Keigo's dad to arrive Oct 2

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Keigo's dad to arrive Oct 2

  • Published: 28/09/2009 at 03:26 PM
  • Online news:

Nine-year-old Keigo Zato's dream of meeting his never-seen Japanese father Katzumi will finally come true as he is expected to arrive in Thailand to see his son on Friday, Keigo's teacher Chaichana Sri-anucha said on Monday.

Mr Chaichana, who teaches Japanese at Anuban Vachira Phichit School in Phichit province, said he had been in contact with Keigo's father and had he learned that Katzumi planned to arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport on Oct 2 at 3.15pm on a Japan Airlines flight.

The language teacher has been coordinating Keigo's contact with his father.

After hearing of Katzumi's expected arrival, Mr Chaichana said he rushed to see Keigo at Anuban Thaluang Songkroh School with the good news.

Keigo was flooded with congratulations from his Grade 4 classmates.

The teacher said he will accompany Keigo  and his aunt Pattama Jatupit from Phichit to Suvarnabhumi airport to meet his father and help them converse.

Mr Chaichana said the boy planned to take his father to Wat Tha Luang in Muang district of Phichit to make merit for his mother, Monthathip, who died long ago, after Katzumi left for Japan.

Keigo captured the attention of the people all over the country when his story was widely published in newspapers and on television.

With a photo of Katzumi in his hand, the boy started his search for his father at Wat Tha Luang last year.  He would run up to  Japanese tourists, show them the photo and ask if they had ever seen his father.

With the help of the Japanese embassy in Bangkok, Keigo was able to talk to his father for the first time  on May 22.

Keigo lives with his aunt Pattama and paralysed Thai grandfather.

Relate Search: Keigo, father, Thailand, Japan

About the author

Writer: BangkokPost.com

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  • Thai Eye

    Discussion 10 : 28/09/2009 at 10:40 PM10

    It is presumably not the western model of "professional" journalism which is being urged upon the Bangkok Post, I trust.

    I detect the nauseating odour of sanctimony I do believe.

    The Bangkok Post does pretty well when it comes to fight the good fight. I shudder to think of the three ring circus and reality TV show, into which the "professional" western media would have turned little Keigo's story.

  • Privacy

    Discussion 9 : 28/09/2009 at 08:55 PM9

    Totally agree with discussion 6. Bangkok Post should show more professional ethics. Don't just publish anything without giving a second thought. I know it is news, but be more professional in your reporting. It brings me to remind readers that if our comments are not favourable to the Government,Army and Police, Bangkok Post will not hesitate to provide our details to the authority for their trackin and checking if requested by them. Hope this will not happen and for goodness sake, please leave the boy and father and his family alone. Imagine now the number of reporters and photographers will hound the son and father from airport to their home and hotel.

  • grey

    Discussion 8 : 28/09/2009 at 08:31 PM8

    so now,the poorfather have to support those aunts uncles and thewhole clan family.. biggest mistake ofhislife

  • kev

    Discussion 7 : 28/09/2009 at 07:51 PM7

    Any one what hotel and room his dad is planing on stay at?

    Jeez give them some privacy.

  • DISGRACEFUL JOURNALISM

    Discussion 6 : 28/09/2009 at 07:43 PM6

    Bangkok Post and all other newspapers who have published the date and arrival time of the father landing at the airport should be totally and absolutely ashamed of themselves.You are all morally bankrupt!

    It appears again and again that newspapers in this country have no professional ethics whatever.

    Bangkok Post, you need to take a good look at where you draw the line (or perhaps there is no line) and also at what you call professional journalism. In fact I wonder what journalism credentials and experience you see as a minimum?

    Yes, report that his father will visit, but no more. Have some respect for privacy, especilaly in regard to this story.

    You know very well that there will be quite a few people who will try to get their dirty sticky fingers into this situation and exploit it and drain it as much as they can. Yes, I mean scam artists. Why give them the date and time to turn up and start to ply their nasty business?

    Great news that he will meet his father, but leave them alone to explore what they need to.

    I despair at the thought of this naive little boy being exploited for every photo op. Leave him alone.

    I guess the next story will be uncontrolled journalists asking the little boy what was discussed.

  • Donald Waters

    Discussion 5 : 28/09/2009 at 06:13 PM5

    Understand what you're saying Puzzled, Just wondering if it's such a great break for the kid if the father who seemingly left him is simply being pressurized to come back. I hope it was a case of just 'losing touch' but if not... I doubt if things are going to turn out so great for this young boy, and the media seem to be pumping so many expectations into a 'happy' outcome, which I'm sure the lad is hoping for. But he will be devastated to be left again...

  • puzzled

    Discussion 4 : 28/09/2009 at 06:04 PM4

    I don't know Don, how many? How many world-wide?
    But isn't it great that one kid gets a break?

  • Donald Waters

    Discussion 3 : 28/09/2009 at 05:58 PM3

    Is his Dad a Panda?
    How many other unfortunate kids get dumped by their foreign fathers when they sober up, or run out of money, or meet someone 'nicer' and are too weak to accept the responsibility of what they've done?

  • Dave

    Discussion 2 : 28/09/2009 at 03:46 PM2

    Great, that's really important news. Can he fly paper airplanes too?

  • Obama

    Discussion 1 : 28/09/2009 at 03:40 PM1

    The media should BACK OFF in this situation. This is a private matter and as had been seen earlier already, the father may get "spooked" by all the media coverage.
    The media should stop reporting on this matter. If this "situation" is deemed "newsworthy" then make a small report on it AFTER the meeting.
    Leave this "family" alone so they can get acquainted and "catch up" without the prying eyes of others.

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