A genetically engineered windup of Japanese origin who straddles the line between human and robot. Originally brought to Bangkok as an interpreter and secretary, she was abandoned by her patron due to high travel costs. She possesses biological perfections like immense speed and immunity to human diseases but suffers from overheating because her skin lacks pores. Enduring profound abuse at a gentleman's club, she yearns to escape her degrading life to find a rumored sanctuary in the North.

An American businessman operating a factory in Bangkok that develops energy sources. In reality, he is a calorie man secretly working for AgriGen to procure disease-resistant genetic material from the heavily guarded Thai seedbank. Driven by ambition and profit, his calculated corporate maneuvers become complicated by his growing sexual and emotional attraction to Emiko.

A Malayan Chinese refugee living as a yellow card immigrant in Bangkok. Once the prosperous owner of a shipping fleet, he lost everything during political upheavals and now works as Anderson's secretary. Deeply paranoid and determined, he actively schemes to steal factory blueprints to rebuild his lost empire.

A dedicated officer in the Ministry of Environment widely known as the Tiger of Bangkok. He fiercely enforces quarantine laws to protect the Thai Kingdom from crop plagues. While operating in a system heavily influenced by bribes, he strives to remain ethical and takes tremendous risks to punish corrupt smugglers.

A dour and capable officer in the white shirt corps who serves directly under Jaidee. She harbors deep emotional scars from a childhood raid that destroyed her village. Her position forces her to balance genuine respect for her commander with hidden, conflicting loyalties to rival political factions.

The ambitious leader of the Ministry of Trade who champions business expansion regardless of environmental hazards. He maneuvers to increase foreign commerce and aggressively tries to undermine the authority of the white shirts. He frequently plots with Western calorie men and royal guards to consolidate his power.

An American expatriate who runs the Ploenchit, a seedy gentleman's club. He provides Emiko a precarious form of shelter by bribing officials to ignore her illegal presence. However, he violently exploits her labor and resents her occasional flashes of independence.

A legendary genetic engineer formerly associated with AgriGen who survived a supposed fatal fire. Suffering from severe disease, he lives in seclusion while single-handedly maintaining the Thai Kingdom's defenses against mutating agricultural plagues. He holds deeply cynical views on humanity's survival and admires the genetic purity of windups.

The formidable leader of the Ministry of Environment and top commander of the white shirts. He fiercely opposes foreign trade expansion and enforces the quarantines. He relies on political pragmatism, utilizing both fear and discipline to manage his officers and protect his department's standing.

A shadowy and highly influential figure who operates as the true power behind the Child Queen's throne. He commands absolute deference from both citizens and officials. Known for his brutal political tactics and personal debauchery, he strictly monitors any foreign attempts to access Thai resources.

A corrupt Western shipping magnate whose illegal imports regularly violate the Environment Ministry's strict regulations. He collaborates with other foreigners to bypass customs inspections and frequently meets with powerful Thai officials to secure profitable commerce agreements.

A windup girl attached to a Japanese technology firm. She is delicate, swift, and strictly obedient to her programming. She exhibits traditional Japanese discipline and helps illustrate the broader nature of the genetically engineered New People.

The wife of Captain Jaidee. She carries the physical scars of her husband's dangerous career, having lost fingers in a past conflict. She lives with constant anxiety that his uncompromising ideals will bring violence upon their family.

A young Thai girl working in the SpringLife factory. She is clever, observant, and resilient. Despite the heavy ethnic tensions between Thai citizens and yellow cards, she forms a tentative bond with the factory's Malayan secretary.

A wealthy, powerful figure who controls the slum towers where the marginalized yellow cards reside. Living in relative opulence above the squalor, he acts as an underworld power broker who demands heavy tributes for his favors.

A female performer and enforcer at the Ploenchit club. She actively encourages the abuse of windups, leading wealthy clients in mocking and tormenting the club's main attraction for their own entertainment.

The crude but practical right-hand man to the Dung Lord. He serves as an intermediary for those seeking an audience with his powerful boss.

The head of Mishimoto & Co., a Japanese tech firm in Bangkok. He maintains a cooperative relationship with Thai authorities while utilizing windup labor for translation and service.

A ladyboy companion who attends to Gibbons. He offers the aging geneticist comfort and companionship in his heavily isolated, disease-ridden compound.