozar (who, if I'm not mistaken -
but I could be - isn't actually seen). However, I didn't see Traximus
in the comics. Was he a creation of 4Kids, or did I just skip over his
name?
He was created for the cartoon series.
5) In TMNT Mutant Melee, I unlocked several concept arts by Mike
Dooney of action figures. Some figures there are labeled such as "Dimension X CEO", "Gorilla Mutant", and other such names that invoked
memories of the older cartoon series. I thought perhaps they were old,
unused designs. However, the section was named "Future Toys"... what
exactly is the deal with that? Are these really throwbacks to TMNT's past?
I'm afraid I don't know, I haven't seen any of that stuff.
Thanks for writing!
Cheers!
Dan Berger
Mirage Studios' Official Web Dude
http://www.ninjaturtles.com 
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