Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones household, family and friends
Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones	Only child, eight and one-quarter years old
Cecelia Highton-Smith	Alice-Miranda’s mother
Hugh Kennington-Jones	Alice-Miranda’s father
Dolly Oliver	Family cook, part-time inventor
Mrs Shillingsworth	Head housekeeper
Aunt Charlotte Highton-Smith	Cecelia’s younger sister
Lawrence Ridley	Aunt Charlotte’s husband and a famous actor
Lucas Ridley	Lawrence’s son
Millicent Jane McLoughlin-McTavish-McNoughton-McGill	Alice-Miranda’s best friend
Jacinta Headlington-Bear	Friend
Pippa McLoughlin-McTavish	Millie’s mother
Hamish McNoughton-McGill	Millie’s father
Ambrosia Headlington-Bear	Jacinta’s mother
Others
Aki	Hotel receptionist
Kiko	Runaway eleven-year-old
Hatsuko	Kiko’s aunt
Jimmu	Kiko’s father
Yuki and Yamato	Hatsuko’s assistants
Michiko	Fashion designer in Harajuku
Obaasan	An old woman
Tatsu	Obaasan’s son
Taro	Tatsu’s son
Kenzo Aoki	Old student friend of Hugh’s
Professor Dimble	An inventor
Nobu Taguchi	Representative from the Japanese Ministry for Invention and Innovation