Orphan boy's Japanese father found

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Orphan boy's Japanese father found

  • Published: 16/05/2009 at 10:43 AM
  • Online news:

The Japanese embassy in Thailand reported to Thai officials orphan boy Keigo Zato’s long-lost Japanese father has been found.

Phichit governor Somchai Hatayatanti joined the boy and his aunt on Saturday morning to announce the development to the media.

The story of nine-year-old Keigo Zato has recently received wide publicity. The boy has been trying to find his Japanese father Katzumi Zato, by showing his photo to tourists who visit a temple in Phichit and asking if they know of him.

His mother died after a long battle with disease. The boy now lives with his aunt and paralysed grandfather. They had to struggle day to day to make ends meet.

The boy was selling fish food to tourists at the temple as usual on the morning the news broke. He had become an attraction himself as many visitors who knew of his story asked to have their photos with him.

Governor Somchai said the boy’s father would not yet come to Thailand as he did not want to draw attention. He was arranging, through the Japanese embassy, for the boy and father to talk via video chat.

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  • Peter

    Discussion 3 : 17/05/2009 at 01:11 PM3

    How about searching for the hundreds of thousands of Thai fathers who father then abandon children each year; children who are then farmed out to elderly relatives so that their mothers can work in the fields, factories or in the entertainment industry. No PR for people in positions of authority in that I guess.

  • Glenn

    Discussion 2 : 16/05/2009 at 11:52 PM2

    I'm afraid this may not really be a happy ending. Why did the father go away in the first place? Why no contact with the boy before now? Will this man actually take responsibility for his child?

  • wantmymoney

    Discussion 1 : 16/05/2009 at 05:58 PM1

    You have more of this real life story of common people, of the struggle they face everyday while the rich continue to fight driving the country into the abysis. If you want to unite the people with the country report more heart touching story. At least this boy has found his father and I hope that will be the end of story, leave them alone to live their life. Hopefully no politician would use this for personal political gain.

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