The location used for the Kodai Family's home is the James-tei house in Kobe city. It is a house dating back to the 1930's.
In the manga Kie is 2 years older than Mitsumasa, she is 29 and he is 27.
Charlotte Kate Fox acts as Anne Kodai. She is from America but portrays a British character. Charlotte Kate Fox became famous in Japan after acting in Massan, a morning TV drama.
The story is based in the Yokohama and Kamakura areas of Japan. Kamakura is famous as a high class residential area. Many shots in the movie are from these areas with additional locations in Kobe being used too.