The Holy Thread, a Filipino romance-novel set in Silay, Negros Occidental, was presented to the Mori Ogai Memorial Society, a prestigious Japanese literary society in Tokyo. The Japanese version of the novel was published by the Society in November last year.

The event took place on Thursday at the former residence of Japanese novelist Mori Ogai (1862-1922). The novel was gifted by the author Yoshikaze Kawakami and received by Editor-in-Chief Mr. Yukihiro Kuramoto of the Society.

“Mori Ogai was a contemporary of Jose Rizal, and both were doctors as well as novelists who studied in Germany. Ogai wrote novels set in Europe in classical Japanese. Kawakami’s work is very reminiscent of Ogai’s works and has beautifully portrayed the Philippines in an elegant classical style. We celebrate as this work gains wider recognition through our publication in Germany and Tokyo.” Spoke Kuramoto.

On his novel, Kawakami spoke that “Philippines in the late nineteenth century was a linguistically diverse environment with Spanish, English and Tagalog as well as many local languages coexisting together. Through the writing of poetic Japanese, I portray the emotional landscape of Silay, giving the time-period a poetic medium to express itself.”

Set in Silay in the nineteenth century, The Holy Thread depicts the homecoming of a young Alonso from his studies in Europe, reuniting with his cousin Luise. They journey through the province to collect memories he had forgotten, his hometown, and his heritage. Silay is currently in the tentative list for UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.

The English translation of The Holy Thread is available globally through Amazon.com. Copies are also available for purchase at the Silay Art Space, Silay City Tourism Office, and The Negros Museum, Negros Occidental.

The Mori Ogai Memorial Society was founded in 1949 in commemoration of novelist Mori Ogai. With the Mori Ogai Memorial Museum, the Society is dedicated to the promotion and encouragement of arts and literature.