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.