Kochi: Japanese writer Takako, who translated Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai's award-winning novel 'Chemmeen' into the Japanese language, passed away at her residence here on Friday.

The Japanese writer arrived in Kerala at the age of 23. In 1967, she married Thomas Mullur, a native of Koonammavu in Ernakulam, who was an employee at the Shipping Corporation of India. It was her husband who first introduced Thakazhi's iconic novel to Takako. 

After reading the novel initially in English and later in the original language of Malayalam, she felt a strong desire to translate the book into Japanese. Following this, she met Thakazhi in person and received permission for translation in 1976.