Cartoon Keigo

A leading publisher is obtaining exclusive rights to the real-life story of Keigo Sato, a Thai-Japanese orphan who began a search for his long-lost father after his Thai mother died.

The executives of Sun System yesterday met with the governor of Phichit, the home province of the nine-year-old boy, to discuss the content of a five-chapter comic book featuring Keigo's quest for his dad. The story will begin with the loss his mother and follow events to a happy ending in the future, when Keigo finally meets his father at Phichit's boat race in September.

Representing the boy's relatives, Governor Somchai Hatthayatanti said he would set up a working committee to make sure Keigo gets his fair share of profits from the comic book.

Another happy ending

Meanwhile, in Chiang Mai another Thai-Japanese boy has traced his Japanese father and spoken to him for the first time. Yamato Niimura, 10, wept while chatting with his dad Masato on the Net in a hotel room. The contact was made behind close doors following the father's request for privacy.

Masato, who is now married and has a family in Japan, reportedly told the boy he wanted to take care of him and would soon come to Thailand. He explained that he hadn't been able to afford the fare to Thailand for the past few years.