May 12, 2009
Have you seen Keigo’s father?
Has anyone seen Keigo Zato’s father? If you know where he is, please tell him Keigo for him. He can likely be found outside Wat Tha Luang in Muang district of Phichit.
That is where nine-year-old Keigo waits every day, patiently showing temple visitors a faded photograph of his Japanese father, Katzumi. Each time a coach packed with tourists stops at the temple, Keigo shows his picture and bombards visitors with questions about his father.
If a visitor looks Japanese, the boy can hardly wait to ask politely, “Do you know my father?”, and then shows the photo. When the answer is no, his face clouds over.
Keigo’s Thai mother Thipmontha Zato, 33, died of a sexually transmitted disease on April 3. Working at a night entertainment venue in Bangkok, she was regularly exposed to health risks. Keigo, who likes to be called by his first name, stays with his aunt Pattama Jatupit, 35, and paralysed grandfather Preecha Janpratum, 60.
According to MS Pattama, Thipmontha ran away from home as a teenager seeking her fortune in Bangkok.
Nine year ago, she returned home with her Japanese husband and broke the news about her pregnancy before disappearing for a few months.
She then returned with her baby son and left him in the care of her family. She said she would return to Bangkok to work at her old job. MS Pattama said her sister sometimes sent money to support her child, but then the family lost touch with her. Three years later, Thipmontha and Mr. Zato visited their son for the last time.
During the Songkran holiday last year, Thipmontha unexpectedly returned home in poor health. Ms Pattama said her ailing sister kept telling her son that his father would be back some day and would meet her at Wat Tha Luang where they had married.
But Thipmontha’s dying wish was never fulfilled; she died without her husband at her bedside. Keigo cared for his mother until her dying breath.
Before her death, her last message to her son was: “Wait for your father at Wat Tha Luang’s ordination hall and then you’ll see him”.
Tell Mr. Katzumi to look for Keigo there.
Adapted from a story in the Bangkok Post by Sithipoj Keibui.
May 12, 2009
Have you seen Keigo’s father?
Has anyone seen Keigo Zato’s father? If you know where he is, please tell him Keigo for him. He can likely be found outside Wat Tha Luang in Muang district of Phichit.
That is where nine-year-old Keigo waits every day, patiently showing temple visitors a faded photograph of his Japanese father, Katzumi. Each time a coach packed with tourists stops at the temple, Keigo shows his picture and bombards visitors with questions about his father.
If a visitor looks Japanese, the boy can hardly wait to ask politely, “Do you know my father?”, and then shows the photo. When the answer is no, his face clouds over.
Keigo’s Thai mother Thipmontha Zato, 33, died of a sexually transmitted disease on April 3. Working at a night entertainment venue in Bangkok, she was regularly exposed to health risks. Keigo, who likes to be called by his first name, stays with his aunt Pattama Jatupit, 35, and paralysed grandfather Preecha Janpratum, 60.
According to MS Pattama, Thipmontha ran away from home as a teenager seeking her fortune in Bangkok.
Nine year ago, she returned home with her Japanese husband and broke the news about her pregnancy before disappearing for a few months.
She then returned with her baby son and left him in the care of her family. She said she would return to Bangkok to work at her old job. MS Pattama said her sister sometimes sent money to support her child, but then the family lost touch with her. Three years later, Thipmontha and Mr. Zato visited their son for the last time.
During the Songkran holiday last year, Thipmontha unexpectedly returned home in poor health. Ms Pattama said her ailing sister kept telling her son that his father would be back some day and would meet her at Wat Tha Luang where they had married.
But Thipmontha’s dying wish was never fulfilled; she died without her husband at her bedside. Keigo cared for his mother until her dying breath.
Before her death, her last message to her son was: “Wait for your father at Wat Tha Luang’s ordination hall and then you’ll see him”.
Tell Mr. Katzumi to look for Keigo there.
Adapted from a story in the Bangkok Post by Sithipoj Keibui.
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